Dept of Neurology, Gravitational Physiology, Univ of Ulm, Ulm, Germany. The impact of gravity on the expression of genetic programs during postembryonic development can be analysed if animals are transiently exposed to micro- or hypergravity. The comparative approach which uses several species reveals basic principles within the animal kingdom which facilitate the extrapolation of animals' results to man. Exposures to hypergravity completed the studies. Several general principles became obvious.
Gravity is necessary for normal development of the gravity sensory system.
This observation demonstrates the dominance of genetic programs for the development of gravity-related responses.