How to engineer microbes to enable us to live on Mars

theconversation.com

4 pointsamichail3 comments

> We are not yet sure there is no life on Mars. The question of how ethical it is to engineer new life and then spread it to other bodies in the Solar System for our own ends is deep and complex. But these conversations need to happen.

If it turns out Mars has indigenous microbial life, it becomes quite simple, IMHO. It would be deeply unethical to let invasive species loose there, just as it is on Earth.

I don't see why. Nobody cares about microbial life. You could of course keep some in labs to preserve and study it though.

Our species thrives on doing the unethical, many times knowingly. The people with the means will always do what they want without meaningful repercussions.

It’s hard to reasonably conceive us moving from short sighted desire fulfillment to a more thoughtful and considerate attitude.

Any existing literature on this?

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