BIOKon In Space (BIOKIS), Seven Investigations
Research Area: Cellular Biology
Expedition(s): 27 and 28
Principal Investigator(s): ● Pier Luigi Ganga, Kayser Italia, Livorno, Italy
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
BIOKon In Space (BIOKIS) involves the investigation of 7 experiments sponsored by the Italian
Space Agency (ASI-Agenzia Spaziale Italiana) in the areas of cellular biology, radiation and
radioprotection, aging, germination, and plant growth. These experiments aim to evaluate
various biological species to determine genetic distinctions following short-duration spaceflight;
also, BIOKIS utilizes a variety of dosimeters to monitor radiation.
EARTH BENEFITS
BIOKIS-BIOS-SPORE
This study inspires future scientists
to pursue a career studying the
influence of spaceflight on fertility,
which can ultimately improve
human existence in orbit.BIOKIS - ArabidopS-ISS
This study inspires future scientists
to pursue a career studying
alterations in plant physiology
associated with spaceflight, which
can ultimately improve human
existence in orbit.BIOKIS - HiDOSE
This study can lead to further understanding of how radiation may affect human function on
Earth as well as in space.
BIOKIS - PHOTO-EVOLUTION
The availability of regenerating an oxygen supporting system is of great relevance in space as
well as on Earth. For environmental purposes, algae cultures could be applicable to the polluted
water of civil and industrial wastewater biological oxidation processes. For medical applications,
algae cultures could be used as an artificial lung that can replace the gas exchange function of
a person’s native lungs during recovery from injury or illness, or until donor lungs are available
for transplantation.
BIOKIS - TARDIKISS
This study can improve human life and aging on Earth by engineering new molecules and
metabolites for tissue and cell conservation, which can be used for developing
countermeasures against radiation and aging.
S134E006385 – STS-134 Pilot Gregory Johnson working with the
BIOKon in Space.