Space molecular cell biology

The space environment is significantly different from the Earth's environment. The main differences currently lie in microgravity, radiation, temperature, magnetic field, and vacuum. Numerous studies have shown that a special environment especially space microgravity is one of the major factors that can affect the structure and function of organisms during the flight in space and can profoundly affect chromosomal integrity and gene expression. Therefore understanding how microgravity affects cellular gene expression is essential for developing and utilizing outer space. With the progress of space technology, especially the development of manned space technology and the completion of the International Space Station, space cell biology has become an interesting research hotspot of space biology and space biotechnology. However, space flight frequencies and cost limit the research in space but carrying out the research on Earth under microgravity conditions can provide important information on the development of life and preventive and therapeutic strategies to overcome medical problems arising during space exploration. This chapter has discussed the effect of the space microgravity environment on cellular gene expression from the expression of various RNAs and their subsequent translation in stem cells through various microgravity simulation experiments.