The attention of humans has shifted to the Moon, Mars, and other destinations in space; therefore, the issue at hand is deep space travel. Difficulties include progressively long journeys and the dangers of radiation. However, researchers have now come up with a rather radical solution: genome editing. The technology could be instrumental in making humans more resilient against hostile space environments.
In January, there was a debate at the British Interplanetary Society that spilled its banks with astronomer royal Lord Martin Rees and Mars exploration advocate Dr. Robert Zubrin, inhabited versus robotic exploration of Mars. The fight focuses on whether man should go to Mars or robots. Astronomer Royal Lord Martin Rees makes a case for robotic spacecraft to reduce risk and cost associated with human missions in his latest book, along with his co-author Donald Goldsmith, “The End of Astronauts.”. Yet it was gene editing, and more specifically, the potential of gene editing to help humans overcome the huge challenges of becoming an interplanetary species, that found common ground between Rees and Zubrin.
In 2011, it became possible to edit our genome, that is, the totality of DNA in our cells. The discovery of genome editing through the Crispr-Cas9 molecular tool initiated a new age of editing, which all of a sudden was done not only at schools but even on the International Space Station. Successor editing tools like base and prime editing allow making exact changes in the genome of any living entity.
Gene editing applications in space travel are very broad. One of the greatest dangers facing cosmonauts is radiation, causing all sorts of destruction to the body and putting one at risk for cancer. If genes from plants and bacteria known to have mollifying effects on radiation damage were inserted into humans, they might be better positioned to cope with such harsh conditions. For this reason, Lord Rees feels it is an important step in our expansion across the solar system.
Gene editing could slow down aging and counter cellular breakdown, very important in long-duration space missions. Crops resilient to radiation would allow for the food supply not to be disrupted in space. Personalized medicine could be made more effective by tailoring them according to a genetic makeup that would render a given astronaut more resilient.
Another fascinating possibility involves tardigrades, microscopic, eight-legged animals known for their extreme stress tolerance. Known as “water bears,” these creatures are capable of withstanding extreme temperatures, pressures, and radiation levels and are even resistant to the vacuum of space. Scientists are very keen on knowing their genomes, and a study published in Nature recently attempts to unravel the mystery of which genes or proteins are responsible for the extraordinary properties. If such genes can be transferred to human beings, it is without doubt that our bodily resilience during space travel will be much improved.
However, the road to such breakthroughs is mined with ethical and regulatory pitfalls. Several governments have banned genome editing, especially transfer between species. Germany and Canada are the most conservative; though some countries are easing these restrictions.
In November 2018, He Jiankui, a Chinese scientist, revealed that the world’s first gene-edited babies had been created, which provided resistance to HIV. Though that move came with controversy, which resulted in his imprisonment, he has since been released and is now allowed to continue doing the research.
With the new space race heating up, genome editing may be pushed further in certain countries than others. Immense scientific and economic benefits could accrue to the frontrunner. But society must confront the ethics of altering the human species. As base and prime editing come online, the technology races far ahead of the conversation.
Ultimately, one country might jump while others hesitate. Only then will we understand how viable these ideas are. Until then, we shall only be making educated guesses with a lot of curiosity and excitement.