pop@bunkerb.UUCP (Paul Pederson) (02/24/86)
*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE BEEPER *** Where might I find information on experiments which have or will take place regarding animal sexual reproduction processes in zero-gravity and/or in space? Specifically, what are the problems (if any) of fertilization without gravity, and do the eggs develop normally within the body? It would seem that the offspring would perhaps be more evenly developed without the effects of gravity. Is this so? It would also seem that there might potentially be a problem with the fertilized egg attaching itself to the uterin wall, or doesn't weightlessness have an effect on this? How about birth itself? With the absence of gravity, does the birth take place faster? (May seem like a silly question, but think about it for a short while, and it may not seem so silly after all.) I would think that these, and other questions regarding reproduction have already been addressed. Naturally, if there is a desire to establish long-term colonies in space or on planets with gravity pull greater/lesser than earth, then experiments on reproduction would naturally be a requirement. There are many questions about this subject which keep bouncing around in my head. Any good sources for answers to these questions? -Paul Pederson ..!ittatc!bunker!bunkerb!pop