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C. elegans in Space? A Model Biological Dosimeter.  A. M. Rose1 and D. L Baillie2  1Dept Medical Genetics University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada and 2Dept Mol. Biol. & Biochem., Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada

    Travel, living and working in space is now a reality.  With increasing numbers of people and extended lengths of time in space, it becomes more and more important to understand more fully the effects of space flight. The only species to survive the Columbia Space shuttle disaster was the roundworm, Caenorhabditis elegans, a genetic organism widely studied as a model for a range of biological functions.  C. elegans is know to be able to mate, reproduce and develop apparently normally during space flight.  Previous studies have used this roundworm to measure the amount of radiation exposure during space flights.  For astronauts who may be above the earth's atmosphere for extended periods of time, the cumulative amount of radiation exposure is a real concern.  Excessive doses of radiation are well documented to have a serious impact on human health, leading to increased incidence of cancer, acute physical illness, and ultimately death.  C. elegans is a perfect biological dosimeter and can be used to compare the amount of genetic damage caused by space flight relative to spontaneous levels on the ground.  Data collected over long periods of time would provide information about questions of the biological risks of long exposures to low doses and shorter exposure to radiation bursts, such as may occur during high sun spot activity.