{"id":146267,"date":"2021-01-03T10:00:48","date_gmt":"2021-01-03T07:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/lemurs-might-hold-the-key-to-human-hibernation-necessary-for-mars-missions\/"},"modified":"2021-01-03T10:00:48","modified_gmt":"2021-01-03T07:00:48","slug":"lemurs-might-hold-the-key-to-human-hibernation-necessary-for-mars-missions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/lemurs-might-hold-the-key-to-human-hibernation-necessary-for-mars-missions\/","title":{"rendered":"#Lemurs might hold the key to human hibernation necessary for Mars missions"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a412bfb793e7\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a412bfb793e7\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/lemurs-might-hold-the-key-to-human-hibernation-necessary-for-mars-missions\/#Its_cold_and_dark_out_there\" >It\u2019s cold and dark out there<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/lemurs-might-hold-the-key-to-human-hibernation-necessary-for-mars-missions\/#Putting_the_body_on_pause\" >Putting the body on pause<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/lemurs-might-hold-the-key-to-human-hibernation-necessary-for-mars-missions\/#Model_animals\" >Model animals?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;<strong>#Lemurs might hold the key to human hibernation necessary for Mars missions<\/strong>&#8221;<\/p>\n<div>\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"5\" title=\"Science\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Science<\/a> fiction is shifting into reality. With humanity\u2019s plans to <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/topics\/moon-to-mars\/overview\">return to the moon this decade<\/a> and further ambitions to <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/trip-and-travel\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"10\" title=\"Trip &amp; Travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">travel<\/a> to Mars in the next, we need to figure out how to keep astronauts healthy for these years-long missions. One solution long championed by science fiction is suspended animation, or putting humans in a hibernation-like sleep for the duration of travel time.<\/p>\n<p>We can turn to nature for guidance and a potential solution to this challenge.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"align-center zoomable\">\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/374268\/original\/file-20201210-19-1jm1k1u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\" alt=\"A squirrel monkey sits on top of a model rocket.\" width=\"600\" height=\"455\" class=\" lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/374268\/original\/file-20201210-19-1jm1k1u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip\" data-lazy=\"true\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/374268\/original\/file-20201210-19-1jm1k1u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=455&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/374268\/original\/file-20201210-19-1jm1k1u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=455&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/374268\/original\/file-20201210-19-1jm1k1u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=455&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/374268\/original\/file-20201210-19-1jm1k1u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=571&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/374268\/original\/file-20201210-19-1jm1k1u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=571&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/374268\/original\/file-20201210-19-1jm1k1u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=571&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w\"\/><\/a><figcaption><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/syndication\/2021\/01\/03\/lemurs-might-hold-the-key-to-human-hibernation-necessary-for-mars-missions\/#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthenextweb.com%2Fsyndication%2F2021%2F01%2F03%2Flemurs-might-hold-the-key-to-human-hibernation-necessary-for-mars-missions%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: Primates have been used in space research for decades. Space pioneer Miss Baker, a squirrel monkey, rode a Jupiter IRBM into space in 1959 and returned safely. (NASA\/Marshall Space Flight Center)\" data-title=\"Share Primates have been used in space research for decades. Space pioneer Miss Baker, a squirrel monkey, rode a Jupiter IRBM into space in 1959 and returned safely. (NASA\/Marshall Space Flight Center) on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share Primates have been used in space research for decades. Space pioneer Miss Baker, a squirrel monkey, rode a Jupiter IRBM into space in 1959 and returned safely. (NASA\/Marshall Space Flight Center) on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"\/><\/a>Primates have been used in space research for decades. Space pioneer Miss Baker, a squirrel monkey, rode a Jupiter IRBM into space in 1959 and returned safely. (<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/mix.msfc.nasa.gov\/abstracts.php?p=886\">NASA\/Marshall Space Flight Center<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Its_cold_and_dark_out_there\"><\/span>It\u2019s cold and dark out there<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Space is unforgiving. In this freezing void of darkness, there is no oxygen, no gravity , and no protection against the constant shower of cosmic radiation. Humans have <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/978-3-642-59381-9_21\">evolved under a constant gravitational pull<\/a> \u2014 so when you put people into space, strange and dangerous things h<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>en to their bodies.<\/p>\n<p>However, scientists and engineers working with astronauts on the International Space Station have innovated and continue to address these problems. For example, we know that spaceflight leads to <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00421-012-2523-5\">loss of muscle and bone density<\/a>, since our bones and muscles do not need to work against the pull of gravity to move us around.<\/p>\n<p>But we still do not know how to address other space-related medical issues, including <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fimmu.2018.01437\">immune system alterations<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ophtha.2011.06.021\">problems with vision<\/a>, and bombardment with <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/life4030491\">hazardous cosmic radiation<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>These physiological challenges are combined with the technical difficulties of sending multiple humans on these long missions where they face logistical complications of packing and allocating enough provisions and supplies, as well as <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">social<\/a> issues of coping with extreme isolation in deep space.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Putting_the_body_on_pause\"><\/span>Putting the body on pause<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Suspended animation and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/febs.14683\">biostasis<\/a> may elicit science fiction images of humans in cryosleep pods. If we could put humans in a state of suspended animation by greatly slowing or even fully halting metabolic activity, we could alleviate issues surrounding space travel: time, health concerns, spacecraft size, and supply allocation.