GMAs

Alexandria | Build a Space Biology Superhero

Genetic modified Astronauts

High-Level Project Summary

Our website makes people familiar with the idea of human genetic modification and how our idea would help astronauts biologically as it makes them adapt easier to space and all the extraordinary circumstances they face there. Our solution is basically modifying the genes of astronauts to make their life in space easier, we basically extract a gene called Dsup from water bears (tardigrades), then we use the technique of PCR or gel electrophoresis to multiply the gene so it’s ready for the final step which is inserting it in human cells. Now, if we are talking about bringing this idea to life, this is going to need at least a couple of decades; considering that this idea has never been conside

Link to Final Project

https://allaasan75.wixsite.com/gmas

Link to Project "Demo"

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/13vVsoe-E1tvqGM_aZ88LNnk1sP_LYDS7/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=103348419052655518005&rtpof=true&sd=true

Detailed Project Description

Problem:

Astronauts faces lots of challenges during their trip in space. One of the most dangerous risks that faces them is radiation. Radiation exposure for a long term can damage astronauts’ suits and even causes a bad impact on astronauts’ health. Another one is exposing to high pressure. High pressure can boil astronauts’ blood. Also, they expose to high temperature as well. Their suit is just a limit to survive in a short duration in space.

Solution:

Tardigrades (water bears) is a kind of bacteria that lives in different places. Tardigrades found before existing human on earth. They replicate very quickly and in huge numbers. But the main reason that makes them alive all this whole time is their superpowers. Tardigrades have a specific protein called Dsup, this protein is the source of their superpowers. This superpower can be summered in 1) surviving dry condition.

2) tolerate high radiation exposure.

3) can bear high pressure and temperature even more than boiling point.

By using biotechnology or genetic modification we can insert this superpower into astronauts. This can make their trip longer than it used to be and they can explore more in space.

Space Agency Data

NASA Space Agency is used in our project. we used it to know which problems that faced by the astronauts, and prior solutions of the scientists and we used the genes lab to know about the impacts of the project.

Hackathon Journey

We spent two whole days without sleep, without stopping or resting

Two whole days, we accomplished a lot.

From the first moment the te met, we were cooperating and starting to work on our website, improving it and providing it with all the useful possible information, and then we put our unique solution in it. After that, we decided to improve our solution that will solve the problem of astronauts.

We spent the first day searching and working on the website.

As for the second day, we were preparing to present our project as an idea that could be implemented on the ground.

And here we have reaped the fruits of our labour, and we have won the first place in biology category. It was an indescribable moment for us as a team, we were happy with what we achieved and we look forward to working again together to improve the quality of our idea and the possibility of its implementation on the ground.