on early human development & HUMAN evolution in space
Developmental Space Biology has been evaluating the effects of micro and macro gravity in animals from conception to early postnatal development, including genetic, cellular, molecular, morphological, physiological and vestibular development processes.
Studies have been conducted, for example, in flies, sea urchins, fish, amphibians and mammals such as mice and rats, because these species have homologous genetic and molecular mechanisms to humans.
In general results indicate, for example, that altered gravity conditions can modify the structural features of developing bodies; that pregnancy and neonatal development can proceed in micro-g in mammals; or that fertilization can occur in micro-g in sea urchin, amphibian and fish.
Despite the investment that has been made, biological outcomes regarding human development in space environments are still unknown.
In Hominids, major biological changes, or Biological evolution, happened due to interactions with novel and challenging physical environments. Space environments are novel and challenging to humans, they will cause different forms of biological stress, for instance, via differences in gravity loads and biospheres. Hence, they are ideal to potentiate biological evolution.
Can Early Human Development Proceed in Space Environments? HOW?
Led by renowned futurist scientist Marta Ferraz, The Last Frontier© aims to provide innovative answers to these pressing questions and challenges via futuristic research essays to inspire organisations to invest in facilitating human adaptation to space.
The lAst frontiEr©
We argue that earlier stages of human development in space environments is key in furthering human adaptation to space and enhancing human evolution.
Marta Ferraz
Space to potentiate biological evolution
Major biological changes happen during early human development, from embryogenesis to childhood. Structural and functional. A phenomena known as plasticity, or, the ability of a genotype to produce different phenotypes in response to different environments.
Because plasticity is more prominent in early development, it may be that key adaptations to space environments also occur at this stage, generating adjustments in the human phenotype across generations – novel traits - and thus increasing survival and reproductive success in such environments.
Trait variability is the leading edge of evolution, linked in most cases to genetic change and speciation.
Major biological changes happen during early human development, from embryogenesis to childhood. Structural and functional. A phenomena known as plasticity, or, the ability of a genotype to produce different phenotypes in response to different environments.
Because plasticity is more prominent in early development, it may be that key adaptations to space environments also occur at this stage, generating adjustments in the human phenotype across generations – novel physical traits - and thus increasing survival and reproductive success in such environments.
Trait variability is the leading edge of evolution, linked in most cases to genetic change and speciation.
Human enhancement for space adaptation
Early human adaptation to space and boosting human evolution implies the following general premises: 1) allowing conception to occur in space (because major biological changes happen during early human development), and 2) allowing for developmental processes to proceed in space in an progressive adaptive biological format via human enhancement tech.
HOW?
The main principle under this theory is that biological adaptation should occur in a transient format - with humans transiting from controlled environments simulating the Earth's biosphere - to the new space environment, in order to guarantee proper and safe biological adaptation. We are developing artificial intelligence Biosymtic devices to test our theory.
In the quest for enhancing human adaptation to space, a convergence of technological advancements and genetic modifications is becoming increasingly evident. By allowing conception to occur in space and facilitating developmental processes in a progressive adaptive biological format through human enhancement technologies, we pave the way for a new era of space exploration. Through precise genetic alterations using techniques like CRISPR-Cas9, coupled with the plasticity of early developmental stages, we can optimize physiological systems crucial for space resilience. From bone density regulation to immune function optimization, these enhancements hold the potential to revolutionize human evolution in extraterrestrial environments. However, alongside these promising developments, ethical considerations and rigorous safety protocols remain imperative to navigate the complexities and ensure the responsible application of such advancements.
Early human adaptation to space and boosting human evolution implies the following general premises: 1) allowing conception to occur in space (because major biological changes happen during early human development), and 2) allowing for developmental processes to proceed in space in an progressive adaptive biological format via human enhancement tech.
HOW?
The main principle under this theory is that biological adaptation should occur in a transient format - with humans transiting from controlled environments simulating the Earth's biosphere - to the new space environment, in order to guarantee proper and safe biological adaptation. We are developing artificial intelligence Biosymtic devices to test our theory.
Early human adaptation to space and boosting human evolution implies the following general premises: 1) allowing conception to occur in space (because major biological changes happen during early human development), and 2) allowing for developmental processes to proceed in space in an progressive adaptive biological format via human enhancement tech.
HOW?
The main principle under this theory is that biological adaptation should occur in a transient format - with humans transiting from controlled environments simulating the Earth's biosphere - to the new space environment, in order to guarantee proper and safe biological adaptation. We are developing artificial intelligence Biosymtic devices to test our theory.
publications
Ferraz, M. (2018). "Biosymtic robotics: Adaptive plasticity for space exploration," 2017 IEEE Workshop on Advanced Robotics and its Social Impacts (ARSO), Austin, TX, USA, 2017, pp. 1-2, doi: 10.1109/ARSO.2017.8025202.
keywords: {Pediatrics;Physiology;Robots;Earth;Evolution (biology);Organisms}.
Ferraz, M. (2017). A Biosymtic (Biosymbiotic Robotic) Approach to Human Development and Evolution. In: Gamberini, L., Spagnolli, A., Jacucci, G., Blankertz, B., Freeman, J. (eds) Symbiotic Interaction. Symbiotic 2016. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 9961. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57753-1_6
Ferraz, M. (2016). A Biosymtic (Biosymbiotic Robotic) Approach to Human Development and Evolution: The Echo of the Universe. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 2016. 10597435.
UPCOMING RELEASE 2024
Ferraz, M. (2024). The Future of Human Reproduction, Development and Evolution in Space Environments. Nature Microgravity.
Ferraz, M. (2014). Universal Cognition: Perceptual Enhancement in Space Environments. Nature Microgravity.
universal cognition theory
Perception concerns the identification, interpretation and organisation of sensory information in order to represent, understand the environment.
Animal species generate perception according to their body structure. For instance, it is expected for a crocodile to perceive a chair differently from a human because these species present different body structures. A chair suggests the action of setting for most humans (since humans have a flexible torso and hip joints), a crocodile will probably not notice it or destroy it with is sharp teeth.
For example, Mars gravity is one third of gravity on earth. Possibly, we will develop more elongated bodies, beyond other biological changes while exposed to Mars biosphere that will change our perception of the surrounding environment. Biological modifications such as exaptation processes - new organs - and thus, new sensory skills.
Hence, we may create new ways to understand environmental/universal properties. This is a new theory under the authorship of Marta Ferraz.
publications
Ferraz, M. (2018). "Biosymtic robotics: Adaptive plasticity for space exploration," 2017 IEEE Workshop on Advanced Robotics and its Social Impacts (ARSO), Austin, TX, USA, 2017, pp. 1-2, doi: 10.1109/ARSO.2017.8025202.
keywords: {Pediatrics;Physiology;Robots;Earth;Evolution (biology);Organisms}.
Ferraz, M. (2017). A Biosymtic (Biosymbiotic Robotic) Approach to Human Development and Evolution. In: Gamberini, L., Spagnolli, A., Jacucci, G., Blankertz, B., Freeman, J. (eds) Symbiotic Interaction. Symbiotic 2016. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 9961. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57753-1_6
Ferraz, M. (2016). A Biosymtic (Biosymbiotic Robotic) Approach to Human Development and Evolution: The Echo of the Universe. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 2016. 10597435.
UPCOMING RELEASE 2024
Ferraz, M. (2024). The Future of Human Reproduction, Development and Evolution in Space Environments. Nature Microgravity.
Ferraz, M. (2014). Universal Cognition: Perceptual Enhancement in Space Environments. Nature Microgravity.
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