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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Synthetic soils for ecological and synthetic biology applications

Soils are heterogeneous and dynamic systems characterized by complex physical, chemical, and biological interactions. Understanding these interactions is critical, as they influence plant productivity, global biogeochemical cycles, and ecosystem resilience. While ecologists have long studied soils in field, greenhouse, and laboratory settings, their complexity and heterogeneity make it challenging to pinpoint key properties driving biological processes and derive mechanistic insights. Advancements in synthetic biology, which seeks to engineer and control biological processes in soils, have increased the demand for standardized and controllable experimental platforms. These platforms, referred to here as ‘synthetic soils’, are systems designed to reproduce selected physicochemical characteristics of natural soils in a simplified and defined format, allowing scientists to systematically change soil physicochemical properties (i.e. texture, mineralogy, pH) to study how biological components (i.e. microbes, plants, soil fauna, etc.) respond to, modify, or interact within these controlled environments. This review explores existing synthetic soils, their advantages, limitations, and applications in ecology and synthetic biology, and discusses potential directions for their future development.

artificial soils↗
DOE OSTI2025

Macromolecular crystallography and biology at the Linac Coherent Light Source

The Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) has significantly impacted the field of biology by providing advanced capabilities for probing the structure and dynamics of biological molecules with high precision. The ultrashort coherent X-ray pulses from the LCLS have enabled ultrafast, time-resolved, serial femtosecond crystallography that is inaccessible at conventional synchrotron light sources. Since the facility's founding, scientists have captured detailed insights into biological processes at atomic resolution and fundamental timescales. The ability to observe these processes in real time and under conditions closely resembling their natural state is transforming our approach to studying biochemical mechanisms and developing new medical and energy applications. This work recounts some of the history of the LCLS, advances in biological research enabled by the LCLS, key biological areas that have been impacted and how the LCLS has helped to unravel complex biological phenomena in these fields.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1966

Biology and the Exploration of Mars

Until recent years the origin of life and its possible occurrence elsewhere in the universe have been matters for speculation only. The rapid growth of molecular biology since 1940 has, to be sure, made it possible to discuss life's origins in far more precise and explicit terms than was possible earlier; and the subject entered a new experimental phase in the 1950's with successful abiogenic synthesis of important biochemical substances in conditions simulating the presumptive environment of the primitive Earth. But the real transformation that the subject has undergone stems from the spectacular growth of space technology in the last decade. The possibility of life's origin and occurrence on planets other than ours is no longer limited to idle speculation: it has entered the realm of the testable, of science in the strict sense. Given the rockets now available, and especially those available by 1969, it has become fully realistic to consider plans for the biological exploration of Mars. The study that this report seeks to interpret was initiated in June, 1964, by the Space Science Board of the National Academy of Sciences to examine this possibility. The working group comprised 36 people representing a broad spectrum of scientific interests: evolutionary biology, genetics, microbiology, biochemistry and molecular biology, animal physiology, soil chemistry, organic chemistry, planetary astronomy, geochemistry, and theoretical physics. The participants included some with considerable prior involvement in problems of space exploration and others with none. Advice was also sought outside the group of immediate participants on the potentialities of selected analytical methods for the experimental study of extraterrestrial life and its environment. More than 30 individuals contributed in this fashion written assessments of techniques in which they were particularly well versed. Our task was to examine the scientific foundations and merits of the proposal to undertake a biological exploration of Mars. What are the potential scientific yields? How valuable, if attained, would they be? What, in fact, is the possibility of life occurring on Mars? And of our detecting it with available and foreseeable technology? What could be achieved by further astronomical work from Earth? by Martian fly-by missions? by Martian orbiters? and Martian Landers? What payloads would we recommend for planetary missions? What timing and over-all strategy would we recommend for Martian exploration were we to consider it worthwhile at all? In brief, the over-all purpose was to recommend to. the government, through the Academy's Space Science Board, whether or not a biological exploration of Mars should be included in the nation's space program over the next few decades; and, further, to outline what that program, if any, should be.

