Synergetic Gene Discovery for Space Biology
Synergetic Gene Discovery for Space Biology
SpaceGenes+ reveals how radiation and microgravity interact at the molecular level to impact astronaut health and cancer biology.
SpaceGenes+ reveals how radiation and microgravity interact at the molecular level to impact astronaut health and cancer biology.
Why This Matters for Human Spaceflight
Why This Matters for Human Spaceflight
Long-duration spaceflight exposes astronauts to two powerful biological stressors: radiation and microgravity.
Individually, they disrupt cellular functions. But together, they amplify the risk — triggering hidden synergies in gene expression that traditional tools often miss.
What's at stake?
Long-duration spaceflight exposes astronauts to two powerful biological stressors: radiation and microgravity.
Individually, they disrupt cellular functions. But together, they amplify the risk — triggering hidden synergies in gene expression that traditional tools often miss.
What's at stake?
Hidden Molecular Interactions
Hidden Molecular Interactions
Complex gene responses like TP53 and BRCA1 that only emerge under combined stress conditions.
Complex gene responses like TP53 and BRCA1 that only emerge under combined stress conditions.
Accelerated Cancer Risk
Accelerated Cancer Risk
Amplified activation of DNA repair and tumor-suppressor genes (e.g., TP53, ATM, BRCA1).
Amplified activation of DNA repair and tumor-suppressor genes (e.g., TP53, ATM, BRCA1).
Ineffective Countermeasures
Ineffective Countermeasures
Treatments based on isolated stress models may miss real in-flight risks.
Treatments based on isolated stress models may miss real in-flight risks.
Spacegenes+ is an Interactive Space Bioinformatics Dashboard
Spacegenes+ is an Interactive Space Bioinformatics Dashboard
that detects synergetic gene responses by analyzing NASA's GeneLab data under real and simulated spaceflight stressors - microgravity and radiation.
that detects synergetic gene responses by analyzing NASA's GeneLab data under real and simulated spaceflight stressors - microgravity and radiation.
What Makes
SpaceGenes+ Different?
What Makes
SpaceGenes+ Different?
Cross-Study Integration
Cross-Study Integration
Combines multiple NASA GeneLab datasets for unified synergy analysis.
Combines multiple NASA GeneLab datasets for unified synergy analysis.
Synergy Detection Engine
Synergy Detection Engine
Flags genes where combined space stressors cause stronger activation than either alone.
Flags genes where combined space stressors cause stronger activation than either alone.
Instant Visualization
Instant Visualization
Transforms raw data into interactive, publication-ready heatmaps.
Transforms raw data into interactive, publication-ready heatmaps.
Where Can
You Use SpaceGenes+?
Where Can
You Use SpaceGenes+?
Form new hypotheses,
Form new hypotheses,
like which cancer-linked genes are synergistically activated in space.
like which cancer-linked genes are synergistically activated in space.
Design targeted experiments
Design targeted experiments
based on high-risk gene/stressor combos.
based on high-risk gene/stressor combos.
Support
Support
grant proposals, astronaut health policies, or academic research.
grant proposals, astronaut health policies, or academic research.
Who Is It For?
Who Is It For?
Space Biology Researchers
Space Biology Researchers
Quick access to cross-study molecular data, without needing code.
Drug Discovery Teams
Drug Discovery Teams
Identify high-risk gene targets for radiation and atrophy protection.
Identify high-risk gene targets for radiation and atrophy protection.
NASA Mission Planners
NASA Mission Planners
Visualize which biological systems need immediate attention for crew health.
Visualize which biological systems need immediate attention for crew health.
3 Simple Steps For Effortless Discovery From Data
3 Simple Steps For Effortless Discovery From Data
Input: Choose a Dataset
Input: Choose a Dataset
Researchers can: Select an existing dataset (like OSD-288) from NASA GeneLab.
Future feature: Paste a link to a new GeneLab study or upload CSV.
Researchers can: Select an existing dataset (like OSD-288) from NASA GeneLab.
Future feature: Paste a link to a new GeneLab study or upload CSV.
This becomes your input: gene expression data under stressors like radiation and microgravity.
This becomes your input: gene expression data under stressors like radiation and microgravity.
Analysis: Synergy Engine
Analysis: Synergy Engine
SpaceGenes+ automatically, compares fold-change gene activity across 4 stressor conditions (Control, Radiation, Microgravity, Combined) applying the Synergy Threshold Formula to flag non-additive gene responses.
SpaceGenes+ automatically, compares fold-change gene activity across 4 stressor conditions (Control, Radiation, Microgravity, Combined) applying the Synergy Threshold Formula to flag non-additive gene responses.
