Dr. Cihan Taştan, Director of Üsküdar University's Transgenic Cell Technologies and Epigenetic Research Application and Research Center (TRGENMER), and Beyza Aydın, TRGENMER R&D Officer, participated in the '76th International Astronautical Congress IAC 2025' held in Sydney, Australia. The TRGENMER team shared a remarkable original scientific study in the field of space biology with the international scientific community.
Findings of the MESSAGE Science Mission presented globally
In the oral presentation given during the “IAF/IAA Space Life Sciences Symposium-Biology in Space” session within the scope of the congress, the findings obtained within the framework of the MESSAGE (Microgravity Associated Genetics) Science Mission, which is Turkey's first manned space biology study, were shared with the participants.
The presentation revealed that LOC (Locus) genes, which have long been undefined or considered dysfunctional in the human genome, exhibit time-dependent and unique expression profiles under microgravity conditions.
Results reveal significant change…
The research results were evaluated using transcriptomic data generated from astronaut samples obtained at different time points of International Space Station (ISS) missions and after suborbital flights.
The study found that some LOC genes exhibited early, late, or transient responses to microgravity, while others showed statistically significant changes.
These findings indicated that LOC genes could be considered potential biomarkers for adaptation to spaceflight.
Dark genome regions must be re-evaluated!
The presentation also highlighted open reading frame (ORF) structures and phylogenetic similarities identified in specific LOC genes as a significant novelty, suggesting that these genes may possess not only regulatory but also potential functional and translational capacities. This approach revealed the need to re-evaluate dark genome regions often overlooked in space biology literature.
Strong interest from international scientific communities
In scientific interactions following the presentation, researchers, especially those working in the fields of Space Biomedicine at NASA Ames Research Center and Baylor College of Medicine, stated that the study offered an important perspective for molecular-level monitoring of astronaut health and biomedical approaches for long-duration space missions. Within the scope of these discussions, grounds for collaboration regarding advanced analyses and joint research opportunities were evaluated.
Turkey's visibility in space biology is strengthening
The oral presentation given at IAC 2025 increased the visibility of space biology research conducted in Turkey on an international platform, while also demonstrating TRGENMER's scientific competence in this field. The achievements are expected to lead to new national and international projects, collaborative research, and interdisciplinary studies in the future.
In this context, Üsküdar University TRGENMER Space Studies Team has started scientific preparations for the 77th International Astronautical Congress IAC 2026, which will be held in Antalya in 2026.