WetLab-2: How NASA Brought Real-Time Gene Analysis to the Space Station
The revolutionary system transforming the ISS from an "exposure facility" into a true molecular biology laboratory
Introduction: A Laboratory Revolution in Orbit
Imagine trying to perform delicate molecular biology experiments while moving at 17,500 miles per hour, floating in microgravity, with no possibility of popping next door to borrow a reagent or repair a malfunctioning instrument. This has been the reality for biological research aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for years—until recently.
Enter WetLab-2, a revolutionary system that has transformed the ISS from what scientists called an "exposure facility" into a true living laboratory 3 . This cutting-edge platform enables researchers to perform real-time gene expression analysis in space, dramatically accelerating the pace of scientific discovery beyond Earth's atmosphere.
By allowing astronauts to analyze biological samples while experiments are still running, WetLab-2 has opened new frontiers in our understanding of how spaceflight affects living organisms at the most fundamental level—their genes.
The Challenge: Why Space Biology Needed a New Approach
The Limitations of Pre-WetLab Space Research
Before WetLab-2, conducting biological research in space was a slow, constrained process. Scientists had to:
Pre-WetLab Process
- Carefully package their experiments before launch
- Hope everything worked correctly in microgravity
- Wait weeks or months for samples to return to Earth
- Analyze the samples in their home laboratories
- Design entirely new experiments if they wanted to follow up on unexpected results 3
Microgravity Challenges
We call the ISS a national laboratory, but it has really felt more like an exposure facility. Everything for an experiment goes up, is exposed to microgravity, down it comes, and now you get to find out what effect microgravity had on it.
How WetLab-2 Works: Bringing PCR to Space
What is Quantitative PCR?
At its core, WetLab-2 uses a well-established molecular biology technique called quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). This method allows scientists to measure the activity of specific genes—essentially determining which genes are "turned on" or "turned off" under different conditions 6 .
Gene activity reveals crucial information about how cells are responding to their environment, whether that environment is a laboratory Petri dish or the microgravity conditions of space.
The Components: Specialized Hardware for Space
The WetLab-2 system consists of several key components, each specially adapted for use in space:
Sample Preparation Module
Extracts and purifies RNA from biological samples using non-toxic reagents 7
Cepheid SmartCycler®
A commercial qPCR instrument rugged enough for spaceflight 1
Freeze-dried reagent beads
Contain all necessary components for qPCR in stable form 3
3D-printed specialized equipment
Includes rotors to help manage liquids in microgravity 3
Innovation in RNA Extraction
One of WetLab-2's most significant breakthroughs is its ability to extract RNA quickly and safely in space. On Earth, RNA extraction typically takes 4-6 hours and uses toxic chemicals. The WetLab-2 team developed a method that takes approximately 25 minutes and uses only non-toxic reagents—a critical consideration for the closed environment of the ISS 7 .
| Component | Function | Innovation for Space |
|---|---|---|
| Sample Preparation Module | Extracts and purifies RNA from cells/tissues | Uses non-toxic reagents, works in microgravity |
| Cepheid SmartCycler® | Performs quantitative PCR | Ruggedized for launch and microgravity |
| Freeze-dried reagent beads | Contain qPCR components | Stable without refrigeration for months |
| 3D-printed rotor | Holds reaction tubes | Allows liquid management in microgravity |
The Validation Experiments: Making History in Orbit
First Tests: Proving PCR Works in Space
The WetLab-2 system launched to the ISS aboard SpaceX's eighth cargo resupply mission on April 8, 2016 7 . The initial validation tests were conducted by NASA astronaut Jeff Williams, who became the first person to perform molecular biology analyses in orbit.
DNA amplification tests
Williams prepared samples of freeze-dried DNA for qPCR analysis, amplified the DNA, and collected data that was emailed to Earth 7 .
RNA extraction from cells
Using the Sample Prep Module, Williams isolated RNA from a harmless strain of Escherichia coli bacteria 7 .
RNA extraction from tissues
The team tested extraction from solid tissue (mouse liver), a more complex challenge 7 .
Breakthrough Results
The tests were remarkably successful. The team received the first qPCR data from space just hours after Williams began preparing the samples. On April 29, 2016, the team celebrated a major milestone:
We received data from the space station that clearly shows that we isolated RNA in microgravity, achieved reverse transcription—conversion of RNA to DNA—and got amplification of that DNA 7 .