CONFERENCE↗
NASA NTRS2012

From Extremophiles to Star Trek, The Use of Synthetic Biology in Astrobiology

Synthetic biology – the design and construction of new biological parts and systems and the redesign of existing ones for useful purposes – has the potential to transform fields from pharmaceuticals to fuels. Our lab has focused on the potential of synthetic biology to revolutionize all three major parts of astrobiology: Where do we come from? Where are we going? and Are we alone? For the first and third, synthetic biology is allowing us to answer whether the evolutionary narrative that has played out on planet earth is likely to have been unique or universal. For example, in our lab we are re-evolving biotic functions using only the most thermodynamically stable amino acids in order to understand potential capabilities of an early organism with a limited repertoire of amino acids. In the future synthetic biology will play an increasing role in human activities both on earth, in fields as diverse as bio-mining, human health and the industrial production of novel bio-composites. Beyond earth, we will rely increasingly on biologically-provided life support, as we have throughout our evolutionary history. In order to do this, the field will build on two of the great contributions of astrobiology: studies of the origin of life and life in extreme environments.

Life in Extreme Environments↗
NASA NTRS2016

Where Synthetic Biology Meets ET

Synthetic biology - the design and construction of new biological parts and systems and the redesign of existing ones for useful purposes - has the potential to transform fields from pharmaceuticals to fuels. Our lab has focused on the potential of synthetic biology to revolutionize all three major parts of astrobiology: Where do we come from? Where are we going? and Are we alone? For the first and third, synthetic biology is allowing us to answer whether the evolutionary narrative that has played out on planet earth is likely to have been unique or universal. For example, in our lab we are re-evolving the biosynthetic pathways of amino acids in order to understand potential capabilities of an early organism with a limited repertoire of amino acids and developing techniques for the recovery of metals from spent electronics on other planetary bodies. And what about the limits for life? Can we create organisms that expand the envelope for life? In the future synthetic biology will play an increasing role in human activities both on earth, in fields as diverse as human health and the industrial production of novel bio-composites. Beyond earth, we will rely increasingly on biologically-provided life support, as we have throughout our evolutionary history. In order to do this, the field will build on two of the great contributions of astrobiology: studies of the origin of life and life in extreme environments.

life in extreme environments↗
NASA NTRS2016

The Role of Synthetic Biology in NASA's Missions

The time has come to for NASA to exploit synthetic biology in pursuit of its missions, including aeronautics, earth science, astrobiology and most notably, human exploration. Conversely, NASA advances the fundamental technology of synthetic biology as no one else can because of its unique expertise in the origin of life and life in extreme environments, including the potential for alternate life forms. This enables unique, creative "game changing" advances. NASA's requirement for minimizing upmass in flight will also drive the field toward miniaturization and automation. These drivers will greatly increase the utility of synthetic biology solutions for military, health in remote areas and commercial purposes. To this end, we have begun a program at NASA to explore the use of synthetic biology in NASA's missions, particular space exploration. As part of this program, we began hosting an iGEM team of undergraduates drawn from Brown and Stanford Universities to conduct synthetic biology research at NASA Ames Research Center. The 2011 team (http://2011.igem.org/Team:Brown-Stanford) produced an award-winning project on using synthetic biology as a basis for a human Mars settlement.

synthetic biology↗
NASA NTRS2021

Space Biology Research and Biosensor Technologies: Past, Present, and Future

In light of future missions beyond low Earth orbit (LEO) and the potential establishment of bases on the Moon and Mars, the effects of the deep space environment on biology need to be examined in order to develop protective countermeasures. Although many biological experiments have been performed in space since the 1960s, most have occurred in LEO and for only short periods of time. These LEO missions have studied many biological phenomena in a variety of model organisms, and have utilized a broad range of technologies. However, given the constraints of the deep space environment, upcoming deep space biological missions will be largely limited to microbial organisms and plant seeds using miniaturized technologies. Small satellites such as CubeSats are capable of querying relevant space environments using novel, miniaturized instruments and biosensors. CubeSats also provide a low-cost alternative to larger, more complex missions, and require minimal crew support, if any. Several have been deployed in LEO, but the next iterations of biological CubeSats will travel beyond LEO. They will utilize biosensors that can better elucidate the effects of the space environment on biology, allowing humanity to return safely to deep space, venturing farther than ever before.

