Genetically modified astronauts must colonize Mars by 2050

OUR biology prevents us from traveling around the cosmos and learning about the mysteries of deep space in a human way.

Well, that is the opinion of Volodymyr Usov, former chairman of the Ukrainian National Space Agency turned cosmic entrepreneur.

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Elon Musk has spoken out about his plans to colonize Mars in the 2050s – and is currently testing the rocket for the job.

But if that’s what people want, we might need people to volunteer to become genetically modified astronauts, Usov argues.

“We want to thrive in space, not just survive for a few weeks,” he told The Sun.

Although the future Usov describes feels like it’s been plucked from a science fiction novel, or torn from the pages of the next space-bound blockbuster, he’s serious about it.

‘We have to figure out how to actually build a society [in space]starting with a little one and then growing,” he continues.

“Because what we are here on Earth is the result of millions of years of evolution and connection to a certain environment on this planet that for some strange reason was really beneficial.

“On Mars or anywhere else in the universe, as far as I know, it’s not as favorable as it is here on Earth.”

It’s a problem… that we must address, or we will never be able to expand beyond Earth.

Volodymyr Usov, former chairman of the Ukrainian National Space Agency

While Musk and his billionaires build transportation, Usov believes private industry and scientists should invest more in adapting human biology to space.

If we don’t do that, he says, space travel will be virtually impossible in the long term.

What humans need is rapid evolution in evolution – or gene editing.

“We have to adapt very quickly and without technology helping us with this adaptation, I don’t think this can actually happen,” says Usov.

“Because if you take the community to Mars… they can’t move around, they can’t communicate properly, they can’t have families… society as we see it now is impossible unless we adapt our biology to the new environment.”

No benefits in space

Do you think life on earth is difficult? Living in space will be infinitely more difficult.

Humans will face much greater risks of cancer from radiation, in addition to ruptured lungs and dangerously swollen skin due to the low air pressure on Mars.

And that’s just the Red Planet in our solar system; the unique challenges of other worlds will require entirely different adaptations to survive.

“It’s not just one way in which we have to change ourselves for space,” Usov explains, “because every environment, every planet, every new galaxy will have its own conditions, and we need a plan to adapt to this specific environment.” to adjust. .

“For our evolution, natural selection works fine… but when we talk about this absolutely new environment, it will be difficult to go just below natural selection, because it requires millions of years and large populations.

“We won’t have one in space.

“It’s a problem… that we must address, otherwise we will never be able to expand beyond Earth.”

Usov suggests that our biological weaknesses can be “fixed” with gene editing, which involves changing genes that make life on a given planet unsurvivable.

If you can help people and save lives, and you don’t, that’s unethical.

Volodymyr Usov, former chairman of the Ukrainian National Space Agency

Gene editing adds, removes and changes DNA in the genome, and is of great importance in tackling diseases.

As Usov sees it, gene editing essentially uses a natural process in our bodies to bypass evolution.

“Our genomes are mutating every day, we just don’t have direction for that,” he says, adding that the process isn’t necessarily something “new.”

To avoid the obvious ethical concerns, adults should nominate themselves for the process.

Although Usov notes that gene editing of embryos, eggs or sperm could be introduced later to ensure that new, spacefaring genes are passed down from generation to generation.

A skydiver without a parachute

A skydiver’s chances of survival without a parachute are small, but not zero.

Giving the green light to gene editing would be an astronaut’s parachute if he lives off-planet, said Usov, who is aware of the negative reactions people have to genetic modification.

“I’m sure the majority of people will react negatively, just as they react to any radical innovation,” he says.

“If you have the technology in your hands that can actually increase your chance of survival, increase your chance of a better life in a different kind of environment, it is actually unethical not to do this.

“If you can help people and save lives, and you don’t, that’s unethical.”

Usov points to today’s working astronauts, who – like athletes and entertainers – naturally possess a higher level of skills that make them suitable for their work.

They are already the result of genetic selection, he says, which is fine for those transported to and from the ISS, but won’t be enough to build a society off-planet.

“If we are talking about the colonies with thousands of people, of course we would not be able to get the people with all those genomes in such large quantities,” Usov explains.

‘That’s why we need to get average, ordinary people to edit their genomes to create the new traits that will help them survive. [off Earth].”

If this vision of the future comes to fruition, humans may one day be able to live long and happy lives on Mars – and on worlds beyond.

But whether these people will be called “human” – or even identify as such – is a cultural mystery waiting to unfold.