Blood samples taken by Turkey's first astronaut Alper Gezeravcı in microgravity, in space, have reached Uskudar University's TRGENMER laboratory.
Within the scope of the MESSAGE (Microgravity Associated Genetics) experiment, one of the 13 scientific studies in Turkey's first crewed space mission, blood samples taken by Alper Gezeravcı at the International Space Station were delivered to the MESSAGE team led by Cihan Taştan.
Within the scope of the MESSAGE (Microgravity Associated Genetics) experiment, one of the 13 scientific studies in Turkey's first crewed space mission, blood samples taken by Turkey's first astronaut Alper Gezeravcı in microgravity, in space, have reached Uskudar University's TRGENMER laboratory.
Assistant Professor Dr. Cihan Taştan, Director of Uskudar University's Transgenic Cell Technologies and Epigenetic Application and Research Center (TRGENMER) and Project Manager of the MESSAGE (Microgravity Associated Genetics) experiment, provided information on the subject, stating, “Our astronaut Alper Gezeravcı, who remained in space for 14 days, had the blood samples he collected from himself on specific days delivered yesterday to the TRGENMER laboratory's MESSAGE team by TÜBİTAK Uzay and the responsible cargo service.”
Blood samples transferred to -80 freezer in TRGENMER laboratory
Assistant Professor Dr. Cihan Taştan emphasized that the blood samples were delivered “in standards that would be stable at -80 degrees,” adding, “They were then transferred to the -80 freezer within our TRGENMER laboratory.”
What will be done with the blood samples?
Regarding what will be done with the blood samples next, Dr. Taştan stated:
“As the MESSAGE team, we will conduct our experiments by knocking out candidate genes using the CRISPR/Cas system in the acoustic levitation device we developed in the laboratory and in 2D culture for control purposes. Subsequently, we will determine the immune profile, observe anti-cancer activity, examine the proliferation of T lymphocytes, and finally compare cytokine release profiles.”
When will the experiment results be known?
Regarding the experiment results, Assistant Professor Dr. Cihan Taştan said, “Although we cannot state this precisely at the moment, we aim to start experiments as of the day the blood samples arrived and, in the shortest possible time, publish articles, make new gene discoveries, and unveil the reactions of cells to microgravity conditions.”
About the MESSAGE (Microgravity Associated Genetics) experiment…
The MESSAGE (Microgravity Associated Genetics) experiment was developed under the leadership of Assistant Professor Dr. Cihan Taştan by Uskudar TRGENMER Researchers; Büşra Tekirdağlı, Özge Demir, Ebru Çam, Fatmanur Erkek, Berranur Sert, and Gamze Gülden.
The MESSAGE (Microgravity Associated Genetics) experiment, led by Assistant Professor Dr. Cihan Taştan, aimed to “analyze the genetic profile of the Turkish astronaut and investigate the anti-cancer, proliferation, and immunogenic effects in an acoustic levitation device providing a microgravity environment.”
“It aims to identify genes affected by microgravity whose functions have not yet been discovered, and to investigate which immune cells will be directly affected by gravity during space missions, using CRISPR gene engineering methods.”
Alper Gezeravcı had conducted 13 different experiments on the space station
The Dragon spacecraft, carrying Turkey's first astronaut Alper Gezeravcı, and the Axiom-3 mission crew landed in the ocean off Florida on February 9th, after spending days on the International Space Station. Alper Gezeravcı had conducted 13 different experiments during his two-week stay at the station.