GM astronauts will be engineered for Mars and beyond
At the dawn of the era of space flight astronauts were selected for having ‘‘the right stuff’’ – an enigmatic blend of courage, acumen and selfcommand.
Now, as we set our sights on other worlds, Nasa-backed scientists have begun to investigate the possibility of a new breed of genetically modified astronauts, engineered to deal with the rigours of life far from Earth.
An experiment at Cornell University in New York involves taking a gene copied from a tiny, astonishingly tough creature called a tardigrade and inserting it into embryonic human cells grown in a laboratory.
The gene gives rise to a protein that makes tardigrade DNA resistant to the kind of cancer-causing cosmic radiation that an astronaut would encounter in deep space. Christopher Mason, who is leading the research, believes that it might also shield humans going to Mars. ‘‘We’ll protect the astronauts physically, we’ll protect them pharmacologically,’’ he said. ‘‘But could we protect them genetically, with armour on the inside of their cells?’’
The technology faces formidable scientific and ethical hurdles: the side-effects of tardigrade genes on human biology may turn out to be catastrophic and any practical application is decades away. However, the idea of producing biologically altered humans fit for space has gained traction.
George Church, of Harvard University, notes that hundreds of studies are already looking at developing genetic therapies for diseases such as cancer. ‘‘Since humans are being genetically altered for life on Earth, it seems likely that this will be true for space too.’’
Professor Church has identified more than 40 human gene variants that might benefit astronauts. One, common among Tibetans, allows people to live with less oxygen. Others may improve memory, make astronauts less prone to anxiety and give them stronger muscles and bones. The ABC11 gene is linked with ‘‘low-odour production’’, which may benefit explorers in cramped capsules.
Robin Lovell-Badge, of the Francis Crick Institute in London, said that the tardigrade DNA idea was ‘‘an interesting one, but I suspect rather premature’’. He does believe that genetic modification might address muscle wasting in zero gravity.
‘‘Each such alteration to human physiology, at a cellular, organ or whole body level, would need very careful assessment for safety as well as efficacy,’’ Professor Lovell-Badge said. ‘‘And there is a question as to who would volunteer to have probably permanent changes made to their [DNA] – a type of enhancement which could be considered to be for social rather than personal gain.’’
The tardigrade experiment, which builds on earlier work by Japanese scientists, is still running. However, after being exposed to radiation the tardigrade-enhanced human cells have shown nearly 80 per cent less damage than unaltered cells, Dr Mason said.
Lord Rees of Ludlow, the astronomer royal, believes that by the end of the century it is likely that we will have the techniques to genetically modify or adapt humans to a space environment.
‘‘I think that the first to go to Mars will be adventurers,’’ he said. ‘‘They’ll harness the super-powerful genetic and cyborg technology that will be developed in the coming decades. These techniques will be heavily regulated on Earth, but the Martians will be far beyond the clutches of the regulators.’’