神舟二十一号｜4只小鼠已选定！我国首次送小鼠进入“太空家园”

Core Points - The upcoming Shenzhou-21 mission will mark the first time that mice are sent to China's space station for scientific experiments [1] - Four mice, two males and two females of the C57BL/6 strain, were selected from a pool of 48 candidates for the mission [1] - The primary focus of the experiment is to study the effects of microgravity and confined space on the behavior and physiological responses of the mice [1] Group 1 - The selected mice will be housed in two experimental units and will undergo a series of behavioral and physiological assessments during their time in space [1] - The selection process involved rigorous criteria, including growth curves and physiological indicators, to ensure genetic uniformity and minimal individual differences [1] - The experiment aims to explore the adaptive changes and stress responses of multiple organ systems in a space environment, which could provide insights into the effects of space on mammals [1] Group 2 - The living conditions for the mice in space will be carefully controlled, including a lighting schedule that mimics Earth’s day-night cycle and specialized food to meet their dietary needs [2] - The space station has previously hosted other small organisms like zebrafish and fruit flies, indicating a broader commitment to life sciences and material sciences in microgravity [2] - The Shenzhou-21 mission will also include 27 new scientific and application projects during the astronauts' time in orbit [3]