The effect of gravity in transporting growth hormones in plants has been demonstrated at Dartmouth College using radiocarbon-labeled growth hormones. Plant geotropisms and growth movements have been studied and biosatellite experiments developed.
Anatomy is considered a derivative adaptation to gravity ([ref.67]). A large background of plant research exists on the effect of orientation on plant responses. Information from clinostat experiments is considered susceptible of extrapolation to low gravity conditions because the threshold period for gravitational triggering is relatively long.
Once over critical minimum dimensions, the major effects of low gravity would be assumed to occur in those heterocellular organisms that develop in more or less fixed orientation with respect to terrestrial gravity and which respond to changes in orientation with relatively long induction periods; these are the higher plant orders. On the other extreme are the complex primates which respond rapidly, but whose multiplicity of organs and correlative mechanisms are susceptible to malfunction and disorganization. It may be suggested that the heterocellular lower plants and invertebrates will be less affected. Perturbations of the environment to which the experimental organism is exposed must be limited or controlled to reduce uncertainties in interpretation of the results. At the same time, the introduction of known perturbations may assist in isolating the effects due solely to gravity. Study of de novo differentiation and other phenomena immediately after syngamy may be of particular importance. Study of anatomical changes after exposure of the organism to low gravity is important.
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF SPACE RADIATION[1]
Radiation sources in space are of three types: galactic cosmic radiation, Van Allen belts, and solar flares with an intense proton flux. Cosmic radiation has higher energy levels than radiation produced by manmade accelerators.
The Panel on Radiation Biology, while recognizing the need for radiobiological studies of an applied nature with reference to manned flight programs, stated that it would be shortsighted for the United States to confine its efforts to the solution of immediate problems since, in the long run, successful exploration of space will be aided by the contributions of basic research. Both the immediate biological research program and the continuing program for basic studies should be built upon the large body of existing knowledge of radiation effects. The attitude that all radiobiological experiments need be repeated in the space environment should be resolutely rejected. Since fundamental radiobiology cannot be performed easily in space, it has been recommended that, wherever possible, these investigations be carried out in ground laboratories in preference to flying laboratories.
Space environment does vary from the terrestrial environment, but the variations are not so great as to lead to the expectation of strikingly different biological effects of radiation in space. However, it is conceivable that radiations whose effects are well known under terrestrial conditions may have some unsuspected biological effects when combined with unusual features of the space environment: e.g., zero g. Previous space radiobiological studies have depended solely on very low and inaccurately measured doses of ambient space radiation. It has been difficult to distinguish between the observed response levels and the random noise; thus, experiments have been inconclusive.
Biological Effects of Heavy Ions and Mesons
The biological effects of heavy ions (especially Z>2) and mesons are of specific interest to space radiobiology.