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Follow @SpaceMossUCPH

Moss… In space!

Space Moss is an interdisciplinary project that combines two fields that are leading the way into the future: Astrophysics and Synthetic Biology. Astrophysics and human curiosity are propelling martian colonisation, however creating a sustainable environment on Mars where humans could survive is as an unsolved problem. This is where synthetic biology could provide the solution by creating genetically modified organisms that can produce all the needed components for astronaut survival. Our project proposes to genetically modify Moss to produce components that could sustain an environment fit for colonisation of Mars.

Team photo outside Copenhagen University

Our project has three main focus areas: Testing Moss’s ability to survive on Mars,genetically modifying moss to produce materials useful to both its and astronauts’ survival on Mars, and educating and inspiring the general public about synthetic biology and space exploration. We will test Moss’s ability to survive on Mars by using the Mars Environmental Chamber at the Niels Bohr Institute. By simulating martian living conditions, such as varying temperature, low pressure and high carbon dioxide atmosphere we will quantify moss’s ability to survive on Mars. A long side this testing we plan on introducing genes into the moss at the Center for Synthetic Biology that will allow the moss to express components key for creating a sustainable environment on Mars. These components will include an antifreeze protein and resveratrol. Resveratrol is an antioxidant that would be useful as a medical supplement to astronauts, while the antifreeze protein would help the moss survive low temperatures on Mars.

Team members Victoria and Jonathan at the DTU biobrick workshop

The project is also keenly focused on raising awareness about the following issues: Ethics regarding the colonization of Mars and genetics, the benefits of interdisciplinary research and international collaboration and inspiring young people to participate in scientific research. This will be done through ethic workshops, high school lectures, comic strips and short films.

Group photo from DTU biobrick tutorial

Red Lab and Green Lab

Red Lab

In the 'Red Lab', the team will expose the moss to harsh martian conditions, including extreme temperature differences, fake martian soil, radiation exposure, pressure and CO2 concentrations. More about Red Lab

Looking into the Mars Chamber at the Niels Bohr institute

Green Lab

Green Lab is working on modifying the moss to survive the extreme temperatures, and at the same time produce useful compounds for humans. We will insert an 'anti-freeze' gene from a spruce budworm into moss cells. Additionally we will design the moss to produce resveratrol, demonstrating the potential of using the improved moss to produce compounds, which are useful to astronauts.

Jonathan and Adam working on PCR reactions at the lab

Ethical Implications

Currently, there is a political treaty called the Outer Space Treatywhich deals with scientific experiments on foreign bodies. What kind of dialogue is needed for what we can do, and what we should do, utilizing synthetic biology to potentially make Mars habitable? How can we keep in consideration all viewpoints to make our continued journey a most successful one? We invite you to join the conversation.