Staying in space is different from staying on Earth. When astronauts return to Earth from orbit, they usually suffer from muscle loss.
Are there any genetic (abnormal) changes in their cells or in their offspring?
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1$\begingroup$ There is currently a experiment, using two twins that are both astronauts, to investigate that question. geneticliteracyproject.org/2013/08/07/… $\endgroup$– matthew spearCommented Aug 8, 2013 at 13:04
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3$\begingroup$ Could you please narrow your question down a bit? Genetic changes happen all the time even under "normal" circumstances, with e.g. chemical processes restructuring protein amino acids, e.t.c. and most of such changes don't manifest in long term mutations, and are repaired, or benign in nature. I believe you're specifically after genetic mutations with undesirable effects on astronaut's health, or their offspring? $\endgroup$– TildalWaveCommented Aug 8, 2013 at 14:21
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1$\begingroup$ Start your search on PubMed: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed The current problem is that human ova may not survive Galactic Cosmic Rays. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2005 Apr 26;102(17):6063-7. Epub 2005 Apr 13. Germ cell mutagenesis in medaka fish after exposures to high-energy cosmic ray nuclei: A human model. Shimada A, Shima A, Nojima K, Seino Y, Setlow RB. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1087928/pdf/… $\endgroup$– Deer HunterCommented Aug 8, 2013 at 15:38
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1$\begingroup$ You have to state whether it is LEO (within the Van Allen belts) or beyond LEO. $\endgroup$– Deer HunterCommented Aug 8, 2013 at 15:38
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$\begingroup$ Yes, clearly, as experienced by the Fantastic Four. Also interestingly, you can hear cosmic rays. $\endgroup$– Mark AdlerCommented Apr 10, 2014 at 16:45
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It depends on amount of time astronauts spend in space, as DNA changes are as more probable as more radiation the body receives, and spacesuits, and habitat themselves, offer much less radiation shieldeing than earth atmosphere: ISS radiation shielding is 1/100 of Earth atmosphere shielding (10g/cm2 vs 1000 g/cm2); Apollo space suits offered just 1/10000 of Earth shielding (don't know about current spacesuits)
What, if any, reduction in radiation exposure does the atmosphere of Mars provide?
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$\begingroup$ LEO is still within the Earth's magnetic field though, at least for the most part (not so much over the South-Atlantic Anomaly). ;) $\endgroup$ Commented Apr 10, 2014 at 16:48