The colonization of the new world is impossible without the reproduction of the colonists, however, the body of people, our entire physiology is adapted for reproduction only in the conditions of planet Earth. An adult, a trained individual, can briefly leave the planet, but the probability to conceive and raise a healthy child outside the Land is assessed as negligible. At least with the current set of DNA.

If we take for example Mars as the primary target for colonization, and on the way there, and on the surface of the planet, the colonists will be exposed to strong radiation exposure. This is tantamount to voluntary sterilization and painful, because the cells of the reproductive organs suffer first. But it is bad.

Microgravity as it is on Mars is three times less than the earth, would lead not only to muscle atrophy but also to a gradual loss of bone mass. Even distribution of the liquid in the human body will change dramatically, including eyes and spinal channels of the colonists – blind, and helpless disabled people to reproduce there is no need. If children appear, they certainly will suffer from immunosuppression, caught away from earthly conditions to which evolution has prepared their bodies.

The solution is relatively simple – you need to make changes in the genome of future colonists, specifically to bring “Human Space”, a new subspecies of Homo Sapiens. However, in addition to the General complexity of the undertaking, there is a big practical problem: we weakly imagine how space affects human reproduction. And if you want to voluntarily go to Mars now rife, to conduct complex experiments with carrying a child and childbirth, even in near space is not yet possible.


Source — Science Direct