This week, NASA astronaut Ricky Arnold performed the first direct RNA sequencing experiment on the International Space Station. Having sequenced DNA, why have they moved on to RNA?  RNA is useful as it provides insight into how the DNA ‘code’ of an organism is interpreted at a given moment in time.  This blog from Oxford… Read More RNA sequencing performed successfully on the ISS!

Genes in Space is a competition for US students in grades 7-12, who are invited to design DNA experiments that address challenges in space exploration. The winner’s experiment is run on the ISS, among other prizes. Photo credit: NASA JSC For the first time, the winner of the 2018 competition will be able to incorporate DNA… Read More Genes in Space 2018 competition winner will feature DNA sequencing

In this episode of the NASA podcast, scientist Sarah Wallace talks about the importance of understanding DNA, whether it is microbial or human, and why that’s relevant to NASA. Listen here!

On 24th May the OA-9 S.S. J.R. Thompson Cygnus was captured by the robotic arm of the ISS, bringing BEST supplies to the station (Biomolecule Extraction and Sequencing Technology).  You can watch the capture here on youtube. The latest supplies will enable NASA scientists to move beyond earlier studies that allowed astronauts Kate Rubins and Peggy… Read More New supplies reach ISS, to prepare for identifying on-board microbes, direct RNA sequencing

A NASA blog has described Astronaut Peggy Whitson’s first successful sequencing of a microorganism in space, as part of the Genes in Space 3 programme. While Hurricane Harvey was profoundly affecting the people, businesses and homes of Texas, including the NASA Johnson Space Center, Sarah Wallace was supporting AstroPeggy from her home, linked to the… Read More “With a hurricane wreaking havoc outside, Wallace and Whitson set out to make history.”

A new batch of MinION DNA sequencing supplies has arrived on the International Space Station, where the crew will be performing experiments to identify species that they find on the ISS. A NASA blog says: “Crew members will collect a sample from within the space station to be cultured aboard the orbiting laboratory. The sample… Read More New DNA sequencing supplies arrive at the Space Station, ready to examine on-board organisms

The team behind the Biomolecule Sequencer project today issued a pre print describing their project to sequence DNA on the International Space Station.  The authors note that “Simulated runs of in-flight nanopore data using an automated bioinformatic pipeline demonstrated the feasibility of real-time sequencing analysis and metagenomic identification of microbes in space. Additionally, cloud and… Read More Biomolecule Sequencer issues pre-print publication

Today, NASA reported that more than a billion DNA bases had been sequenced on the space station. Here’s an update from NASA.

NASA has just announced that DNA sequencing on board the International Space Station was a success.  Here is a movie to describe the project, and to quote their announcement: “For the first time ever, DNA was successfully sequenced in microgravity as part of the Biomolecule Sequencer experiment performed by NASA astronaut Kate Rubins this weekend… Read More DNA sequencing on the ISS a success!

The MinION DNA sequencer is now under the ocean as well as on the International Space Station. The NASA Extreme Environment Mission (NEEMO) provides a research environment as close as possible to potential space exploration. Says the NASA NEEMO website:  “Much like space, the undersea world is a hostile, alien place for humans to live.” This… Read More First DNA sequencing under the sea: NEEMO uses the nanopore MinION