space biology↗
NASA NTRS1994

Cosmic heavy ion tracks in mesoscopic biological test objects

Since more than 20 years ago, when the National Academy of Sciences and the National Research Council of the U.S.A. released their report on 'HZE particle effects in manned spaced flight', it has been emphasized how difficult - if not even impossible - it is to assess their radiobiological impact on man from conventional studies where biological test organisms are stochastically exposed to 'large' fluences of heavy ions. An alternative, competing approach had been realized in the BIOSTACK experiments, where the effects of single cosmic as well as accelerator - heavy ions on individual biological test organisms could be investigated. Although presented from the beginning as the preferable approach for terrestrial investigations with accelerator heavy ions too ('The BIOSTACK as an approach to high LET radiation research'), only recently this insight is gaining more widespread recognition. In space flight experiments, additional constraints imposed by the infrastructure of the vehicle or satellite further impede such investigations. Restrictions concern the physical detector systems needed for the registration of the cosmic heavy ions' trajectories as well as the biological systems eligible as test organisms. Such optimized procedures and techniques were developed for the investigations on chromosome aberrations induced by cosmic heavy ions in cells of the stem meristem of lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa) and for the investigation of the radiobiological response of Wolffia arriza, which is the smallest flowering (water) plant. The biological effects were studied by the coworkers of the Russian Institute of Biomedical Problems (IBMP) which in cooperation with the European Space Agency ESA organized the exposure in the Biosatellites of the Cosmos series. Since biological investigations and physical measurements of particle tracks had to be performed in laboratories widely separated, the preferred fixed contact between biological test objects and the particle detectors until the geometrical correlation between tracks and organisms has been established could not be maintained. This gave rise to half a dozen of coordinate systems for different measurements which finally had to be related to a single stack reference system.

Facius, R.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Environmental Projects: Biological Assessment, Opinion, and New 34-Meter Beam-Waveguide Antenna (DSS 24) at Apollo Site - Volume 17

This report deals with the Biological Assessment, Biological Opinion and Final Report on the construction of a high- efficiency 34-meter, multifrequency beam-waveguide antenna at the Apollo Site of the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex, operated by JPL. According to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, a Biological Assessment must be conducted and a Biological Opinion, with terms and conditions, rendered (the Opinion by the U.S. Department of the Interior) before construction of any federal project that may affect endangered or threatened flora or fauna. After construction, a final report is filed with the Department. The desert tortoise, designated "threatened" by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Mojave ground squirrel and the Lane Mountain milk vetch, both designated "candidate threatened," required the reporting specified by the Act. The Assessment found no significant danger to the animal species if workers are educated about them. No stands of the plant species were observed in the surveyed construction area. The Department issued a Biological Opinion to safeguard the two animal species. The Service and the California Department of Fish and Game both issued a Biological Concurrence that JPL had satisfied all environmental criteria for preserving threatened species.

Bengelsdorf, Irving↗
NASA NTRS2000

Biological Moleculars: Have Most of Our Problems Already Been Solved?

Evolution has resulted in biological machinery that engineers have great reason to envy and at present can only poorly mimic. This is not just a curiosity as biological systems perform many functions that are desired industrial processes. Examples include photosynthesis, chemosynthesis, energy storage, low temperature chemical conversion, reproducible manufacture of chemical compounds, etc. The bases of biological machinery are the proteins and nucleic acids that comprise living organisms. Each molecule functions as a part of a biological machine. In many cases the molecule can be properly regarded as a stand alone machine of its own. Concepts and methods for harnessing the power of biological molecules exist but are often overlooked in the industrial world. Some are old and appear crude but are quite effective, e.g. the fermentation of grains and fruits. Currently, there is a revolution in progress regarding the harnessing biological processes. These include techniques such as genetic manipulation via polymerase chain reaction, forced evolution also known as evolution in a test tube, determination of molecular structure, and combinatorial chemistry. The following is a brief discussion on how these processes are performed and how they may relate to industrial and aerospace processes.

Downey, James P.↗
NASA NTRS2003

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Biological and Physical Research Enterprise Strategy

As the 21st century begins, NASA's new Vision and Mission focuses the Agency's Enterprises toward exploration and discovery.The Biological and Physical Research Enterprise has a unique and enabling role in support of the Agency's Vision and Mission. Our strategic research seeks innovations and solutions to enable the extension of life into deep space safely and productively. Our fundamental research, as well as our research partnerships with industry and other agencies, allow new knowledge and tech- nologies to bring improvements to life on Earth. Our interdisciplinary research in the unique laboratory of microgravity addresses opportunities and challenges on our home planet as well as in space environments. The Enterprise maintains a key role in encouraging and engaging the next generation of explorers from primary school through the grad- uate level via our direct student participation in space research.The Biological and Physical Research Enterprise encompasses three themes. The biological sciences research theme investigates ways to support a safe human presence in space. This theme addresses the definition and control of physiological and psychological risks from the space environment, including radiation,reduced gravity, and isolation. The biological sciences research theme is also responsible for the develop- ment of human support systems technology as well as fundamental biological research spanning topics from genomics to ecologies. The physical sciences research theme supports research that takes advantage of the space environment to expand our understanding of the fundamental laws of nature. This theme also supports applied physical sciences research to improve safety and performance of humans in space. The research partnerships and flight support theme establishes policies and allocates space resources to encourage and develop entrepreneurial partners access to space research.Working together across research disciplines, the Biological and Physical Research Enterprise is performing vital research and technology development to extend the reach of human space flight.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2006

