If we want to live on Mars, why do humans need to breed with creatures that have existed on Earth for 530 million years?

Besides the issues that need to be resolved about transportation or settlements, one of the biggest challenges of NASA's mission to explore Mars in 2030 is the astronaut's health.

Even during the journey to Mars, which can last up to 900 days, astronauts, after leaving the protective shield of the Earth's magnetic field, will face the risk of being exposed to radiation from cosmic rays. occur in stellar explosions or supernovae. At the same time, they will also encounter degenerative bone syndrome, which causes astronauts' bones to weaken after long periods of time living in a zero-gravity environment.

Despite the above risks, astronauts can still return to Earth "intactly" , according to NASA.

However, for those tasked with colonizing Mars, health risks are many times more complicated. For example, if people want to live on Mars permanently, they will have to "give birth" there. However, survival in the planet's environment is complicated.

Extreme amounts of cosmic radiation, lower gravity than Earth and other harsh living conditions will drastically reduce the lifespan of astronauts if they live on Mars.

For example, the level of cosmic radiation on the surface of this planet will cause mutations in the fetus. The colonists' exposure to radiation on their journey to Mars will also affect their fertility. Specifically, radiation is harmful to reproductive cells, embryonic and fetal development of adults. Not to mention, the gravity of Mars is only 40% of Earth's gravity, causing a decrease in fluid in the eyes and spinal cord, leading to gradual loss of vision and many problems with the baby's bone development.

Will we have to edit DNA if we want to settle on Mars?

To solve this problem, a number of proposals have been put forward. One of them may come from gene editing technology, when settlers on Mars or any planet other than Earth may need to turn themselves into "mutants".

Basically, gene editing to create "superpowers" doesn't just exist in movies or fantasy stories. In fact, scientists have been doing this in real life. For example, the DNA of a strange creature called Tardigrades was tried by scientists to put it inside human cells in the laboratory.

Tardigrades, also known as tardigrades , are said to be the most difficult animals in the world to destroy, having existed on Earth for about 530 million years, before dinosaurs appeared. They are a species with somewhat bizarre characteristics and have been an interesting and important research topic for scientists for many years.

They can exist in all habitats: from ocean salt water, brackish rivers, freshwater ponds, lakes, and swamps; between strong pressure, ultraviolet radiation, vacuum environment, or even outside the Earth.

There are more than 900 species of tardigrades found everywhere in the world, from the highest mountains to the deepest oceans. They remain alive even when boiled, frozen, dried, exposed to radiation and can live up to 10 years after being in a "dry" state. As long as they encounter water, their bodies will revive. Even if the Earth is attacked by asteroids, supernova explosions or gamma rays, tardigrades can still survive until the "death" of the Sun, that is, long after human extinction.

Tardigrades are considered the most monstrous and "long-lived" little creatures on Earth.

Notably , hybridizing the DNA of Tardigrades with human cells brings amazing results . As revealed by expert Christopher Mason, famous associate professor of genetics at Weill Cornell University (New York, USA), edited cells are much better able to withstand cosmic radiation than with normal human cells.

"Temporarily borrowing" the above biological characteristics not only allows humans to settle on Mars. It even opens up the opportunity for us to explore worlds with harsher climates in the Solar System.

For example, settling on the surface of Jupiter's moon Europa poses many difficulties and risks. A very serious problem is the very strong radiation intensity emitted from Jupiter's radiation belt, which is 10 times stronger than Earth's Van Allen radiation belt. Humans cannot live on or near the surface of Europa without special anti-radiation protective clothing. Another problem is the extremely cold temperature on Europa's surface (about -170 degrees Celsius).

With huge oceans under a super thick layer of ice and snow, the Europa satellite is considered one of the most suitable places for humans to live in the future. If we get there, there will be cases where the astronaut's body will be completely "cooked" because the amount of radiation emitted from Jupiter is too large. Astronauts will surely die unless we take some protective measures, including equipping them with as many anti-radiation shields as possible.

Meanwhile, the application of genetic engineering will make a trip to Europa, which is considered one of the most suitable places for humans to live in the future, more feasible.

Notably, the application of genetic techniques and gene editing will certainly not be limited to astronauts and people who will settle on Mars. Recent advances in the field of synthetic biology will open a new chapter, when "specially designed, edited" bacteria will help humans build settlements on the Red Planet.