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A review by theomnivorescientist
The Next 500 Years: Engineering Life to Reach New Worlds by Christopher E. Mason
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
**This is an ARC provided by NetGalley for book reviews. The book is due publication in April 2021.**
Summary:
This book is a comprehensive account of the latest cutting-edge bioengineering feats to conduct successful long-term space exploration and settlements written by a computational biologist and a geneticist who has worked on several NASA projects. The author takes us on a journey spanning the next 500 years, diving the centuries in neat chronological chapters, and describing preliminary biotechnological aids for astronauts to planning long voyages to distant planetary systems and ultimate settlement of the human population.
Detail Review:
Prof. Mason introduces the reader with the argument that the human race is the only species equipped to prevent its extinction and transport lifeforms to other planets. The Sun will run out of fuel eventually and consuming all organic life along with it. As the sentient species acutely aware of its mortality, it makes us morally bound to use our ingenuity and creativity to prevent this. This might be a little hard to comprehend since most humans have a myopic view of mortal life and interstellar travel to save our species doesn't have a place in our immediate priorities. Here the readers have to bite the philosophical nugget of "deontogenic" ethics whose premise states that "existence precedes essence". For any sentient life to flourish and produce science, technology, and the arts it has to overcome the extinction threat, plunge into new worlds, and exist. This section is a commendable exploration (and a treat for philosophy nerds) of the 'why' in space exploration and why investments must continue despite our planet ridden with existing perils of pandemics, climate change, overpopulation, etc.
In the next couple of chapters, we see the present advancements in human genome sequencing and the vast collection of genome sequences of all complex life systems on Earth which is the first step in molecular and genetic intervention required in future space missions. We are introduced to Captain Scott Kelly, the astronaut who completed the longest NASA mission in space and was a part of NASA Twins Study. The study compared his genetic, physiological, molecular, and epigenetic changes with his twin brother back on Earth. To everyone's surprise, Scott's immune system after coming back to Earth surpassed all levels. His immune system was on an overdrive only seen in patients with compromised immune systems. Not only this but his gene expression profile showed significant changes resulting from space radiation. This adds to the list of problems our astronauts going to Mars or Titan will face when their DNA changes with space travel. I read this fascinating detail that breathing in zero gravity isn't the same as back on Earth. Tiny clouds of carbon dioxide form in front of your mouth when you exhale. Such observations currently show how the human body is affected by space travel and that we have so much to learn before we embark on audacious space voyages.
Now we enter the exciting history and potential of CRISPR methods in gene editing and gene therapy. The next few decades will see advances in using these methods in tweaking genetic framework to combat and endure long-term space travel, radiation damage, and improve human physiological responses. Here the author deftly portrays that despite the exhilarating present advances, it will be a long journey until we successfully move from animal studies to 'CRISPR-ing' mutations out in human trials. But the clues to clever genome manipulation are present in nature itself. For years scientists have looked towards various organisms to incorporate their advantageous traits and manipulate them for human usage. For example, tardigrades, also called water bears (they look delightful under powerful microscopes) express an interesting protein called Dsup which protects their DNA. Work from the author's own lab showed that incorporation of this Dsup leads to 80% increase in reducing DNA damage. Such gene modification techniques will be crucial in protecting future space travellers in the next 100 years. This section is the most challenging in the whole book as it deals with in-depth molecular and cellular biology concepts.
In the future when Mars has permanent human settlements and genetic manipulation becomes commonplace (even recreational like ordering your choice of genes from a bar), organisms might even comprise of hybrid cells moving to the next phase which the author calls 'cellular liberty'. I would be remiss if I don't talk about my favourite example from this later half of the book. A green sea-slug called Elysia chlorotica eats chloroplast-containing algae (using molecular straws of course!) and becomes plantlike. Maybe future humans will have self-sufficient food-producing green tissues incorporated in them and cross another milestone in directed evolution. Who said green Martians are just stuff of science fiction?
Equipped with such advanced bioengineering technologies the author postulates that by 2351 we will be on the precipice of launching generation ships to candidate planets in different solar systems. The final phase of the sustainable existence of humans anywhere in the universe will encompass hybrid organismal systems (both human and non-human) evolving along with side physical and geochemical characteristics of other planets and satellites.
This work is a must-have for anyone interested in the latest space sciences. I was left wanting a bit more about the studies on human psychology during space travel, the effect on our cognitive abilities, sleep cycle, and circadian rhythms. But this is me being an ardent fan of Philip K. Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" Nevertheless, it provides an excellent collection and roadmap of everything we need to chart outer planets.
Who will love this book:
The book leaves us with glimpses of worlds imagined in the works by Kim Stanley Robinson and Neal Stephenson, fictional, and yet after reading this book don't look so far-fetched at all. A delight for space enthusiasts, astronauts, physicists, geologists, biologists, science nerds, speculative fiction readers, and all science fiction readers. The book does require a medium-paced reading as it is packed with findings and might require trips to browsers for more detailed explanations about genetic engineering topics.
