Chat with Emily Holton 1-14-97

What is biomineralization? 

To define biomineralization, I need to talk a bit about how bone is
formed. The bone forming cells lay down an organic matrix (that the part
of bone that is elastic). This organic matrix goes through a process of
maturation that prepares it for mineralization. This process is known a
biomineralization. It is an area of intense study since many of the
factors are unknown and the process has not been fully defined. A great
research area.

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If you live in a micro-gravity enviroment depleats your bone mass, does
living in an enviroment with extra gravity (moer than 1 G) increase your
bone mass?

Increased gravity actually tends to reshape the bone rather than increase
bone mass. The bone is shorter and fatter so that it becomes stronger.
With less gravity, the bone is thinner, but the same length.

Does any of your work have to do with life in space and skeletal reactions
to long duration space flight?

Do you know from your work, how long one could stay in space before their
bones would get too thin or start to disintegrate?

The bones in space will probably reshape themselves and be quite
appropriate for the space environment. I doubt that they ever really
disintegrate, but I'm not sure. The body tends to conserve bone mineral
and the mineral may migrate from one site to another. So, total bone
mineral might not change although the amount of mineral may be less at
some sites than others. Hibernating bears have been shown to lay down
mineral during hibernation and that mineral is redistributed when the bear
arouses from hibernation. Perhaps the same process will be used in space
and returning to a higher gravity environment will be like arousing from
hibernation. Just a thought.

Do you think the form of your body would change then if the bones reshape?

Good question. I'm not sure if body form would change, at least not for
several
generations in space. The changes with hypergravity might occur more
readily since compression on bones tends to inhibit growth. Since gravity
is the main factor inhibiting giants on Earth (the gravity would break
their legs upon the first step unless the shape was quite different), we
might see larger species in space if the nutrients required for life
exist.

Do you think there were any changes in Shannon Lucid after her being in
space for so long? Do you actually do any tests on humans after returning
from space flights?

 Had a wonderful chat with Shannon shortly after she returned. She quickly
regained her "Earth legs" and has a wonderful attitude about everything. I
think that she maintained her weight so that her metabolism didn't change
and that helped. No, I don't do tests on humans returning from flight, but
I am fortunate to know some of these amazing people and talk with them. I
serve on a countermeasures task force, so we must talk with the
investigators and learn was has been done, what the changes are, and try
to determine if the changes need to be minimized. The response to
spaceflight is adaptive and appropriate for space--it's coming back to
Earth that's the problem.
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Why types of things about you do you think helped you get your job at
Wallops when you really weren't qualified?

Well the fact that I was a female with a Ph.D. was obviously a deciding
factor. Also, my
fascination with Wallops and the people I met and my willingness to learn
new things probably also helped. You know, I'm never sure why some things
happen, I'm just grateful they do when they turn out to make for a
wonderful career.

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What did you actually study in school and major in?

Let me start with high school. In high school, I took 2 years of
journalism, I took speech and dramatics, and I took the usual academic
classes (chemistry, math, biology, etc.). In college, I started out in
undecided, and went to nursing which was a bit boring. I switched to
premed or liberal arts because it only had 2 years of required classes and
I had plenty of time in college for art classes, music, writing, English,
and other subjects that I truly enjoy. I think that expanding your horizon
is important, but you still need to focus on a career. I only decided on
premed after I took a number of tests that
determined similarities of interest in people with similar careers. Hope
this helps.

What was the most important things you did as a teenager that helped you
to get where you are today?

As a teenager, I was interested in everything. I had trouble focusing on a
single career. I think that enjoying all your classes, finding them
fascinating and pursuing what you find fascinating, will help with any
career.

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What other kinds of jobs could you do at NASA now or in other areas with
your background it you decided to change careers?

My career in NASA has been quite diversified so that I have multiple
career choices. I could work with groups designing habitats for plants,
animals, and cells in space. I have project management experience, so that
I could be a manager. I love to work as a team leader and organize
projects with a definite goal. I enjoy interfacing with the academic
community and commercial organizations. I guess that I really like
science and people. I always keep my secretarial skills current because
NASA never has enough good secretaries. Right now, I have a wonderful lab
and exciting young people around me and am thoroughly enjoying my science
career. When I retire, I'd like to write a musical comedy about research
in the federal government--much humor and many interesting stories.

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Do you have children?

 I have one daughter who I raised as a single parent. I truly empathize
with single parents because balancing a career with a child is an
incredible challenge and very, very difficult.

Did you ever think of a less demanding career since you were raising a
child alone?

 No, I never thought of a less demanding career, but I sure thought a lot
about hiring a nanny. I think that children need consistancy in their
childhood and people that they can relate to. My daughter has often said
that she never intends to have the kind of demanding career that I have. I
just wish that I could convince her that when you truly enjoy what you do,
time gets away from you and you don't look at it as work but as a hobby. I
do wish that I had spent more time with my daughter and emphasized her
studies when she was growing up.

What does you daughter do - did she follow your career?

 No, my daughter inherited my love of the arts and music. She loves art
and collects some artists. She is a writer of poetry and prose and like to
invent.