The following is an edited excerpt.
Humans in space are at risk of a variety of ailments, from brittle bones caused by low gravity to cancer triggered by cosmic radiation. Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) already take supplements to counteract ill effects.
But when travelling further into space, such as to an asteroid or Mars, astronauts will be exposed to radiation doses close to NASA’s acceptable lifetime limits, upping their chances of developing illnesses from damaged DNA. To reduce each individual’s risk, researchers suggest we should examine their genome and then design countermeasures to protect against any potential problems.
Read the full story here: Genetic medicine hints at bloodletting for astronauts
