UAS-Dharwad’s Fruit Flies Selected for ISRO’s Mission Gaganyaan Research

The University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS)-Dharwad has had its fruit flies selected for critical research in ISRO’s Mission Gaganyaan, scheduled for early 2025. The research will focus on studying kidney stone formation in space using these fruit flies, aiming to address astronaut health concerns.

Key Details:

• Mission Gaganyaan Research: The research project, conducted in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), will investigate the impact of spaceflight on kidney stone formation. This is crucial as astronauts face increased risks of kidney stones due to calcium loss, dehydration, and changes in urine composition in space.
• Selection and Research: Out of 75 submissions from agricultural science universities, UAS-Dharwad’s kit, featuring 20 fruit flies, was chosen for the study. The research will use the fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) to model kidney stone formation, benefiting from their genetic similarity to humans and their short life cycle.
• Importance: Understanding how kidney stones form in space will help develop countermeasures to protect astronaut health. Reports have shown that kidney stones have been observed in astronauts more than 30 times during space missions.
• Fruit Fly Advantages: Drosophila melanogaster is an ideal model due to its 77% gene homology with human diseases, low cost, and its Malpighian tubules, which mimic human kidneys in both structure and function.

This innovative research will contribute to better understanding and management of kidney stones for astronauts, enhancing the safety and success of future space missions.

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