Synergy Score = FC_combined > 1.5 × (FC_radiation + FC_microgravity)
Synergy Score = FC_combined > 1.5 × (FC_radiation + FC_microgravity)
Output: Visual & Actionable Results
Output: Visual & Actionable Results
Visualised results in an interactive heatmap + synergy highlights.
Visualised results in an interactive heatmap + synergy highlights.
Top 5 synergistic genes auto-flagged. Tooltips showing fold-change + study ID.
Top 5 synergistic genes auto-flagged. Tooltips showing fold-change + study ID.
Exportable heatmap (PNG) for papers or proposals.
Exportable heatmap (PNG) for papers or proposals.
Real Research Scenarios
Real Research Scenarios
Note: In this prototype, only case 1 (OSD-288 murine spleen in space) is live and explored. Other cases are conceptual and demonstrate the platform’s future potential.
Note: In this prototype, only case 1 (OSD-288 murine spleen in space) is live and explored. Other cases are conceptual and demonstrate the platform’s future potential.
Case 1
Transcriptome analysis of murine spleen in space
Genes affected: TP53, ATM, GADD45A
Spaceflight exposure revealed synergistic upregulation of DNA damage response genes in the murine spleen, suggesting immune vulnerability under combined radiation and microgravity.
Potential Risk: May impair immune resilience on long-duration missions.
Case 1
Transcriptome analysis of murine spleen in space
Genes affected: TP53, ATM, GADD45A
Spaceflight exposure revealed synergistic upregulation of DNA damage response genes in the murine spleen, suggesting immune vulnerability under combined radiation and microgravity.
Potential Risk: May impair immune resilience on long-duration missions.
Case 1
Transcriptome analysis of murine spleen in space
Genes affected: TP53, ATM, GADD45A
Spaceflight exposure revealed synergistic upregulation of DNA damage response genes in the murine spleen, suggesting immune vulnerability under combined radiation and microgravity.
Potential Risk: May impair immune resilience on long-duration missions.
Case 1
Transcriptome analysis of murine spleen in space
Genes affected: TP53, ATM, GADD45A
Spaceflight exposure revealed synergistic upregulation of DNA damage response genes in the murine spleen, suggesting immune vulnerability under combined radiation and microgravity.
Potential Risk: May impair immune resilience on long-duration missions.
Case 1
Transcriptome analysis of murine spleen in space
Genes affected: TP53, ATM, GADD45A
Spaceflight exposure revealed synergistic upregulation of DNA damage response genes in the murine spleen, suggesting immune vulnerability under combined radiation and microgravity.
Potential Risk: May impair immune resilience on long-duration missions.
Case 1
Transcriptome analysis of murine spleen in space
Genes affected: TP53, ATM, GADD45A
Spaceflight exposure revealed synergistic upregulation of DNA damage response genes in the murine spleen, suggesting immune vulnerability under combined radiation and microgravity.
Potential Risk: May impair immune resilience on long-duration missions.
Mission Insights: Decoding Molecular Synergy
Mission Insights: Decoding Molecular Synergy
Key Molecular Findings
Key Molecular Findings
ATM & TP53: DNA Repair Surge
ATM & TP53: DNA Repair Surge
When radiation and microgravity act together, ATM and TP53 show amplified expression — early indicators of DNA repair stress.
When radiation and microgravity act together, ATM and TP53 show amplified expression — early indicators of DNA repair stress.
P21: Cellular Pause Mechanism
P21: Cellular Pause Mechanism
Increased P21 levels suggest that cells try to halt their cycle to repair before dividing — a self-defense signal.
Increased P21 levels suggest that cells try to halt their cycle to repair before dividing — a self-defense signal.
BRCA1: Overactivation Risk
BRCA1: Overactivation Risk
Synergistic overexpression of BRCA1 may hint at potential long-term cancer susceptibility under combined stress.
Synergistic overexpression of BRCA1 may hint at potential long-term cancer susceptibility under combined stress.
Novel Candidate Genes
Novel Candidate Genes
SpaceGenes+ detected unexpected synergy in lesser-known genes involved in immune response — potential leads for radioprotective drug research.
SpaceGenes+ detected unexpected synergy in lesser-known genes involved in immune response — potential leads for radioprotective drug research.
Data Insight Summary
Data Insight Summary
Our prototype explores OSD-288,
Our prototype explores OSD-288,
revealing how radiation + microgravity synergistically affect immune genes. SpaceGenes+ identifies and visualizes these genes clearly.
revealing how radiation + microgravity synergistically affect immune genes. SpaceGenes+ identifies and visualizes these genes clearly.
Impact Beyond Space
Impact Beyond Space
By spotlighting these interactions,
By spotlighting these interactions,
the tool informs cancer biology, aging research, and drug development here on Earth.
the tool informs cancer biology, aging research, and drug development here on Earth.
