title: Longevity in space; experiment on the life span of Paramecium cell clone in space.
abstract: Life span is the most interesting and also the most important biologically relevant time to be investigated on the space station. As a model experiment, we proposed an investigation to assess the life span of clone generation of the ciliate Paramecium. In space, clone generation will be artificially started by conjugation or autogamy, and the life span of the cell populations in different gravitational fields (microgravity and onboard 1 x g control) will be precisely assessed in terms of fission age as compared with the clock time. In order to perform the space experiment including long-lasting culture and continuous measurement of cell division, we tested the methods of cell culture and of cell-density measurement, which will be available in closed environments under microgravity. The basic design of experimental hardware and a preliminary result of the cultivation procedure are described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Ochanomizu University, Otsuka 2-1-1, Tokyo 112-8610, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mogami
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tokunaga
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Baba
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002999:Clone Cells; D004867:Equipment Design; D008136:Longevity / Q000502:physiology*; D016805:Paramecium tetraurelia / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D013026:Space Flight / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014893:Weightlessness