To send humans to Mars by 2030 as planned by NASA, astronauts on the mission will face significant health risks.
During the at least 900-day exploration mission to the Red Planet, astronauts will be outside the protective shield of Earth’s magnetic field and will be exposed to radiation from cosmic rays generated from supernova explosions. Additionally, they will also encounter bone degeneration syndrome, which causes astronauts’ bones to weaken after long periods in a microgravity environment.
Despite these risks, astronauts could return to Earth ‘intact,’ according to NASA’s assertions.
However, for those tasked with colonizing Mars, this is a completely different story. If humanity wants to live healthily for a long time on Mars or any other planet outside Earth, we may need to transform ourselves into ‘mutants’. This claim comes from biological experts at a recent seminar discussing the challenges humanity may face in the process of space colonization, which was held in New York.
Accordingly, genetic engineering and other advanced gene-editing technologies “may be used if humanity wants to live, work, and thrive on Mars,” stated Kennda Lynch, a biologist and geologist at the Houston Research Institute (USA).
Not a science fiction story
Essentially, gene editing to create ‘superpowers’ does not only exist in movies or science fiction. In fact, scientists are already implementing this in real life. For example, the DNA of Tardigrades has been tested by scientists to be inserted into human cells in laboratories.
Unlike other organisms on Earth, Tardigrades, which appeared 500 million years ago, have not been altered by the process of evolution. They are also considered an immortal organism, as no extreme living conditions can kill them. Besides being able to survive anywhere on Earth, Tardigrades have also been shown to live in a vacuum environment, or even in the most extreme radiation areas, such as the Moon.
“Tardigrades and extremophilic bacteria (aerobic organisms living in extremely harsh conditions) like the radiation-resistant bacteria Deinococcus radiodurans possess truly remarkable biological traits. We might leverage these characteristics of some of them“, said Christopher Mason, a renowned genetics professor at Weill Cornell University (New York, USA).
Notably, incorporating Tardigrade DNA into human cells yields astonishing results. According to expert Christopher Mason, the modified cells can withstand cosmic radiation much better than normal human cells.
Opening New Opportunities for Humanity
Temporarily borrowing these biological traits not only allows humans to colonize Mars. It even opens up opportunities for us to explore worlds with harsher climates in the Solar System.
For instance, colonizing the surface of Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons, presents numerous challenges and risks. A significant issue is the extremely high radiation intensity emitted from Jupiter’s radiation belt, which is ten times stronger than Earth’s Van Allen radiation belt. Humans cannot live on or near the surface of Europa without special radiation-protective suits. Another issue is the extremely cold temperatures on the surface of Europa (about -170 degrees Celsius).
With its massive oceans beneath a thick layer of ice, Europa is considered one of the most suitable places for human habitation in the future.
“If we get there, astronauts’ bodies will be completely ‘roasted’ by the radiation emitted from Jupiter, which is too intense,” expert Mason stated. “They will be certain to die unless we implement some protective measures, including equipping them with as many radiation shields as possible“.
Meanwhile, applying genetic engineering will make the journey to Europa, which is seen as one of the most suitable places for future human habitation, more feasible.
Notably, the application of genetic techniques and gene editing will not be limited to astronauts and those who will colonize Mars. Recent advances in synthetic biology will open a new chapter, as specially designed ‘edited’ bacteria will help humans build settlements on the Red Planet, according to expert Kennda Lynch.
Specifically, researchers have considered using genetically modified bacteria to terraform Mars, making the living environment there less harsh and more suitable for humans.
References: Live Science