GiS Spotlight: 2018 Honorable Mention Alice Muravin

Briefly explain your experiment:

My experiment tests how space (particularly microgravity) will affect the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing of the LRP5 gene in bone tissues and how this will affect bone density. My experiment would allow us to not only obtain a better understanding of how this modification can mediate bone density loss, but to also assess whether CRISPR could be used as a gene therapy tool for medical conditions during long-term space travel. Moreover, if the protocol will occur at a more successful rate in space than on Earth, it may hold promise for those who suffer from deleterious diseases through clinical use in space.

Why did you choose to participate in Genes in Space?

Genetics and space travel are two topics that have fascinated me for a long time. So when I discovered this crossover between them in the Genes in Space competition. I found it to be a fascinating opportunity for me to pursue and explore.

How did you choose your topic?

It is a well-known fact that bone density loss is a major concern when it comes to people living in space. Consequently, when I looked up this complication, it wasn’t to my greatest surprise to find that numerous approaches were taken in order to resolve it, including exercise and nutrient supplements. However, what I found to be very interesting was that I couldn’t find a study that looked at gene editing as a possible remedy. I then searched for promising gene editing techniques that are already being used in humans, which led me to CRISPR.

 What did you gain by participating in Genes in Space?

As an autodidactic homeschooler, I always strive to find an opportunity to learn. By participating in Genes in Space, I acquired a better understanding of how to design a research study from the ground up, find the pertinent resources that would substantiate my experiment’s validity, and to be flexible in the way that I think. Besides knowledge, I also sharpened my ability to address a given problem head on and to take risks when it comes to the final entry that I submit. After all, the true reward that you obtain in the end is a boost to your self-esteem when it turns out that your idea/work has been recognized and appreciated.

Do you have any advice for future Genes in Space contestants?

Think big. Be bold. Be brave. As the famous actress, humanitarian, and fashion icon Audrey Hepburn once said, “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible!”