The Degradation of Cartilage Cells in Microgravity

Olivia Askowitz

Overview

Cartilage, when subjected to low-gravity environments, tends to degrade or weaken. A cell rocker was used to simulate the effects of microgravity through the use of fluid shear tension’s properties when in microgravity. Cultured chondrocyte cells, that create and maintain articular cartilage, were tested in a cell rocker set to 120 revolutions per minute for 24 hours to determine the effects of microgravity on the specialized cells, if microgravity initiates cell apoptosis or irregular cell death. The idea that chondrocyte cells, when exposed to the conditions of microgravity, would undergo a form of cell death or visual distortion was tested. The results of the experiment were that the cells placed in the microgravity sample greatly increased, and then over the course of a couple days, the cells died or degraded. Therefore, the earlier hypothesis was correct. When exposed to microgravity, cells that create and maintain the cartilage would degrade. This is important to future long-term space travel, for applications for future generations of astronauts, and for potential problem solving remedies that can be applied to the future for exploration of other planets suitable for human life.

From the student

Once, I was just a shy girl in a biology class (that I really enjoyed). I had never even entertained the idea of creating a research project or continuing in the sciences. My teacher at the time really helped me to understand the beauty of the science, and how I could make a difference as well. In the early beginnings, I was terrified; how could these geniuses at my school come up with such good scientific studies, and how could I ever begin to compete with them? As time went on, I realized that it was just a process of doing what you really loved, and eventually you could find a way to make a difference. I owe a lot to the sciences, and the people who helped me get here-- the endless support from my teachers and my parents helped pave the path towards my life as it is, and towards the future goal of pursuing studies in science. Their support helped me envision something I wanted to study-- biology in microgravity (long-term space travel)-- and eventually helped me to be able to present my studies at AJAS, an incredible honor.