The success of the Mars colonization project may require genetically modified humans capable of withstanding the effects of cosmic radiation. And although both the first and the second are still far away, research is being conducted in both directions, writes the British edition of Wired.
Elon Musk dreams of a populated Mars. But before his dreams can come true and the first city with a million inhabitants appears on the Red Planet, humanity will need the first group of pioneer colonizers. And these pioneers will have to have one very important genetic trait - radiation resistance. We still know little about the features of the human body and animals to resist radioactive radiation, but nevertheless we know that it exists. Currently, scientists are conducting research aimed at understanding how much radiation the body of cancer patients can withstand. But one day this feature of the organism may become an important factor in the selection of candidates for flights to other planets.
Norman Kleiman of Columbia University, who studies the effects of radiation on the human body, believes that in the future, science will be able to offer editing the genome of future astronauts so that they can better endure harsh flight conditions, and not only the effects of radiation.
“With gene editing technologies, humans will be able to create a new type of internal, new type of biological defense for astronauts on long missions that will work alongside physical, electrical and pharmacological defense methods,” commented Prof Christopher Mason of Weill Cornell College.
One of the directions of scientific research can be an increase in the level of melanins in the body. These high molecular weight pigments, for example, protect humans from exposure to ultraviolet radiation. And yet, this method will not provide complete protection from cosmic radiation. Research to improve eye protection could be another area.
The lens of the eye is one of the most sensitive parts of the body that is exposed to radiation. The victims of atomic bombings or disasters at nuclear power plants often develop the so-called radiation cataract. What exactly causes it is unclear, but scientists speculate that these are the consequences of DNA damage. Last year, Kleiman and colleagues from the Netherlands Cancer Institute discovered a biological "radioprotector" - a special class of molecules that, even in small doses, are much more effective than anything else previously used at coping with radiation. However, Kleiman notes, his work is in its infancy, and a lot of other research is needed to help us better understand why some people are more exposed to radiation than others.
If people with increased resistance to radiation go to Mars, they will be in such harsh conditions that over time the ability can develop and strengthen, Mason believes. In addition, due to the reduced gravity, their bones can become less dense, and they can adapt to other differences in the soil and atmosphere of the planets. However, how long these changes will take - several years, decades, centuries - it is impossible to say now.
Aside from medical and technical challenges, building a colony on Mars will certainly face social and political challenges. Some fear that there is a possibility that people will destroy all traces of life that once existed on the planet, and this threat could trigger a new wave of ecoterrorism. Others say that so far there is no space legislation that would regulate the legality of the actions of private companies and individual states in the development of resources outside the Earth. Despite all this, there are people who consider the colonization of other planets not just a necessary step for humanity, but vital.
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Nikolay Khizhnyak