Gaziantep University, Faculty of Art and Science, Department of Biology, Gaziantep, Turkey; Gaziantep University, Environmental Research Center (GÜÇAMER), Gaziantep, Turkey.
Gaziantep University, Faculty of Art and Science, Department of Biology, Gaziantep, Turkey; Gaziantep University, Environmental Research Center (GÜÇAMER), Gaziantep, Turkey.
Life Sci Space Res (Amst). 2024 May;41:181-190. doi: 10.1016/j.lssr.2024.03.001. Epub 2024 Mar 13.
The Martian environment, characterized by extreme aridity, frigid temperatures, and a lack of atmospheric oxygen, presents a formidable challenge for potential terraforming endeavors. This review article synthesizes current research on utilizing algae as biocatalysts in the proposed terraforming of Mars, assessing their capacity to facilitate Martian atmospheric conditions through photosynthetic bioengineering. We analyze the physiological and genetic traits of extremophile algae that equip them for survival in extreme habitats on Earth, which serve as analogs for Martian surface conditions. The potential for these organisms to mediate atmospheric change on Mars is evaluated, specifically their role in biogenic oxygen production and carbon dioxide sequestration. We discuss strategies for enhancing algal strains' resilience and metabolic efficiency, including genetic modification and the development of bioreactors for controlled growth in extraterrestrial environments. The integration of algal systems with existing mechanical and chemical terraforming proposals is also examined, proposing a synergistic approach for establishing a nascent Martian biosphere. Ethical and ecological considerations concerning introducing terrestrial life to extra-planetary bodies are critically appraised. This appraisal includes an examination of potential ecological feedback loops and inherent risks associated with biological terraforming. Biological terraforming is the theoretical process of deliberately altering a planet's atmosphere, temperature, and ecosystem to render it suitable for Earth-like life. The feasibility of a phased introduction of life, starting with microbial taxa and progressing to multicellular organisms, fosters a supportive atmosphere on Mars. By extending the frontier of biotechnological innovation into space, this work contributes to the foundational understanding necessary for one of humanity's most audacious goals-the terraforming of another planet.
火星环境具有极端干旱、严寒和缺乏大气氧气的特点，这对潜在的星球改造工程构成了巨大挑战。本文综述了利用藻类作为生物催化剂来改造火星的最新研究，评估了它们通过光合作用生物工程促进火星大气条件的能力。我们分析了适应地球极端生境的极端微生物藻类的生理和遗传特征，这些生境可以作为火星表面条件的模拟。评估了这些生物在火星上介导大气变化的潜力，特别是它们在生物产氧和二氧化碳固存方面的作用。我们讨论了增强藻类菌株的弹性和代谢效率的策略，包括遗传修饰和开发用于在地球外环境中进行受控生长的生物反应器。还研究了藻类系统与现有的机械和化学星球改造方案的整合，提出了建立新兴火星生物圈的协同方法。批判性地评估了将地球生命引入系外行星的伦理和生态考虑。这包括检查与生物改造相关的潜在生态反馈回路和固有风险。生物改造是指有目的地改变行星的大气、温度和生态系统，使其适合地球生命存在的理论过程。分阶段引入生命的可行性，从微生物类群开始，逐步发展到多细胞生物，在火星上营造出支持生命的环境。通过将生物技术创新的前沿扩展到太空，这项工作为人类最具野心的目标之一——改造另一颗行星——提供了必要的基础理解。
