Microgravity and Plant GrowthKaitlyn Bloch, John Gonzales: Co-principal investigators Andrew Morganti: Science teacher, Holmes High SchoolBusiness Careers High School

How does microgravity affect the rate of cell division in plant cells?

Project Overview

• Growth (cell division) of radish plant

• Differences between Earth and microgravity

• Food for long flights

Research

• Gravitropism

• Starch-statolith hypothesis

• Gravity triggers growth

Variables

Hypothesis: Without the force of gravity, plant cells will divide at a slower rate, but will not stop dividing completely.

Type 3 FME Mini-Lab Materials

Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 33mL of water/GA3 mixCotton, 3 radish seeds 3mL of formalin

Procedure

Prepping the FME

tubes

Step 1

Open the first

clamp, shake

Step 2

Open the second clamp, shake

Step 3

Analyze

Step 4

Acknowledgments

We are very thankful to the following local and national partners who made this opportunity possible.

• Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum• Center for the Advancement of Science in Space• National Center for Earth and Space Science Education• City of San Antonio• Northside Education Foundation• Whitacre Family Foundation• Southwest Research Institute• The University of Texas at San Antonio• National Defense Education Program/Cryptologic and Cyber Systems Division

Works Cited

• Almeida, Eduardo. The Effects of Microgravity on Cells (n.d.): n. pag. NASA. Web.

• Blancaflor, Elison B., and Patrick H. Masson. "Plant Gravitropism. Unraveling the Ups and Downs of a

Complex Process." Plant Physiology. American Society of Plant Biologists, n.d. Web.

• Dunbar, Brian. "Growing Plants and Vegetables in a Space Garden." NASA. NASA, 15 June 2010. Web.

• Hangarter, Roger P. "Plant Tropic Responses." Plants In Motion. Indiana University, Department of

Biology, n.d. Web.

• Hund, Richard. "How Plants Sense Gravity -- a New Look at the Roles of Genetics and the

Cytoskeleton." EurekAlert! AAAS, 4 Feb. 2013. Web.

• "Root and Stem Growth." Crescent Public Schools, n.d. Web.