Gravity and embryonic developmentThe relationship between the developing embryo (both plant and animal) and a gravitational field has long been contemplated. The difficulty in designing critical experiments on the surface of the earth because of its background of 1 g, has been an obstacle to a resolution of the problem. Biological responses to gravity (particularly in plants) are obvious in many cases; however, the influence of gravity as an environmental input to the developing embryo is not as obvious and has proven to be extremely difficult to define. In spite of this, over the years numerous attempts have been made using a variety of embryonic materials to come to grips with the role of gravity in development. Three research tools are available: the centrifuge, the clinostat, and the orbiting spacecraft. Experimental results are now available from all three sources. Some tenuous conclusions are drawn, and an attempt at a unifying theory of gravitational influence on embryonic development is made.
Document ID
19770041284
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Young, R. S. (NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Date Acquired
August 8, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1976
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Meeting Information
Meeting: Open Meeting of the Working Group on Space Biology