Humans may need to tweak their DNA to stay on Mars, with genetic engineering coming into play if astronauts one day want to live, work and thrive on the Red Planet.

NASA wants to start flying crewed missions to Mars in the 2030s. It will be tough on astronauts who will be exposed to high radiation loads, bone wasting microgravity and other hazards for several years at a time.

The American space agency’s officials have said that these pioneers should still be able to make it back to Earth in relatively good time.

DNA tweaks needed

It might however be a different story for those who choose not to come home.

Experts say that if we want to stay safe and healthy while living permanently on Mars or any other world beyond our home planet, we may need to make some tweaks to our species basic blueprint.

Tiny yet tough engineered cells

Scientists have already inserted genes from tardigrades — which are tiny yet tough animals that can survive the vacuum of space — into human cells in the laboratory.

Geneticist Christopher Mason says the resultant engineered cells showed a greater resistance to radiation than their normal counterparts.

Astronauts might go further than Mars

Astronauts may one day journey further than Mars if they are able to harness suitably engineered cells.

A crewed journey to the Jupiter moon Europa, for example, is out of the question at the moment. In addition to being very cold Europa, which harbours a huge ocean beneath its icy shell, lies in the heart of Jupiter’s powerful radiation belts.

Advances in biology

Genetic engineering almost certainly won’t be restricted to pioneering astronauts and colonists. Recent advances in synthetic biology herald a future in which “designer microbes” may help colonists establish a foothold on the Red Planet.

Designer microbes

Some researchers and exploration advocates have suggested using designer microbes to terraform Mars, which in essence means turning it into a world much more comfortable for humans. This possibility obviously raises big ethical questions.

Most astrobiologists argue against terraforming Mars, stressing that we do not want to kill or fundamentally alter a native ecosystem that may have arisen on the Red Planet.

This content has been created as part of our freelancer relief programme. We are supporting journalists and freelance writers impacted by the economic slowdown caused by #lockdownlife.

If you are a freelancer looking to contribute to The South African, read more here.