Developmental Biology Research in Space

by H. J. Marthy

Overview

In this volume of ASPA, devoted to developmental biology research, 9 authors from different fields of developmental biology present their investigations on various developing plant and animal models. An a priori concern in mind that weightlessness might have negative effects on developmental processes, it is encouraging to know that the overall development of various organisms tested so far is essentially correct under spaceflight conditions, leading to viable individuals with viable offspring. On the other hand, particular studies on specifically neurophysiological aspects in developing organisms reveal important flight or postflight disturbances; however it is encouraging to know that they appear to be transient only.The book contains ten chapters, giving details on how, in technical terms, experiments for spaceflights are prepared, performed and analysed and on how, in scientific terms, the available results have to be interpreted. One contribution is devoted to plant systems, five consider the overall aspects of embryonic development in invertebrates and vertebrates, two focus on neurophysiological aspects and one reports on the "mother-offspring system" in weightlessness in a mammalian model, the last chapter presents new ESA facilities and instruments to be integrated into the European research Laboratory "Columbus" of the ISS.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780444513533
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Publication date:	07/01/2003
Series:	Advances in Space Biology and Medicine , #9
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 9.45(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Foreward of Series Editor (A. Cogoli).
Developmental biology research in space: Introductory remarks of the volume editor
(H.-J. Marthy).
Plant reproductive development during spaceflight (M.E. Musgrave, A. Kuang).
Bdelloid rotifers as model system to study developmental biology in space (C. Ricci, C. Boschetti).
Drosophilia melanogaster and the future of devo-evo biology in space. Challenges and problems in the path of an eventual colonization project outside the earth (R. Marco, D. Husson et al.).
Morphogenesis and gravity in a whole amphibian embryo and in isolated blastomeres of sea urchins
(A. Izumi-Kurotani, M. Kiyomoto).
Developmental biology of urodele amphibians in microgravity conditions (C. Dournon).
The development of gravity sensory systems during periods of altered gravity dependent sensory input (E.R. Horn).
Neurophysiology of developing fish at altered gravity: Background - facts - perspectives (R.H. Anken).
Life-cycle experiments of medaka fish aboard the international space station (K. Ijiri).
Mammalian development in space (A.E. Ronca).
New facilities and instruments for developmental biology research in space (E. Brinckmann).