On the flipside, the scientists say, it could also induce cancers such as in the liver and leukemia in humans.Using a systems biology approach- computational and mathematical modelling of complex biological systems- experts at the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP) and Presidency University studied the linkages between gene expression and human health in micro-gravity condition.
“The aim was to understand how various molecular pathways are regulated in response to micro-gravity and how it alters expression of genes. Through a new type of analysis (systems biology), we have found the genetic signature for leukemia and liver cancer,” said Sangram Bagh, Ramanujan Fellow, Associate Professor, Biophysics and Structural Genomics Division.
“Additionally, we have shown cancer drugs may respond better in zero gravity,” said Bagh, also the lead author of the study. The findings have been published in Nature Scientific Reports in May and the team includes Sayak Mukhopadhyay, Rohini Saha, Anbarasi Palanisamy, Madhurima Ghosh, Anupriya Biswas, Saheli Roy, Arijit Pal and Kathakali Sarkar.