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Review
. 2020 Nov 25;1(9):100148.
doi: 10.1016/j.patter.2020.100148. eCollection 2020 Dec 11.

A New Era for Space Life Science: International Standards for Space Omics Processing

Lindsay Rutter  1 , Richard Barker  2 , Daniela Bezdan  3 , Henry Cope  4 , Sylvain V Costes  5 , Lovorka Degoricija  6 , Kathleen M Fisch  7 , Mariano I Gabitto  8 , Samrawit Gebre  6 , Stefania Giacomello  9 , Simon Gilroy  2 , Stefan J Green  10 , Christopher E Mason  11   12   13   14 , Sigrid S Reinsch  5 , Nathaniel J Szewczyk  15 , Deanne M Taylor  16   17 , Jonathan M Galazka  5 , Raul Herranz  18 , Masafumi Muratani  1
Affiliations
Review

A New Era for Space Life Science: International Standards for Space Omics Processing

Lindsay Rutter et al. Patterns (N Y). .

Abstract

Space agencies have announced plans for human missions to the Moon to prepare for Mars. However, the space environment presents stressors that include radiation, microgravity, and isolation. Understanding how these factors affect biology is crucial for safe and effective crewed space exploration. There is a need to develop countermeasures, to adapt plants and microbes for nutrient sources and bioregenerative life support, and to limit pathogen infection. Scientists across the world are conducting space omics experiments on model organisms and, more recently, on humans. Optimal extraction of actionable scientific discoveries from these precious datasets will only occur at the collective level with improved standardization. To address this shortcoming, we established ISSOP (International Standards for Space Omics Processing), an international consortium of scientists who aim to enhance standard guidelines between space biologists at a global level. Here we introduce our consortium and share past lessons learned and future challenges related to spaceflight omics.

Keywords: ESA; GeneLab; ISSOP; JAXA; NASA; Twins study; metadata; omics; space biology; standardization.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Example Uses, Pros, and Cons of Various Model Organisms Used in Space Omics Experiments
Figure 2
Figure 2
Roadmap of the Unique Challenges and Solutions during Each Stage of a Space Omics Experiment
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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