This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/jun/23/all-female-mars-colony-possible-using-frozen-sperm-says-study
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Mars colonisation possible through sperm bank in space, study suggests | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| All-female astronaut crews could reproduce in space without the help of accompanying men, scientists have suggested. | All-female astronaut crews could reproduce in space without the help of accompanying men, scientists have suggested. |
| A study has found that frozen samples of sperm exposed to microgravity retained similar characteristics to sperm samples kept on the ground, meaning a sperm bank could one day be set up in space to help populate new worlds. | |
| This could prove interesting for female astronauts, amid reports that future missions to Mars may involve women-only space crews. | This could prove interesting for female astronauts, amid reports that future missions to Mars may involve women-only space crews. |
| Helen Sharman, the first British astronaut, said at a conference in 2017 that there had been an unreleased Nasa report exploring sexual desires of space crew members during potential missions to Mars. | |
| Sharman said at the time that the report had recommended space crews of the same gender – “all men or all women”. | Sharman said at the time that the report had recommended space crews of the same gender – “all men or all women”. |
| Findings from the small preliminary study, involving sperm from 10 healthy donors, suggest that “the possibility of creating a human sperm bank outside of Earth” exists, according to the researchers. | Findings from the small preliminary study, involving sperm from 10 healthy donors, suggest that “the possibility of creating a human sperm bank outside of Earth” exists, according to the researchers. |
| The study was presented on Sunday at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology annual meeting in Vienna, Austria. | The study was presented on Sunday at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology annual meeting in Vienna, Austria. |
| Montserrat Boada, from Dexeus Women’s Health in Barcelona, who presented the research along with her colleagues, said: “Some studies suggest a significant decrease in the motility of a human, fresh sperm sample. But nothing has been reported on the possible effects of gravitational differences on frozen human gametes, in which state they could be transported from Earth to space.” | Montserrat Boada, from Dexeus Women’s Health in Barcelona, who presented the research along with her colleagues, said: “Some studies suggest a significant decrease in the motility of a human, fresh sperm sample. But nothing has been reported on the possible effects of gravitational differences on frozen human gametes, in which state they could be transported from Earth to space.” |
| Scientists uncover potential source of methane on Mars | Scientists uncover potential source of methane on Mars |
| One group of sperm samples used in the study had been exposed to microgravity with the help of a small aerobatic aircraft. The samples then underwent fertility screenings and were analysed for concentration, motility and DNA fragmentation. | One group of sperm samples used in the study had been exposed to microgravity with the help of a small aerobatic aircraft. The samples then underwent fertility screenings and were analysed for concentration, motility and DNA fragmentation. |
| No significant differences were detected between samples that had been given a ride and those that had stayed on the ground. | No significant differences were detected between samples that had been given a ride and those that had stayed on the ground. |
| The researchers said that further work was needed to fully understand the effect of space conditions, such as different levels of gravity, and that sperm would have to be exposed to space-like conditions for longer periods of time.“Our best option will be to perform the experiment using real spaceflight but access is very limited,” Boada said. | The researchers said that further work was needed to fully understand the effect of space conditions, such as different levels of gravity, and that sperm would have to be exposed to space-like conditions for longer periods of time.“Our best option will be to perform the experiment using real spaceflight but access is very limited,” Boada said. |
| Space | Space |
| Exploration | Exploration |
| Mars | Mars |
| Europe | Europe |
| news | news |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |