If we do decide to inhabit Mars, what would happen?

After billions of years of evolution, Homo Sapiens have evolved from apes to human beings, which we see today. As sad as it gets, there is a population explosion expected in the near future on earth, making it impossible to live here. It is almost magical in so many ways how living beings evolve, how species change one form to another in order to adapt to the changing environment around them. This is called “Survival of the Fittest” and the phenomenon of natural selection kicks in.


According to the scientists, the planet which is closest to being habitable is Mars. In other words, Mars is our future home, if someday we decide to send human beings to its territory. But, would human beings be welcomed there? Not quite so. Space scientists who have lived for approximately one year away from earth at the International Space Station have observed quite a few changes to their physiology. Due to weaker gravitational pull, their bones have weakened and there is an increase in the space between their vertebrae. So much so that it increases the height by 2 inches.


Let us assume if we do decide to inhabit Mars, what would happen?

1. Role of evolution in stage 1: Due to less oxygen, weaker gravitational pull and huge amount of harmful radiation, either humans will perish or evolve into weaker versions of human beings with weaker bones and neurological disorders developing from shrinking brain size.
   
2. Role of evolution in stage 2: If humans do survive stage 1, they might enter into the next stage of evolution, where an opposite force starts playing its role. In order to adapt, humans will, over a period of thousand years, become stronger with a lot of changes in physiology and genetic make up.
   
3. Role of evolution in stage 3: People speculate about the colour of the skin. Would it be the same? No. Would it turn green, red, yellow? Due to the huge amount of radiation on Mars, the skin would absorb a large quantity of the pigment carotene (commonly found in carrots) and as a result humans might turn orange. That has a positive side too - Carotene helps fight against cancer.
   
4. Role of evolution in stage 4: Due to thin atmosphere, Mars absorb a huge amount of radiation. Almost 5000X times greater than Earth’s atmosphere. This in turn will mutate the genetic profile and the DNA. It would also accelerate the process of evolution to about 10X times than that on Earth.
   

Now, the question is - After these four stages of evolution Homo Sapiens go through, would they still remain human? Not quite so! Human beings on Mars would look and develop in a totally different manner than those on Earth. Would they be able to mate and produce offspring? Two living organisms with different genetic make up cannot do either of these.


So, we are searching for a new habitat or giving rise to a new race of living organisms? Wonder!