If scientists were designing a perfect study to see how living in space would impact the human body, they’d send one identical twin to space while the other stayed home.
Wait a minute – that’s exactly what they did!
Researchers overseeing NASA’s Twins Study pored over the biological readings from Scott and Mark Kelly, the West Orange natives who are both astronauts. Scott returned from nearly a year in space last March, while Mark is retired.
Mark recently joked on Twitter that the results of the study showed “we are related!”
1st results of @NASA’s Twin Studies w myself & @ShuttleCDRKelly are out. Turns out we are related! But there’s more: https://t.co/Ov8zV995QR pic.twitter.com/hfAG2s6MMw
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 28, 2017
The study showed differences in gene expression between the two brothers, with Scott’s levels of one component of DNA changing as a result of the 340 days he spent living in the International Space Station, according to Nature magazine.
Those levels eventually returned to normal after Scott Kelly’s mission was over.
Scientists also found differences in the length of the twins’ chromosomes, the bacteria found in their intestines, bone formation, and their basic immune response.
DNA methylation — the process by which a chemical marker is added to DNA — decreased in Scott during flight and increased in Mark over the same period, according to Nature. Levels in both men returned to normal after the end of Scott’s mission. DNA methylation changes how a gene expresses itself, and levels can naturally rise or fall over a lifetime.
While some of the study results will be released to the public, the two men have the final say about which elements of their personal health will remain private.
Kathleen O’Brien may be reached at kobrien@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @OBrienLedger. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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