New study advises against sex in space
Experiments on plants show that changes in gravity damage cells and cause ‘traffic jam’ on vital highways of the organism.
Scientists from University of Montreal discovered a series of harmful effects in plant reproduction system under conditions of low gravity, proving the theory that terrestrial organisms have adapted for reproduction under the Earth’s gravitational forces.
Their study showed that changes in gravity result to disruption of cellular ‘highways’ that control growth and functionality of the male reproductive organs in plants. According to Professor Anja Geitmann, head of the scientists’ team, “…these findings offer new insight into how life evolved on Earth and are significant with regards to human health, as traffic jam on these highways that also exist in human cells can cause cancer and illness such as Alzheimer’s.”
So far, the only Earthling successfully reproducing in space was the cockroach Hope back in 2007. Although, the urban myth about human reproduction experiments in space still circulates, scientists like NASA’s biophysicist Tore Straume, warn that any female conceived in space would be sterile due to high radiation levels. Even low doses of radiation can kill egg cells in a female fetus.
Until 2023, when the NASA’s colony on Mars start getting populated, we have time to ponder on our sexual space problems.
Source: International Business Times