China sends pig sperm to space

China's next manned space flight will carry capsules of pedigree pig sperm in an experiment to ultimately produce better quality pork.

The Shenzhou VI will carry half an ounce of the sperm on its second mission, scheduled for early October, to study whether exposure to outer space alters its genetic make-up.

Scientist Wang Jinyong said: "Exposed to micro-gravity, high levels of radiation and magnetic fields, the DNA of the sperm will genetically mutate."

Back on Earth, he will use the sperm to fertilise eggs and observe the extent of the mutation. "There might be good and bad changes in the DNA. Our job is to keep the good ... to improve the quality of the pig.