Factors Affecting the Utilization of the International Space Station for Research in the Biological and Physical Sciences (2003) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
4 Impact of ISS Changes on Fundamental Biology
4 Impact of ISS Changes on Fundamental Biology
Pages 49-57
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 49... ...
Developmental biology focuses on the processes and mechanisms responsible for the development of the zygote into a primordial set of cell types and on subsequent developmental events that produce the mature organism. The past decade has seen major technical developments in the study of eukaryotic cells, including the application of molecular genetics and molecular biology, advanced imaging technology, cell culture methodologies, protein chemistry, and macromolecular structural determination.
|
From page 50... ...
F configuration included a crew of six or seven members, habitat holding racks for mice and rats (including special inserts for animal biotelemetry systems) , a 2.5-m, 1-g centrifuge, a life sciences glove box, a cryotreezer, an insect habitat, an aquatic habitat, an avian research facility, an avian development facility, and a budget commensurate with the needs of world-class cell and developmental biology research.
|
From page 51... ...
It is difficult to predict exactly the time needed to carry out research in cell and developmental biology, but experience shows the importance of significant direct intervention by trained crew members and suggests that requirements for crew time tend to be greater than initially anticipated. The reduction from a six- or seven-member to a three-member crew suggests that sufficient time will simply not be available, since the skeleton crew will have to focus on space station operation rather than research activities.
|
From page 52... ...
As discussed above, the absence of the 2.5-m, 1-g centrifuge and the limited crew time negatively impact cell and developmental research in a general and pervasive manner. The avian development and insect units can provide some relief when they become available, but even there, uncertainties surrounding crew time for research and hardware lead to a less-than-positive sense of potential.
|
From page 53... ...
Maximizing ISS Research Potential It is clear that many opportunities originally envisioned for research in cell and developmental biology have been dramatically curtailed. There is concern as to whether the current Core Complete stage of the ISS can truly support the highest-quality cutting-edge research in cell and developmental biology.
|
From page 54... ...
Spaceflight experiments to date have shown some minor effects of the microgravity environment on plant development. However, the lack of a 1-g on-board control has made it impossible to separate responses caused by a lack of gravity from responses to other parameters of spaceflight, such as vibration, enhanced carbon dioxide, or lack of air circulation.
|
From page 55... ...
It, too, will have two 60-cm-diameter centrifuges and will have illuminated ECs that will accommodate small plants. While the Biolab is planned primarily for experiments involving cell cultures, microorganisms, and small invertebrates, it can be used for plant experiments as well.
|
From page 56... ...
The shortness of the list of currently funded plant experiments for the ISS means that the community of plant researchers willing and able to utilize the ISS at some future date is in danger of dropping below a critical mass. Finally, the lack of crew time, both for training for the experiments on the ground and then, when onboard, for running the experiments, may limit the ALS experiments, even if the facilities for this type of experiment are aboard the ISS.
|
From page 57... ...
There is a sense of discouragement about the possibility that there will be only three crew members on the ISS at Core Complete. Those scientists who have already completed flight experiments know that the requirements for crew time are always more, rather than less, than the amount initially anticipated.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.