She won the Genes in Space competition as a US high school student; years later, her DNA experiment aboard the ISS became published research

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(Photo: genesinspace.org) Most school science projects are presented in classrooms, evaluated by teachers and eventually packed away. Pristine Onuoha's project took a rather different route. It travelled aboard a spacecraft to the International Space Station, where astronauts helped test the idea.Onuoha was still in high school when she began working on a scientific question that has interested researchers studying human spaceflight: how can scientists monitor changes in DNA when astronauts are living and working in space?Her proposal won the 2022 Genes in Space competition.

The experiment was subsequently launched to the International Space Station in June 2023. Now, her journey has reached another milestone. A research paper listing Onuoha as its lead author was published in July 2026.For a student who began with a science competition entry, it is an extraordinary journey.The question behind the experiment One of the interesting biological changes observed during spaceflight involves telomeres.

These are protective structures found at the ends of chromosomes, which carry genetic information inside cells.Earlier research had suggested that astronauts' telomeres could become longer during spaceflight. Understanding changes in these structures is important because telomeres are associated with cellular ageing and chromosome stability.But studying DNA aboard a spacecraft is not as straightforward as doing it in a well-equipped laboratory on Earth.Researchers need methods that are compact, reliable and suitable for use in the restricted environment of a space station.This was the challenge that Onuoha's project sought to address.Taking DNA testing into space Onuoha's achievement is particularly encouraging because she did not simply win a competition and move on to another project.

Her original research idea became part of a larger scientific effort involving researchers and the space station.Her experience also highlights the value of programmes that give school students access to real scientific problems.For young people interested in biology, genetics or space research, her journey offers a glimpse of what can happen when curiosity is supported by good mentorship and opportunities to experiment.A question asked by a high-school student eventually became a research project conducted hundreds of kilometres above Earth.And perhaps that is the most interesting part of her story.

The distance between a school classroom and a space laboratory may seem enormous, but for Onuoha, it began with the willingness to ask a scientific question and pursue an answer. Get the latest Education News and Live updates.

Download the TOI app. Sanjay Sharma is a seasoned journalist with over two decades of experience in the media industry. Currently serving as Assistant Editor - Education at TimesofIndia.com, he specializes in education-related content, including board results, job notifications, and studying abroad.

Since joining TOI in 2006, he has played a pivotal role in expanding the platform’s digital presence and spearheading major education events. Previously, Sanjay held leadership positions in sports journalism, covering high-profile events such as the Cricket World Cup and Olympics.

He holds a PG Diploma in Journalism from Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan and is proficient in various content management systems. He can be reached at - sanjay.sharma@timesinternet.in Haruki Murakami follows a strict daily routine while writing novels; the discipline behind his unusual creative process