Plants alter gene expression almost immediately in spaceflight

University of Florida researchers found that plants begin altering gene expression—the process by which cells turn genes on or off to produce proteins—almost immediately after reaching spaceflight aboard Blue Origin‘s New Shepard on August 29, 2024. The experiment, reported by Phys.org, tracked more than 1,200 genes whose activity changed during the suborbital flight. Arabidopsis plant samples were preserved at four mission stages: before launch, upon entering microgravity, at the start of descent, and after landing. The gene expression changes differed between leaves and roots and varied across the launch, microgravity, descent, and return phases.

Phys.org reports that University of Florida researcher Robert Ferl flew with the experiment on the NS-26 mission to tend samples, verify preservatives, and record observations during the flight. Ferl said, “The science to be done in suborbital space is real and worth the trip.” Another researcher, Paul, noted that the hours of training and preparation completed before the mission proved invaluable. The fixation tubes used, known as Kennedy Space Center Fixation Tubes, have been employed for hundreds of samples on shuttle and ISS missions.

Phys.org reports that many of the affected genes are involved in plant responses to environmental stress and changing conditions. The results show that acclimation to spaceflight is a progressive process with distinct responses during launch, microgravity entry, descent, and return to Earth. The study was published in npj Microgravity in 2026 with DOI 10.1038/s41526-026-00645-6.