When we think about human habitation Moon, Mars If you go further afield, a lot of attention is paid to travel times, food and radiation risks.
Deep space will undoubtedly be a harsh environment to face, and some thinkers have pointed to genome editing as a way to help humans survive harsh conditions as they venture deeper into the solar system.
In January I was lucky A long-awaited debate Royal Astronomer’s Hall Sir Martin Rees Advocate of Mars Exploration Dr. Robert ZubrinThe UK Planetary Society event addressed the question of whether Mars should be explored by humans or robots.
In their recently published book, The End of Astronauts, Lord Rees and co-author Donald Goldsmith outline the benefits of exploring the solar system using robotic spacecraft and craft without the expense and risks of having humans on board. Dr Zubrin is a proponent of human exploration.
Where there was some agreement was on Rees’s claims. Using gene editing technology This is to enable humanity to overcome the enormous challenges of becoming an interplanetary species.
Our genome is all the DNA present in our cells. Since 2011, we have been able to edit our genomes easily and precisely. First came the molecular tool called Crispr-Cas9, which today can be used in high school labs at very low cost. International Space Station.
Then came techniques called base editing and prime editing, which make it possible to make small changes to the genome of any organism.
The potential applications of gene editing are nearly limitless as it allows us to travel greater distances. One of the most troubling hazards astronauts will encounter in deep space is high doses of radiation, which can wreak havoc on many processes in the body and increase long-term risks. cancer.
Perhaps with genome editing, plant and Bacteria This facility can remove radiation in the event of a radioactive waste spill or nuclear explosion.
It sounds like science fiction, but leading thinkers like Lord Rees believe this is the key to our progress throughout the solar system.
By identifying genes and inserting them into humans Slows down aging Reducing cell destruction may also help.
Also, because astronauts will need to grow their own food, crops could be developed that can withstand the effects of radiation exposure, and medicines could be developed that are tailored to the needs of astronauts based on their genetic makeup.
Imagine a future where the human genome is so well understood that it can be flexibly harnessed in this new world of personalized medicine.
The gene for extremes
Tardigrades are microscopic animals also known as “water bears.” Experiments have shown that these tiny creatures can survive extreme temperatures, pressure, high levels of radiation, and starvation. Withstands the vacuum of space.
Geneticists are passionate about understanding the genome. The paper was published in Nature magazine. We sought to identify the key genes and proteins that confer extraordinary stress resistance to this tiny organism.
Could we engineer some of these genes into crops so they can withstand the highest levels of radiation and environmental stress? It’s worth exploring.
Even more intriguing is whether incorporating tardigrade genes into our own genomes could make us more resistant to the harsh conditions of space. Human cells in the laboratory Introducing genes from tardigrades improved resistance to X-ray radiation.
Transferring genes from tardigrades is merely a speculative example of how humans and crops could be engineered to be more suitable for space travel.
Scientists will need much more research to get to that stage, but so far some governments have been keen to impose strict regulations on how genome editing and other techniques for inserting genes from one species into another can be used.
Germany and Canada It is one of the most cautious countries, but restrictions appear to be easing elsewhere.
November 2018, Chinese scientists He Jiankui he The first gene-edited baby was createdHe introduced a gene that gave resistance to the fetal twins. HIV infection.
The scientist He was later imprisonedHowever, he was subsequently released and allowed to resume his studies.
In a new space race, some countries may go all out in genome editing, but not others, especially in the West where regulations are already tight. The winners stand to gain enormous scientific and economic benefits.
If Rees and other futurists are right, the field has the potential to advance humanity’s expansion into space — but only if society buys into it.
Opposition is likely due to deep-seated fears that it could permanently change humanity, and with base editing and prime editing improving the precision of targeted gene editing, it’s clear that technological progress is outpacing debate.
It’s likely that some countries will step forward while others retreat from the brink — and only then will we know how feasible these ideas really are.
Until then, we can only speculate with curiosity and excitement.
Sam MackieAssociate Lecturer and PhD Candidate in Philosophy of Science, Manchester Metropolitan University
This article is reprinted from conversation Published under a Creative Commons license. Original Article.
