Chapter 2
Methods for Gravitational Biology
Research
Ruth Hemmersbach, Donat-Peter Häder, and Markus Braun
Abstract To study the impact of gravity on living systems on the cellular up to the
organismic level, a variety of experimental platforms are available for gravitational
biology and biomedical research providing either an almost stimulus-free microgravity environment (near weightlessness) of different duration and boundary conditions. The spectrum of real-microgravity research platforms is complemented by
devices which are used to either increase the gravity level (centrifuges) or modify
the impact of gravity on biological systems (clinostats and random-positioning
machines)—the so-called ground-based facilities. Rotating biological samples horizontally or in a two- or three-dimensional mode is often used to randomize the effect
of gravity in the attempt to eliminate the gravity effect on sensing mechanisms and
gravity-related responses. Sophisticated centrifuges have been designed allowing
studies from cells up to humans, either on ground under hypergravity conditions
(> 1 g) or in space, where they offer the chance to stepwise increase the acceleration force from 0 g (microgravity) to 1 g or higher and vice versa. In such a way,
centrifuges are used to determine threshold values of gravisensitivity and to unravel
molecular and cellular mechanisms of gravity sensing and gravity-related responses.
By using the whole spectrum of experimental platforms, gravitational biologists gain
deep insight into gravity-related biological processes and continuously increase our
knowledge of how gravity affects life on Earth.
Keywords Clinostat · Random Positioning Machine · Parabolic flight · ISS ·
Space shuttle · Satellite
2.1 Introduction
Gravity is a unique environmental stimulus, constantly acting, thus, having shaped
life during evolution. Consequently, the question arises about its impact, how it
affects fundamental physiological processes. Most organisms have developed a
specific gravisensor system and use gravity for orientation, but gravity also generally
affects physiological, cellular and molecular processes, both best investigated in the
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer International Publishing AG,
part of Springer Nature 2018
M. Braun et al., Gravitational Biology I, SpringerBriefs in Space Life Sciences,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93894-3_2
13
Methods for Gravitational Biology
Research
Ruth Hemmersbach, Donat-Peter Häder, and Markus Braun
Abstract To study the impact of gravity on living systems on the cellular up to the
organismic level, a variety of experimental platforms are available for gravitational
biology and biomedical research providing either an almost stimulus-free microgravity environment (near weightlessness) of different duration and boundary conditions. The spectrum of real-microgravity research platforms is complemented by
devices which are used to either increase the gravity level (centrifuges) or modify
the impact of gravity on biological systems (clinostats and random-positioning
machines)—the so-called ground-based facilities. Rotating biological samples horizontally or in a two- or three-dimensional mode is often used to randomize the effect
of gravity in the attempt to eliminate the gravity effect on sensing mechanisms and
gravity-related responses. Sophisticated centrifuges have been designed allowing
studies from cells up to humans, either on ground under hypergravity conditions
(> 1 g) or in space, where they offer the chance to stepwise increase the acceleration force from 0 g (microgravity) to 1 g or higher and vice versa. In such a way,
centrifuges are used to determine threshold values of gravisensitivity and to unravel
molecular and cellular mechanisms of gravity sensing and gravity-related responses.
By using the whole spectrum of experimental platforms, gravitational biologists gain
deep insight into gravity-related biological processes and continuously increase our
knowledge of how gravity affects life on Earth.
Keywords Clinostat · Random Positioning Machine · Parabolic flight · ISS ·
Space shuttle · Satellite
2.1 Introduction
Gravity is a unique environmental stimulus, constantly acting, thus, having shaped
life during evolution. Consequently, the question arises about its impact, how it
affects fundamental physiological processes. Most organisms have developed a
specific gravisensor system and use gravity for orientation, but gravity also generally
affects physiological, cellular and molecular processes, both best investigated in the
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer International Publishing AG,
part of Springer Nature 2018
M. Braun et al., Gravitational Biology I, SpringerBriefs in Space Life Sciences,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93894-3_2
13