The 'Biologically-Inspired Computing' Column

The field of Biology changed dramatically in 1953, with the determination by Francis Crick and James Dewey Watson of the double helix structure of DNA. This discovery changed Biology for ever, allowing the sequencing of the human genome, and the emergence of a "new Biology" focused on DNA, genes, proteins, data, and search. Computational Biology and Bioinformatics heavily rely on computing to facilitate research into life and development. Simultaneously, an understanding of the biology of living organisms indicates a parallel with computing systems: molecules in living cells interact, grow, and transform according to the "program" dictated by DNA. Moreover, paradigms of Computing are emerging based on modelling and developing computer-based systems exploiting ideas that are observed in nature. This includes building into computer systems self-management and self-governance mechanisms that are inspired by the human body's autonomic nervous system, modelling evolutionary systems analogous to colonies of ants or other insects, and developing highly-efficient and highly-complex distributed systems from large numbers of (often quite simple) largely homogeneous components to reflect the behaviour of flocks of birds, swarms of bees, herds of animals, or schools of fish. This new field of "Biologically-Inspired Computing", often known in other incarnations by other names, such as: Autonomic Computing, Pervasive Computing, Organic Computing, Biomimetics, and Artificial Life, amongst others, is poised at the intersection of Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and the Life Sciences. Successes have been reported in the fields of drug discovery, data communications, computer animation, control and command, exploration systems for space, undersea, and harsh environments, to name but a few, and augur much promise for future progress.

Hinchey, Mike↗
NASA NTRS2014

From Earth to Space: Application of Biological Treatment for the Removal of Ammonia from Water

Managing ammonia is often a challenge in both drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities. Ammonia is unregulated in drinking water, but its presence may result in numerous water quality issues in the distribution system such as loss of residual disinfectant, nitrification, and corrosion. Ammonia concentrations need to be managed in wastewater effluent to sustain the health of receiving water bodies. Biological treatment involves the microbiological oxidation of ammonia to nitrate through a two‐step process. While nitrification is common in the environment, and nitrifying bacteria can grow rapidly on filtration media, appropriate conditions, such as the presence of dissolved oxygen and required nutrients, need to be established. This presentation will highlight results from two ongoing research programs - one at NASA's Johnson Space Center, and the other at a drinking water facility in California. Both programs are designed to demonstrate nitrification through biological treatment. The objective of NASA's research is to be able to recycle wastewater to potable water for spaceflight mission. To this end, a biological water processor (BWP) has been integrated with a forward osmosis secondary treatment system (FOST). Bacteria mineralize organic carbon to carbon dioxide as well as ammonia‐nitrogen present in the wastewater to nitrogen gas, through a combination of nitrification and denitrification. The effluent from the BWP system is low in organic contaminants, but high in total dissolved solids. The FOST system, integrated downstream of the BWP, removes dissolved solids through a combination of concentration‐driven forward osmosis and pressure driven reverse osmosis. The integrated system testing planned for this year is expected to produce water that requires only a polishing step to meet potable water requirements for spaceflight. The pilot study in California is being conducted on Golden State Water Company's Yukon wellsthat have hydrogen sulfide odor, color, total organic carbon, bromide, iron and manganese in addition to ammonia. A treatment evaluation, conducted in 2011, recommended the testing of biological oxidation filtration for the removal of ammonia and production of biologically stable water. A 8‐month pilot testing program was conducted to develop and optimize key design and operational variables. Steadystate operational data was collected to demonstrate long‐term performance and inform California Department of Public Health permitting of the full‐scale process. As ammonia continues to present challenges to water and wastewater systems, innovative strategies such as biological treatment can be applied to successfully manage it. This presentation will discuss application of cutting‐age research being conducted by NASA that will bridge existing information gaps, and benefit municipal utilities.