This success proved that quantitative PCR does work in space, answering a fundamental question about whether the rapid heating and cooling required for PCR would function correctly without thermally-driven convection 3 .
| Date | Experiment Phase | Result | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 8, 2016 | Launch aboard SpaceX CRS-8 | Successful delivery to ISS | System reached space station |
| April 25, 2016 | First DNA amplification tests | System worked as expected | Proved PCR can work in microgravity |
| April 29, 2016 | RNA extraction from E. coli cells | Successful RNA isolation and analysis | First RNA extraction in space |
| May 2, 2016 | RNA extraction from mouse liver | Successful RNA isolation and analysis | Proved system works with complex tissues |
Research Applications: From Basic Science to Astronaut Health
WetLab-2 enables a broad range of life science investigations in space, including:
Real-World Example: Studying Ovarian Function in Space
One example of how WetLab-2 could contribute to future research comes from a study on mouse ovarian function in space. Previous research has shown that ovarian steroids dramatically impact normal homeostatic and metabolic processes throughout the body, including muscle, bone, neural, immune, cardiovascular, and reproductive systems 4 .
With WetLab-2, researchers could potentially perform real-time analysis of ovarian gene expression during spaceflight missions, rather than waiting for samples to return to Earth. This could provide crucial insights into female reproductive health during spaceflight, an essential consideration for long-duration missions 4 .
Insights into Metabolic Changes
Recent research has revealed that spaceflight induces changes in gene expression profiles linked to insulin and estrogen signaling 5 . These changes were most prominent in the liver, where researchers observed inhibition of insulin and estrogen receptor signaling with concomitant hepatic insulin resistance and steatosis (fatty liver disease) 5 .
WetLab-2 could help researchers monitor these changes in real-time during spaceflight, potentially leading to interventions that protect astronaut health.
| Application Area | Biological Question | Practical Implications |
|---|---|---|
| Infectious disease monitoring | How does spaceflight affect pathogen virulence? | Crew health protection strategies |
| Environmental microbiome analysis | How do spacecraft microorganisms evolve? | Space station sanitation protocols |
| Tissue function studies | How does microgravity affect organ function? | Countermeasures for tissue deterioration |
| Metabolic research | How does spaceflight alter metabolism? | Nutritional guidelines for long missions |
| Genetic stability studies | How does space radiation affect DNA? | Radiation protection requirements |
Future Directions: The Expanding Capabilities of Space-Based Molecular Biology
Since its initial validation, WetLab-2 has become available for researchers from academic, commercial, and NASA backgrounds 7 . The system represents just the beginning of molecular biology capabilities in space.
The WetLab-2 team plans to further investigate how to adapt their sample preparation technology to enable different types of biomolecular analysis in space, including nucleic acid sequencing 7 . This could work alongside other sequencing technologies already on the ISS, such as:
MinION
A commercially-available DNA sequencing device that works by sending a positive current through nanopores to identify DNA sequences 1
miniPCR
A tool that replicates DNA to have enough for analysis, used to study epigenetic changes 1
RAZOR EX
A real-time microbial detection system that uses PCR technology to analyze samples 1
The Open Science Data Repository (OSDR) now enables access to space-related data from experiments that investigate biological and health responses of terrestrial life to spaceflight 2 . GeneLab, part of this initiative, is an interactive, open-access resource where scientists can upload, download, store, search, share, transfer, and analyze omics data from spaceflight and corresponding analogue experiments .
These resources, combined with WetLab-2's capabilities, are helping to create a comprehensive understanding of how spaceflight affects biology at the molecular level—knowledge that will be essential for future long-duration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Conclusion: Transforming Space Biology One Experiment at a Time
WetLab-2 represents a quantum leap forward for biological research in space. By enabling real-time gene expression analysis aboard the ISS, it has transformed the station from a passive "exposure facility" into an interactive laboratory where scientists can conduct iterative, dynamic experiments just as they would on Earth 3 6 .
As we look toward future long-duration missions beyond Earth orbit, understanding how spaceflight affects biology at the fundamental level of gene expression becomes increasingly important. WetLab-2 provides the tools we need to gain that understanding, helping to ensure that astronauts can remain healthy and productive during extended missions in space.
WetLab-2 is one of the first sets of instruments and procedures that really lets you do an end-to-end experiment in orbit to live up to the spirit of the ISS as a national laboratory.
With this capability now available to researchers, we stand at the threshold of a new era in space biology—one that will yield benefits not only for astronauts but for human health on Earth as well.