Biotechnology - at NASA

For NASA, biotechnology is an exciting collaboration between the biological sciences, engineering, and biochemistry.  At the intersection of these fields, NASA investigators learn about the building blocks of the living body and fundamental biological processes.

NASA's microgravity biotechnology program focuses on three areas:

• Protein crystal growth (crystallography),
• Mammalian cell and tissue culture, and
• Fundamental biotechnology.

Each of these benefit from using low-gravity environments, like space flight, to grow protein crystals, cells, or tissues.  In this way, NASA helps to advance biotechnology knowledge and practice.

Learn More

+ Microgravity Science
+ Crystallography
+ Biotechnology and Earth-Based Applications

Biotechnology at JSC

The Biological Systems Office (BSO) at the Johnson Space Center leads NASA's efforts in cell biology, specializing in:

• Engineering tissue for research;
• Growing cells and tissue for disease studies;
• Using microorganisms and cell design to create new drugs and drug delivery methods;
• Exploring how gravity affects cell growth and gene expression; and
• Providing the facilities and advanced technologies necessary to conduct biotechnology research.

Through a network of NASA scientists and engineers, NASA-funded investigators, and collaborations with other institutions and industry, BSO is pushing and reinventing the boundaries of biotechnology.  Together, we are pursuing several objectives:

1. Develop ground-based basic and applied science programs:

   BSO offers a range of technologies that help researchers investigate cellular processes in a microgravity analogs.  This research may lay the foundation for flight research or stand alone as a tool for exploring the effects of gravity.

   Learn more about BSO's ground-based research.

2. Develop ground-based and space bioreactors:

   NASA's bioreactors allow the science community to investigate cell biology and tissue engineering in a microgravity analog, low-shear environment.  Our program not only uses bioreactors, it also helps develop the next-generation of bioreactors.

   Learn more about cell culture and NASA's bioreactors.

3. Establish space cell biology as an academic discipline:

   With more than 5,000 bioreactors in use worldwide, BSO's program continues to grow.

   Learn more about BSO Research.

4. Use the expertise and technology of NASA and its partners to:

   • Advance tissue engineering; and
   • Provide three-dimensional, functional tissue for research, transplantation, and commercial applications.

5. Contribute to space exploration:

   BSO's contributions to technologies for life support, health care, and space research help make human space exploration possible.  We also provide the tools and support necessary to fly biotechnology experiments on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station.

   Learn more about BSO Flight Research and facilities.