Ghosh, Amlan↗
NASA NTRS2014

From Earth to Space: Application of Biological Treatment for the Removal of Ammonia from Water

Managing ammonia is often a challenge in both drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities. Ammonia is unregulated in drinking water, but its presence may result in numerous water quality issues in the distribution system such as loss of residual disinfectant, nitrification, and corrosion. Ammonia concentrations need to be managed in wastewater effluent to sustain the health of receiving water bodies. Biological treatment involves the microbiological oxidation of ammonia to nitrate through a two‐step process. While nitrification is common in the environment, and nitrifying bacteria can grow rapidly on filtration media, appropriate conditions, such as the presence of dissolved oxygen and required nutrients, need to be established. This presentation will highlight results from two ongoing research programs - one at NASA's Johnson Space Center, and the other at a drinking water facility in California. Both programs are designed to demonstrate nitrification through biological treatment. The objective of NASA's research is to be able to recycle wastewater to potable water for spaceflight missions. To this end, a biological water processor (BWP) has been integrated with a forward osmosis secondary treatment system (FOST). Bacteria mineralize organic carbon to carbon dioxide as well as ammonia‐nitrogen present in the wastewater to nitrogen gas, through a combination of nitrification and denitrification. The effluent from the BWP system is low in organic contaminants, but high in total dissolved solids. The FOST system, integrated downstream of the BWP, removes dissolved solids through a combination of concentration‐driven forward osmosis and pressure driven reverse osmosis. The integrated system testing planned for this year is expected to produce water that requires only a polishing step to meet potable water requirements for spaceflight. The pilot study in California is being conducted on Golden State Water Company's Yukon wells that have hydrogen sulfide odor, color, total organic carbon, bromide, iron and manganese in addition to ammonia. A treatment evaluation, conducted in 2011, recommended the testing of biological oxidation filtration for the removal of ammonia and production of biologically stable water. An 8‐month pilot testing program was conducted to develop and optimize key design and operational variables. Steadystate operational data was collected to demonstrate long‐term performance and inform California Department of Public Health permitting of the full‐scale process. As ammonia continues to present challenges to water and wastewater systems, innovative strategies such as biological treatment can be applied to successfully manage it. This presentation will discuss application of cutting‐age research being conducted by NASA that will bridge existing information gaps, and benefit municipal utilities.

Pickering, Karen↗
NASA NTRS2014

Apparatus and Methods for Manipulation and Optimization of Biological Systems

The invention provides systems and methods for manipulating biological systems, for example to elicit a more desired biological response from a biological sample, such as a tissue, organ, and/or a cell. In one aspect, the invention operates by efficiently searching through a large parametric space of stimuli and system parameters to manipulate, control, and optimize the response of biological samples sustained in the system. In one aspect, the systems and methods of the invention use at least one optimization algorithm to modify the actuator's control inputs for stimulation, responsive to the sensor's output of response signals. The invention can be used, e.g., to optimize any biological system, e.g., bioreactors for proteins, and the like, small molecules, polysaccharides, lipids, and the like. Another use of the apparatus and methods includes is for the discovery of key parameters in complex biological systems.

Ho, Chih-Ming↗
NASA NTRS2019

GeneLab: A Systems Biology Platform for Omics Analysis

NASA's GeneLab includes an open-access repository of some 200+ omics datasets generated by biological experiments relevant to spaceflight (including simulated cosmic radiation and microgravity). In order to maximize the intelligibility of these data, particularly for users with limited bioinformatics knowledge, GeneLab is now transforming the data in the repository into actual biological and physiological knowledge of the genetic and proteomic signatures found in these samples. This processed data is being derived by establishing standard data analysis workflows vetted by 114 scientists who are members of the four GeneLab Analysis Working Groups (Animal AWG, Plant AWG, Microbe AWG, Multi-Omics AWG). AWG members from institutes spanning the U.S. and four other countries participate on a voluntary basis. The AWGs meet monthly to discuss data mining, compare results and interpretations, and test forthcoming releases of the GeneLab Data Systems (GLDS). GLDS version 3.0 has been available to the general public since October 1st 2018, and has been providing a professional state-of-the-art bioinformatics platform for everyone in the space biology community to upload their data into a space biology omics data commons, to process their data with vetted standard workflows and to compare to existing analyses. The user interface for the platform is being designed to be accessible to a broad variety of users including those with limited bioinformatics experience, including high school and college students who can use it to learn about omics data analysis and space biology. As such, Genelab will constitute a powerful general public outreach capability of NASA and the Space Biology community at large. Data mining of the GeneLab database by the AWG has already started generating very interesting findings, including reports linking specific spaceflight conditions such as radiation, microgravity or carbon dioxide levels to molecular changes seen across various species. In this presentation, we will report on the current and future objectives for GeneLab, and review recent studies reported by the various AWGs relating molecular changes observed in various animal models and tissue with microgravity, radiation, circadian rhythm, hydration and carbon dioxide conditions.

