Calgary After A Year In Space, NASA Astronaut's Gene Expression Has Changed. Possibly Forever. | HuffPost Impact - Action.News ABC Action News WestNet-HD Weather Traffic

After spending a year in space, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly is not the man he used to be at least genetically speaking.

His genetic expression has changed, according to preliminary results from a NASA study that compared the bodily changes between the astronaut and his identical twin, who stayed on Earth while Kelly was aboard the International Space Station.

About 7 percent of Kellys gene activity has yet to return to normal almost two years after his yearlong expedition came to an end. Kelly has since retired from NASA.

The Twins Study , as its been dubbed, looked at what happened to Kelly both from a physiological and psychological perspective before, during and after his trip in space, and then compared that data to Kellys twin brother, Mark.

Mark Kelly is also a retired NASA astronaut . Unlike his brother, however, who spent months at a time in space, Marks missions were on the shorter side. His last and longest mission, which took place in 2011, lasted 15 days.

A double #HappyBirthday to the only pair of twins to have traveled in space, astronauts Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) & Mark Kelly (@ShuttleCDRKelly). They have both retired from NASA, but continue to contribute to the @NASA Twins Study. To read more: https://t.co/CUn4zekTyN pic.twitter.com/9rVEfa1UGN

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A double #HappyBirthday to the only pair of twins to have traveled in space, astronauts Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly ) & Mark Kelly (@ShuttleCDRKelly ). They have both retired from NASA, but continue to contribute to the @NASA Twins Study. To read more: https://t.co/CUn4zekTyN pic.twitter.com/9rVEfa1UGN
NASA History Office (@NASAhistory) February 21, 2018

NASA described the research as a perfect nature versus nurture study one that could provide important insights into the effects of long-term spaceflight on the human body.

By measuring large numbers of [the brothers] metabolites , cytokines and proteins , researchers learned that spaceflight is associated with oxygen deprivation stress, increased inflammation, and dramatic nutrient shifts that affect gene expression, NASA said of the studys initial findings.

Although most of the biological changes Kelly experienced in space disappeared in the hours and days (and in some cases, weeks) after his return to Earth, NASA said some alterations appear to have persisted.

While 93 percent of his genetic expression has returned to normal, several hundred space genes still have changed activity levels, the data suggests. NASA said this could indicate longer term changes in genetic expression, caused by the stresses of spaceflight.

NASA said it would be releasing more findings from the Twins Study in the coming months. This research, they added, will inform their planning for a mission to Mars , which would see astronauts spending some three years in space.

Reacting to the news of the study results this week, Kelly expressed amazement at his bodys changes and also used the opportunity to poke fun at his brother.

This could be good news, he joked on Twitter. I no longer have to call [Mark] my identical twin brother anymore.

What? My DNA changed by 7%! Who knew? I just learned about it in this article. This could be good news! I no longer have to call @ShuttleCDRKelly my identical twin brother anymore. https://t.co/6idMFtu7l5

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What? My DNA changed by 7%! Who knew? I just learned about it in this article. This could be good news! I no longer have to call @ShuttleCDRKelly my identical twin brother anymore. https://t.co/6idMFtu7l5
Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) March 10, 2018

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CORRECTION: A previous version of this story indicated that some of Kellys genes had changed. While his genes are the same, some of the gene expression has changed.

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