Talk of sperm survived in space begins(It's possible to breed on Mars?)

A sperm that can reproduce on Mars' cosmic radiation for 200 years!

It tells the story of life born as a sperm exposed to space radiation 

for six years and reproduction of this life.

 

This is a picture of a normal division of sperm

that has been exposed to space radiation for six years on the International Space Station (Fig. 1).

 

Fig. 1. Refer: Wakayama et al., Science Advances (2021)

Beyond the age of non-human space exploration and human space exploration, 

human is preparing to build a settlement on the new planet Mars.

 

Fig. 2. Refer: NASA

To settle on Mars means to breed on Mars.

 

But there was great concern for the researchers.

As soon as all life is out of Earth, it will not be protected by the magnetic field from cosmic radiation.

Cosmic radiation causes catastrophic damage at cell and DNA levels.

Because DNA damage can lead to reproductive cell damage, 

which can't reproduce normally, or cause birth problems (Fig. 3).

 

Fig. 3. Refer: Pixabay

 

Teruhiko Wakayama of Yamanashi University in Japan answers this concern.

 

In a recent paper published in Science Advances, 

researchers tested sperm fertilization and fetal fertility with the sperm 

after exposure to cosmic radiation for up to six years (Fig. 4-6).

 

Fig. 4. Refer: Wakayama et al., Science Advances (2021)

Fig. 5. Schematic diagram of the exposure of frozen dried mouse sperm to cosmic radiation. Refer: Wakayama et al., Science Advances (2021)

Fig. 6. Schematic diagram of sperm fertilization and development after exposure to cosmic radiation. Refer: Wakayama et al., Science Advances (2021)

 

This is a picture of a defrosted sperm fertilization to an egg after exposure to cosmic radiation (Fig. 7).

 

Fig. 7. Fertilization of sperm (indicated as yellow) exposed to cosmic radiation. Refer: Wakayama et al., Science Advances (2021)

This egg is normally divided into blastocysts (Fig. 8).

Fig. 8. Blastocyst developed from space sperm. Refer: Wakayama et al., Science Advances (2021)

In the course of the development, researchers have identified DNA damage, developmental abnormalities,

and there were no significant abnormalities (Fig. 9).

 

Fig. 9. Analysis of DNA damage. Refer: Wakayama et al., Science Advances (2021)

These mouse fetuses were born in space sperm (Fig. 10), which grew normally and became adult mice (Fig. 11)

 

Fig. 10. Mouse fetuses were born in space sperm. Refer: Wakayama et al., Science Advances (2021)

.

 

Fig. 11. Adult mice born in space sperm. Refer: Wakayama et al., Science Advances (2021)

And born of sperm exposed to cosmic radiation, 

the mouse even gave birth to offspring by normal breeding (Fig. 12).

 

Fig. 12. The second generation of mice born in space sperm. Refer: Wakayama et al., Science Advances (2021) 

Researchers say sperm that has endured six years of space radiation on the space station, 

is able to endure 200 years on Mars, where radiation is weaker.

 

Sayaka Wakayama, the first author of the study, told AFP in an interview.

 

"There was little difference between mice 

fertilized by space sperm and mice fertilized by sperm that had remained on Earth."

"When the time comes to migrate to other planets, 

we will need to maintain the diversity of genetic resources, 

not only for humans but also for pets and domestic animals."

"These discoveries are essential for mankind to progress into the space age."

 

The video about this article is as follows.

https://youtu.be/oe-5hsXk_FI