<\/p>\n<figure><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Could Humans Hibernate for Space Travel? | WIRED\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aGSMEhKPIeo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><figcaption><span class=\"caption\">In the video above, WIRED takes a look at the science behind suspended animation.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>But how can we safely ease humans into hibernation and then bring them back when the time is right, without risking muscle and bone wasting, to name a few challenges? These are questions that the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.darpa.mil\/news-events\/2018-03-01\">United States Department of Defense<\/a> and other space agencies are actively exploring.<\/p>\n<p>Animals who spend the winter in states of suspended animation \u2014 hibernation \u2014 don\u2019t experience significant muscle and bone wasting. Their existence and ability to reversibly turn off biological processes seemingly necessary for life may well hold the key to creating the conditions required for the human hibernation strategy that could pave our way to surviving long interstellar voyages to distant stars.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, the use of biostasis has already been proposed for the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ntrs.nasa.gov\/citations\/20180007195\">transport of large numbers of travelers to Mars<\/a>, where crew members will be sustained with specially formulated total nutrition liquids while they \u201csleep.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Model_animals\"><\/span>Model animals?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>How do we translate hibernation in animals to hibernation in humans? Recent work has uncovered such an ability in animals that are evolutionarily similar to humans: <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.gpb.2015.06.001\">hibernating primates<\/a>. What is unique about these primates is that they can enter a state of hibernation when resources are scarce and temperatures become cold, and do so without seriously dropping their body temperature.<\/p>\n<p>One of the driving forces behind this extreme ability is microRNAs \u2014 short pieces of RNA that act as molecular gene silencers. MicroRNAs can regulate gene expression without altering the genetic code itself. By studying the microRNA strategy these animals use, we can exploit this genetic on\/off switch for rapid, reversible changes that could aid hibernation in humans.<\/p>\n<p>Our work on gray mouse lemurs (<em>Microcebus murinus<\/em>) shows how <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.bbagrm.2019.194473\">microRNAs control which biological processes remain on<\/a> to protect the animal and which ones are switched off to save energy. Some of these microRNAs were found to combat muscle wasting during hibernation. Other roles seem to involve preventing cell death, slowing down or stopping unnecessary cell growth, and switching fuel stores from quickly consumed sugars to slower-burned fats.<\/p>\n<p>While microRNAs are a promising avenue of research, they are just one piece of the puzzle. Our lab is also looking into other aspects of how primates hibernate, such as how these lemurs <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.gpb.2015.03.004\">protect their cells from stress<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.gpb.2015.03.003\">control global gene levels<\/a>, and how <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.gpb.2015.03.006\">they store enough energy to survive hibernation<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Why Study Mouse Lemurs?\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/h_bNO7MelXI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><figcaption><span class=\"caption\">Mouse lemurs are more closely related to humans than mice, which are more typically used for research.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Our lab also looks at how <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1242\/jeb.104828\">microRNAs are helping animals survive other extreme environmental stresses<\/a> including freezing, oxygen-deprivation, and hot, dry climates. There is no stress more extreme than the vacuum of space, and we hope our research will contribute to the new RNA-based interventions that are gaining attention and emerging as viable human therapeutics.<\/p>\n<p>Space is within our reach, and studying what\u2019s already on Earth will help get us there.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;\" alt=\"The Conversation\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" class=\" lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/148408\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --><\/p>\n<p><em>This article by\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/hanane-hadj-moussa-1143954\">Hanane Hadj-Moussa<\/a>, PhD Candidate in Molecular Biology, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/carleton-university-900\">Carleton University<\/a>; <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/aline-ingelson-filpula-1169655\">Aline Ingelson-Filpula<\/a>, M.Sc. Candidate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/carleton-university-900\">Carleton University<\/a>, and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/kenneth-b-storey-1143955\">Kenneth B. Storey<\/a>, Professor of Biochemistry, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/carleton-university-900\">Carleton University<\/a> is republished from <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\">The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/hibernating-lemurs-may-be-the-key-to-cryogenic-sleep-for-human-space-travel-148408\">original article<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/syndication\/2021\/01\/03\/lemurs-might-hold-the-key-to-human-hibernation-necessary-for-mars-missions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#Lemurs might hold the key to human hibernation necessary for Mars missions&#8221; Science fiction is shifting into reality. With humanity\u2019s plans to return to the moon this decade and further ambitions to travel to Mars in the next, we need to figure out how to keep astronauts healthy for these years-long missions. One solution long&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":146268,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/img-cdn.tnwcdn.com\/image\/tnw?filter_last=1&fit=1280,640&url=https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2020\/12\/1-copy-53.jpg&signature=bc905f6243f02f68d7f00cecfa28e2a2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[76937,88423,5072,5019,67821],"class_list":["post-146267","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology","tag-gravity","tag-hibernation","tag-mars","tag-space","tag-world"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146267","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=146267"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146267\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/146268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=146267"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=146267"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=146267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}