[Genetic aspects of man's adaptation to long-term space flight]

Human genetics may play an important role in medical support of prolonged space flights, which raise serious life sciences questions: what is a normal response or, more specifically, what is norm or pathology. This is a problem of general biology and is related to genetic specificity of every organism. The theoretical basis of pertinent researches is general genetics and cytogenetics with their concepts about the structure and function of the eukaryotic genome. The concept of an individual norm of man's responses is to a certain extent associated with the doctrine of constitutions. From the practical point of view it is suggested to use in space genetics an individual-constitutional approach and the term adaptophenotype (adaptive phenotype) which means a stable complex of genetic and phenotypical characteristics. It can be determined using clinical, genealogical, cytological, and molecular methods, methods of genetic markers, phenotypical analysis, etc. Genetic approaches help reveal not only individual hereditary parameters which manifest as signs but also latent pathological characteristics that may be used for cosmonaut selection. Identification of certain phenotypes of man, i. e. adaptophenotypes, that are suitable for life in space, also means identification of specific genotypes with their response norm at the level of the somatic cell genotype and at the level of a gamete. The role of space genetics is associated with the study of gene, chromosome and population levels of adaptation to long-term space missions. Until recently these levels of adaptation have been neglected. The program of studying human genetics in space proposed here covers both medical aspects and evolutionary approaches.