Future Vision
Future Vision
We aim to support researchers with plug-and-play synergy analysis tools. Future versions will integrate custom uploads, cross-study comparisons, and AI-driven biomarker prediction.
We aim to support researchers with plug-and-play synergy analysis tools. Future versions will integrate custom uploads, cross-study comparisons, and AI-driven biomarker prediction.
Expand dataset coverage across more tissues and organisms.
Expand dataset coverage across more tissues and organisms.
Add AI-assisted gene clustering for pathway discovery.
Add AI-assisted gene clustering for pathway discovery.
Enable collaboration dashboards for cross-lab comparison.
Enable collaboration dashboards for cross-lab comparison.
Integrate real-time visualization of spaceflight experiment metadata.
Integrate real-time visualization of spaceflight experiment metadata.
This is just the first prototype: a spark for a larger mission to make space biology data more human, usable, and impactful.
This is just the first prototype: a spark for a larger mission to make space biology data more human, usable, and impactful.
Common Questions Answered
Common Questions Answered
What is a “synergistic gene response”?
A gene shows synergistic response when its expression under combined stressors (radiation + microgravity) is stronger than the sum of each stressor alone. SpaceGenes+ detects these amplified effects in real data.
What is a “synergistic gene response”?
A gene shows synergistic response when its expression under combined stressors (radiation + microgravity) is stronger than the sum of each stressor alone. SpaceGenes+ detects these amplified effects in real data.
What is a “synergistic gene response”?
A gene shows synergistic response when its expression under combined stressors (radiation + microgravity) is stronger than the sum of each stressor alone. SpaceGenes+ detects these amplified effects in real data.
Where does the data come from?
We use open-access datasets from NASA GeneLab, such as GLDS-288 (mouse spleen in space). Future versions will allow uploading new datasets or selecting from a library.
Where does the data come from?
We use open-access datasets from NASA GeneLab, such as GLDS-288 (mouse spleen in space). Future versions will allow uploading new datasets or selecting from a library.
Where does the data come from?
We use open-access datasets from NASA GeneLab, such as GLDS-288 (mouse spleen in space). Future versions will allow uploading new datasets or selecting from a library.
Can this be used for cancer research?
Yes. Many synergy genes flagged — like TP53, ATM, BRCA1 — play key roles in DNA damage repair and tumor suppression. Insights can support ground-based oncology studies.
Can this be used for cancer research?
Yes. Many synergy genes flagged — like TP53, ATM, BRCA1 — play key roles in DNA damage repair and tumor suppression. Insights can support ground-based oncology studies.
Can this be used for cancer research?
Yes. Many synergy genes flagged — like TP53, ATM, BRCA1 — play key roles in DNA damage repair and tumor suppression. Insights can support ground-based oncology studies.
Is this tool only for astronauts?
Not at all. While designed for space health, SpaceGenes+ helps uncover how cells respond to multiple simultaneous stressors, useful in pharmacology, toxicology, and aging research.
Is this tool only for astronauts?
Not at all. While designed for space health, SpaceGenes+ helps uncover how cells respond to multiple simultaneous stressors, useful in pharmacology, toxicology, and aging research.
Is this tool only for astronauts?
Not at all. While designed for space health, SpaceGenes+ helps uncover how cells respond to multiple simultaneous stressors, useful in pharmacology, toxicology, and aging research.
How can I contribute or explore more?
You can visit our dashboard and reach out via the credits section. We welcome researchers, bioinformaticians, and developers for collaboration!
How can I contribute or explore more?
You can visit our dashboard and reach out via the credits section. We welcome researchers, bioinformaticians, and developers for collaboration!
How can I contribute or explore more?
You can visit our dashboard and reach out via the credits section. We welcome researchers, bioinformaticians, and developers for collaboration!
Behind The Dashboard
Behind The Dashboard
We use NASA GeneLab Study, transcriptome analysis of murine spleen in space as primary input:
We use NASA GeneLab Study, transcriptome analysis of murine spleen in space as primary input:
Bulk RNA-seq from mouse spleen after ISS exposure
Bulk RNA-seq from mouse spleen after ISS exposure
4 conditions: Control, Radiation, Microgravity, Combined
4 conditions: Control, Radiation, Microgravity, Combined
Synergy Score = Combined Fold Change > 1.5 × (Rad + Micro)
Synergy Score = Combined Fold Change > 1.5 × (Rad + Micro)
Research and Design Process Log
Research and Design Process Log
View the FigJam space where we planned, made prompts and designed this tool:
View the FigJam space where we planned, made prompts and designed this tool:
Ready to explore space molecular data like never before?
Ready to explore space molecular data like never before?
Go to the Synergy Dashboard (OSD-288)
Go to the Synergy Dashboard (OSD-288)