Astronaut Steve Kelly's DNA differs from identical twin's after a year in space

16 March 2018 - 06:00 By Timeslive
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Identical twin astronauts, Scott and Mark Kelly, are subjects of NASA’s Twins Study. Scott (right) spent a year in space while Mark (left) stayed on Earth as a control subject. Researchers looked at the effects of space travel on the human body.
Identical twin astronauts, Scott and Mark Kelly, are subjects of NASA’s Twins Study. Scott (right) spent a year in space while Mark (left) stayed on Earth as a control subject. Researchers looked at the effects of space travel on the human body.
Image: NASA.

Scott Kelly is no longer genetically the same as his brother Mark - after the Nasa astronaut spent a year in space. 

According to Nasa, Kelly was part of a twins study to figure out how a year in space affected the body. 

While 93% of Kelly's genes went back to normal after a few days back on Earth, the remaining 7% could spell longer term changes to his immune system, DNA repair, bone formation networks, hypoxia, and hypercapnia.

They didn't just test his genes - Kelly appears to be no less intelligent relative to his brother after a year in space, though he is physically a bit slower and less accurate, possibly because he had to readjust to Earth's gravity.

The research on Kelly and his one year mission into space is a stepping stone for a three-year mission to Mars.


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