The Physics & Astronomy Colloquium Series presents Nathaniel Szewczyk of Ohio University COM-Biomedical Sciences, discussing "Worms on the Moon, Enabling Improved Health on Earth and Beyond" on Jan. 27

Abstract:The soil nematode C. elegans is a common laboratory animal for understanding the genomic basis of human health. It has also been used to understand the biological response to spaceflight. Current plans for Biology experiments on the Moon are limited to single celled and invertebrate animals including C. elegans.

Here I will explain how I am using worms in space and on Earth to understand the control of muscle health on Earth and how these techniques can also be used in Astronauts. I will briefly review the contemporary conceptual framework for studying human health in space and highlight past worm spaceflight operations in consideration of what is feasible on the Moon in the near term. I will then briefly review biological insights gained from worms in space and highlight how these have influenced studies on worm health on Earth and how we are translating these findings into human subjects on Earth as well as astronauts.