<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The recent success of the Mars 2020 project and the high quality images relayed back to Earth have provided further impetus and expectations for human missions to Mars. To support space agency and private enterprise plans to establish a sustainable colony on Mars in the 2030s, synthetic biology may play a vital role to enable astronaut self-sufficiency. In this review, we describe some aspects of where synthetic biology may inform and guide <italic>in situ</italic> resource utilisation strategies. We address the nature of Martian regolith and describe methods by which it may be rendered fit for purpose to support growth and yield of bioengineered crops. Lastly, we illustrate some examples of innate human adaptation which may confer characteristics desirable in the selection of colonists and with a future looking lens, offer potential targets for human enhancement.</p>
</abstract>

The recent success of the Mars 2020 project and the high quality images relayed back to Earth have provided further impetus and expectations for human missions to Mars. To support space agency and private enterprise plans to establish a sustainable colony on Mars in the 2030s, synthetic biology may play a vital role to enable astronaut self-sufficiency. In this review, we describe some aspects of where synthetic biology may inform and guide in situ resource utilisation strategies. We address the nature of Martian regolith and describe methods by which it may be rendered fit for purpose to support growth and yield of bioengineered crops. Lastly, we illustrate some examples of innate human adaptation which may confer characteristics desirable in the selection of colonists and with a future looking lens, offer potential targets for human enhancement.

Sustaining Resources for <italic>Homo Martis</italic>: The Potential Application of Synthetic Biology for the Settlement of Mars

Studia Humana

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Sustaining Resources for : The Potential Application of Synthetic Biology for the Settlement of Mars

The recent success of the Mars 2020 project and the high quality images relayed back to Earth have provided further impetus and expectations for human missions...

Sustaining Resources for Homo Martis: The Potential Application of Synthetic Biology for the Settlement of Mars

Published Online: Apr 05, 2022

Page range: 1 - 16

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sh-2022-0001

Keywords
Mars colonisation, in situ resource utilisation, synthetic biology, bioengineered crops, human enhancement

© 2022 Rauf Sharpe et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Sustaining Resources for Homo Martis: The Potential Application of Synthetic Biology for the Settlement of Mars

Published Online: Apr 05, 2022

Page range: 1 - 16

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sh-2022-0001

KeywordsMars colonisation, in situ resource utilisation, synthetic biology, bioengineered crops, human enhancement

© 2022 Rauf Sharpe et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Mars colonisation, in situ resource utilisation, synthetic biology, bioengineered crops, human enhancement