Yeast Tardigrade Gene

Tardigrades are known for their resilience and abvility to survive extreme environments. This project will investigate whether a tardigrade gene, integrated into a yeast gemone, can protect the yeast from the negative effects of microgravity. After genetic editing is done, yeast will be launched to and grown on the ISS, then returned to Earth for post-flight analyses. The implications of this research could be used when considering the design of sustainable ecosystems in space, on the Moon, and on Mars.