Omics↗
NASA NTRS2019

GeneLab: A Systems Biology Platform for Omics Analysis: Disseminate and Reuse Data, Tools, and Samples Post-Project

NASA's GeneLab includes an open-access repository of some 200 plus omics datasets generated by biological experiments relevant to spaceflight (including simulated cosmic radiation and microgravity). In order to maximize the intelligibility of these data, particularly for users with limited bioinformatics knowledge, GeneLab is now transforming the data in the repository into actual biological and physiological knowledge of the genetic and proteomic signatures found in these samples. This processed data is being derived by establishing standard data analysis workflows vetted by 114 scientists who are members of the four GeneLab Analysis Working Groups (Animal AWG, Plant AWG, Microbe AWG, Multi-Omics AWG). AWG members from institutes spanning the U.S. and four other countries participate on a voluntary basis. The AWGs meet monthly to discuss data mining, compare results and interpretations, and test forthcoming releases of the GeneLab Data Systems (GLDS). GLDS version 3.0 has been available to the general public since October 1st 2018, and has been providing a professional state-of-the-art bioinformatics platform for everyone in the space biology community to upload their data into a space biology omics data commons, to process their data with vetted standard workflows and to compare to existing analyses. The user interface for the platform is being designed to be accessible to a broad variety of users including those with limited bioinformatics experience, including high school and college students who can use it to learn about omics data analysis and space biology. As such, Genelab will constitute a powerful general public outreach capability of NASA and the Space Biology community at large. Data mining of the GeneLab database by the AWG has already started generating very interesting findings, including reports linking specific spaceflight conditions such as radiation, microgravity or carbon dioxide levels to molecular changes seen across various species. In this presentation, we will report on the current and future objectives for GeneLab, and review recent studies reported by the various AWGs relating molecular changes observed in various animal models and tissue with microgravity, radiation, circadian rhythm, hydration and carbon dioxide conditions.

Omics↗
NASA NTRS2019

NASA GeneLab Platform Utilized for Space Radiation Dosimetry Biological Response Compared to Radiation Ground Studies

Ionizing radiation from Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR) is one of the major risk factors factor that will impact health of astronauts on extended missions outside the protective effects of the Earth's magnetic field. Currently there are gaps in our knowledge of the health risks associated with chronic low dose, low dose rate ionizing radiation, specifically ions associated with high (H) atomic number (Z) and energy (E). The NASA GeneLab project (genelab.nasa.gov) aims to provide a detailed library of Omics datasets associated with biological samples exposed to HZE. The GeneLab Data System (GLDS) includes datasets from both spaceflight and ground-based studies, a majority of which involved exposure to ionizing radiation. Recently GeneLab has also assessed radiation dosimetry data with omics datasets associated with samples flown to the International Space Station (ISS). The combination of the detailed information on radiation exposure for ground-based studies and curated dosimetry information for spaceflight experiments allows GeneLab to be the first comprehensive Omics database for space related research from which an investigator can generate hypotheses to direct future experiments utilizing both ground and space biological radiation data. We demonstrate the usefulness of these datasets by analyzing multiple GeneLab datasets associated with both radiation ground-based studies and spaceflight studies. The radiation ground based studies we analyzed includes both in vivo and in vitro work with a range ions from protons to iron particles with doses from 0.1Gy to 2Gy. These datasets were compared to both in vivo and in vitro datasets from samples flown to the ISS and on shorter shuttle missions with total doses of 0.1 mGy to 30 mGys. From this analysis we were able to associate distinct biological signatures associating specific ions to specific biological response to radiation exposure in space. For example, we discovered radiation biological response related to cardiovascular effects from proton ground studies are the dominating response for samples related to cardiovascular effects on the ISS. With this work we will provide a summary of how different ions will impact different biological response in space and how this can be used in future studies to assess optimal ground experiments to simulate space radiation.

Beheshti, Afshin↗