Scientists Found Genetic Mutations in Every Astronaut Blood Sample They Studied

Researchers looked at blood samples from 14 NASA astronauts who flew Space Shuttle missions between 1998 and 2001 and found that all of them had some sort of abnormality in their genes.

The research shows the importance of regular health screenings for astronauts, especially as they embark on longer missions to the Moon and beyond in the future.

The high proportion of blood cells that came from a single clone is a phenomenon known as a clonal hematopoiesis.

Exposure to excess UV radiation and other forms of radiation can cause this.

Researchers are suspicious of the cause of the mutations.

David Goukassian is a professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine and one of the authors of the study.

The topic of health for astronauts is more relevant now than it has been before. Last year, NASA proposed to change the radiation limits it gives its astronauts.

The agency is trying to allow younger astronauts to be exposed to more radiation than older astronauts in order to eliminate the differences between men and women.

The astronauts' blood samples were collected ten days before their flight and on the day of their landing. For around two decades, the samples were stored at a very low temperature.

Considering the median age of the astronauts was only 42 years old, it's interesting that the blood samples look like the kind of mutations we see in older people.

"Although the clonal hematopoiesis we observed was of a relatively small size, the fact that we observed these Mutations was surprising given the relatively young age and health of these astronauts," Goukassian said.

There is a risk that the astronauts will develop cardiovascular disease or cancer if they are exposed to deep space for a long time.

Goukassian and his team believe that NASA should screen astronauts for these types of genetic defects.

The more we discover about the health risks astronauts face when in outer space, the better we can ensure their safety in the long run.

Spaceflight may be associated with increased risk of developing heart disease and cancer, according to researchers.

There is a surgical robot on the space station.