Mason County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 103 Shelton, WA 98584-0103 The Mason Log Volume 14 Issue 7 March 1, 2017 March meeting •   Thursday, March 2nd •   7:00 p.m. Start time •   Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 12th & Connection •   Membership dues - single: $15.00 Couple: $20.00 •   Find us on the web at http://rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wamcgs/ The inside scoop Ø   DNA in space Ø   Ancient DNA Ø   Nothing new in America DNA in space Mark and Scott Kelly are astronauts and identical twins, that all changed after Scott spent a year in space. The Kellys were part of NASA’s Twins Study. The study has two halves. One is Scott and the other is Mark. Both have been in space, but Scott spent a continuous year in space and returned to Earth March 1, 2016. Both were subjected to the same battery of biological testing and sampling procedures; before, during, and after Scott’s space trip. They were poked, prodded, sampled, and tested on a myriad of items. Now, a year after landing, we are learning preliminary findings of the analysis of information and test results gathered over the study period. NASA has plans to release more results as they become available, but right now what we learned is very interesting; for instance, Scott Kelly grew two inches while in space. There’s more below. Þ   Scott’s telomeres on the ends of his chromosomes in his white blood cells lengthened while in space. Researchers said it could be attributed to increased exercise and his reduced calorie intake during flight. The telomeres shortened when he returned. Telomeres typically decrease in length as a person ages. Þ   The study found the level of chemical DNA modification slowed while in space but then returned to normal after returning to Earth. Þ   Scott’s cognitive abilities in speed and accuracy slowed just slightly after the mission. Þ   Scott’s bone formation slowed during the second half of his trip. Also, there was a spike in inflammation right after landing, which could be because of the stresses of re-entry. Þ   The study determined a stress hormone was “low-normal” throughout the trip but increased over the course of the expedition. The study said the hormone, linked to bone and muscle health, was, “likely impacted by heavy exercise countermeasures during flight.” Þ   Two dominant bacterial groups were more prevalent in Scott when he was in space versus when he was on Earth. Þ   Scott aged a few milliseconds slower than his brother did on Earth. So, are they still identical? No. Well maybe. Possibly so. More likely sort of. Almost. I’m not sure myself, , OCR Text: Mason County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 103 Shelton, WA 98584-0103 The Mason Log Volume 14 Issue 7 March 1, 2017 March meeting •   Thursday, March 2nd •   7:00 p.m. Start time •   Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 12th & Connection •   Membership dues - single: $15.00 Couple: $20.00 •   Find us on the web at http://rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wamcgs/ The inside scoop Ø   DNA in space Ø   Ancient DNA Ø   Nothing new in America DNA in space Mark and Scott Kelly are astronauts and identical twins, that all changed after Scott spent a year in space. The Kellys were part of NASA’s Twins Study. The study has two halves. One is Scott and the other is Mark. Both have been in space, but Scott spent a continuous year in space and returned to Earth March 1, 2016. Both were subjected to the same battery of biological testing and sampling procedures; before, during, and after Scott’s space trip. They were poked, prodded, sampled, and tested on a myriad of items. Now, a year after landing, we are learning preliminary findings of the analysis of information and test results gathered over the study period. NASA has plans to release more results as they become available, but right now what we learned is very interesting; for instance, Scott Kelly grew two inches while in space. There’s more below. Þ   Scott’s telomeres on the ends of his chromosomes in his white blood cells lengthened while in space. Researchers said it could be attributed to increased exercise and his reduced calorie intake during flight. The telomeres shortened when he returned. Telomeres typically decrease in length as a person ages. Þ   The study found the level of chemical DNA modification slowed while in space but then returned to normal after returning to Earth. Þ   Scott’s cognitive abilities in speed and accuracy slowed just slightly after the mission. Þ   Scott’s bone formation slowed during the second half of his trip. Also, there was a spike in inflammation right after landing, which could be because of the stresses of re-entry. Þ   The study determined a stress hormone was “low-normal” throughout the trip but increased over the course of the expedition. The study said the hormone, linked to bone and muscle health, was, “likely impacted by heavy exercise countermeasures during flight.” Þ   Two dominant bacterial groups were more prevalent in Scott when he was in space versus when he was on Earth. Þ   Scott aged a few milliseconds slower than his brother did on Earth. So, are they still identical? No. Well maybe. Possibly so. More likely sort of. Almost. I’m not sure myself, , Mason County Genealogical Society,Mason Logs,Mason Logs,2017,V14 I7 MCGS Mar 2017 Newsletter.pdf,V14 I7 MCGS Mar 2017 Newsletter.pdf Page 1, V14 I7 MCGS Mar 2017 Newsletter.pdf Page 1