Summary:
This book is a comprehensive account of the latest cutting-edge bioengineering feats to conduct successful long-term space exploration and settlements written by a computational biologist and a geneticist who has worked on several NASA projects. The author takes us on a journey spanning the next 500 years, diving the centuries in neat chronological chapters, and describing preliminary biotechnological aids for astronauts to planning long voyages to distant planetary systems and ultimate settlement of the human population.
Detail Review:
Prof. Mason introduces the reader with the argument that the human race is the only species equipped to prevent its extinction and transport lifeforms to other planets. The Sun will run out of fuel eventually and consuming all organic life along with it. As the sentient species acutely aware of its mortality, it makes us morally bound to use our ingenuity and creativity to prevent this. This might be a little hard to comprehend since most humans have a myopic view of mortal life and interstellar travel to save our species doesn't have a place in our immediate priorities. Here the readers have to bite the philosophical nugget of "deontogenic" ethics whose premise states that "existence precedes essence". For any sentient life to flourish and produce science, technology, and the arts it has to overcome the extinction threat, plunge into new worlds, and exist. This section is a commendable exploration (and a treat for philosophy nerds) of the 'why' in space exploration and why investments must continue despite our planet ridden with existing perils of pandemics, climate change, overpopulation, etc.
In the next couple of chapters, we see the present advancements in human genome sequencing and the vast collection of genome sequences of all complex life systems on Earth which is the first step in molecular and genetic intervention required in future space missions. We are introduced to Captain Scott Kelly, the astronaut who completed the longest NASA mission in space and was a part of NASA Twins Study. The study compared his genetic, physiological, molecular, and epigenetic changes with his twin brother back on Earth. To everyone's surprise, Scott's immune system after coming back to Earth surpassed all levels. His immune system was on an overdrive only seen in patients with compromised immune systems. Not only this but his gene expression profile showed significant changes resulting from space radiation. This adds to the list of problems our astronauts going to Mars or Titan will face when their DNA changes with space travel. I read this fascinating detail that breathing in zero gravity isn't the same as back on Earth. Tiny clouds of carbon dioxide form in front of your mouth when you exhale. Such observations currently show how the human body is affected by space travel and that we have so much to learn before we embark on audacious space voyages.
Now we enter the exciting history and potential of CRISPR methods in gene editing and gene therapy. The next few decades will see advances in using these methods in tweaking genetic framework to combat and endure long-term space travel, radiation damage, and improve human physiological responses. Here the author deftly portrays that despite the exhilarating present advances, it will be a long journey until we successfully move from animal studies to 'CRISPR-ing' mutations out in human trials. But the clues to clever genome manipulation are present in nature itself. For years scientists have looked towards various organisms to incorporate their advantageous traits and manipulate them for human usage. For example, tardigrades, also called water bears (they look delightful under powerful microscopes) express an interesting protein called Dsup which protects their DNA. Work from the author's own lab showed that incorporation of this Dsup leads to 80% increase in reducing DNA damage. Such gene modification techniques will be crucial in protecting future space travellers in the next 100 years. This section is the most challenging in the whole book as it deals with in-depth molecular and cellular biology concepts.
In the future when Mars has permanent human settlements and genetic manipulation becomes commonplace (even recreational like ordering your choice of genes from a bar), organisms might even comprise of hybrid cells moving to the next phase which the author calls 'cellular liberty'. I would be remiss if I don't talk about my favourite example from this later half of the book. A green sea-slug called Elysia chlorotica eats chloroplast-containing algae (using molecular straws of course!) and becomes plantlike. Maybe future humans will have self-sufficient food-producing green tissues incorporated in them and cross another milestone in directed evolution. Who said green Martians are just stuff of science fiction?
Equipped with such advanced bioengineering technologies the author postulates that by 2351 we will be on the precipice of launching generation ships to candidate planets in different solar systems. The final phase of the sustainable existence of humans anywhere in the universe will encompass hybrid organismal systems (both human and non-human) evolving along with side physical and geochemical characteristics of other planets and satellites.
This work is a must-have for anyone interested in the latest space sciences. I was left wanting a bit more about the studies on human psychology during space travel, the effect on our cognitive abilities, sleep cycle, and circadian rhythms. But this is me being an ardent fan of Philip K. Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" Nevertheless, it provides an excellent collection and roadmap of everything we need to chart outer planets.
Who will love this book:
The book leaves us with glimpses of worlds imagined in the works by Kim Stanley Robinson and Neal Stephenson, fictional, and yet after reading this book don't look so far-fetched at all. A delight for space enthusiasts, astronauts, physicists, geologists, biologists, science nerds, speculative fiction readers, and all science fiction readers. The book does require a medium-paced reading as it is packed with findings and might require trips to browsers for more detailed explanations about genetic engineering topics.