In a bid to create an insurance policy against extinction due to catastrophe or self-destruction, proponents of a futuristic idea suggest establishing outposts on the moon or Mars. To better understand mammals’ ability to procreate off Earth, freeze-dried mouse sperm stored aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will be studied upon return in 2025.
Professor Teruhiko Wakayama, who led the development of a novel method for cloning mice from adult cells, is conducting rodent in vitro fertilization experiments on the ISS. The goal is to establish a system for safely and permanently preserving Earth’s genetic resources in space, allowing life to be revived even if Earth faces catastrophic destruction.
Wakayama’s previous studies on mouse embryos in space showed that freeze-dried sperm could stay viable for 200 years in space. He aims to determine the impact of the space environment on mammals’ ability to procreate and develop normally.
The experiments will help scientists understand how microgravity affects biological processes, including reproduction. With the current state of knowledge, there are more pressing concerns than reproduction, such as cosmic radiation causing mutations in DNA and vision problems due to microgravity.
Wakayama believes that his work could be crucial for understanding potential genetic abnormalities in offspring due to space travel. He hopes to shed light on whether humans can reproduce and develop normally in the harsh environment of space, providing reassurance for future space dwellers.
The study’s findings will also have implications for transporting animals to other planets, such as dogs for companionship or cattle for food. Wakayama plans to focus on studying mice, with the IVF project currently under development and expected to be launched to the ISS within two years.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/science/japan-space-ivf-mice-experiments-hnk-spc/index.html