In a groundbreaking experiment, planaria—flatworms celebrated for their extraordinary regeneration abilities—are set to embark on a cosmic journey aboard China's space station. The Shenzhou spacecraft will transport dozens of planarian segments into orbit, offering scientists a fresh perspective on how microgravity influences tissue regeneration.
Zhang Wei, a researcher at the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, explained that the experiment will take place inside the station's "life ecosystem experiment cabinet" within the small universal biological cultivation module. "This year’s launch of Shenzhou will carry dozens of planarian segments into space," he noted, emphasizing the potential to explore the molecular foundations of regeneration under space conditions.
The study aims to observe the effects of the space environment on cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Researchers intend to use these insights to deepen our understanding of how gravity impacts fundamental regenerative processes, potentially guiding advances in regenerative medicine and long-term space exploration.
Building on earlier experiments with zebrafish—whose genetic similarity to humans reaches 87 percent—and fruit flies that exhibited altered behavior under microgravity, this new planaria experiment promises to enrich our knowledge of biological adaptation in extreme environments. Such research highlights the critical role of space-based experiments in unlocking innovations that benefit both scientific discovery and practical health solutions on the Chinese mainland and around the world.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
