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Abstract

The Effect of Simulated Microgravity on the Degradation of Chondrocytes

   This project is the Effect of Simulated Microgravity on the Degradation of Chondrocytes, by Olivia Askowitz, advised by Ms. Iris Thompson at American Heritage Boca-Delray School. Cartilage, when subjected to low-gravity environments, tends to degrade or weaken. A cell rocker was used to simulate the effects of microgravity through the use of fluid shear tension’s properties when in microgravity. Cultured chondrocyte cells, that create and maintain articular cartilage, were tested in a cell rocker set to 120 revolutions per minute for 24 hours to determine the effects of microgravity on the specialized cells, if microgravity initiates cell apoptosis or irregular cell death. The idea that chondrocyte cells, when exposed to the conditions of microgravity, would undergo a form of cell death or visual distortion was tested. The results of the experiment were that the cells placed in the microgravity sample greatly increased, and then over the course of a couple days, the cells died or degraded. Therefore, the earlier hypothesis was correct. When exposed to microgravity, cells that create and maintain the cartilage would degrade. This is important to future long-term space travel, and for applications for future generations of astronauts.

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Slide Presentation

Sigma Xi from OliviaAskowitz

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Project Personal Video and Presentation - The Effect of Simulated Microgravity on the Degradation of Chondrocytes. Thank you for watching!