Physical Sciences ︱ Roy Sleator & Niall Smith Directed Panspermia Synthetic DNA in bioforming planets As our technological nter-planetary travel. Terraforming. their atmospheric and surface conditions. advancements continue, Synthetic DNA. These all sound like Astrobiology brings these two focuses scientists are beginning to Iplot points from classic science fiction together as researchers look at the origins turn what was science fiction novels, but everyday science is closing the of life on Earth, as well as looking for into reality. Concepts such as gap between concepts that were once evidence of life on other planets. terraforming and travel between reserved for fantasy and research marking stars are becoming more the boundaries of human development. Prof Roy Sleator is a molecular biologist achievable, giving life to the The idea that humanity might one day at the Cork Institute of Technology in dream that one day we might leave Earth and colonise planets across Ireland. He works together with Dr Niall colonise other planets. Directed the galaxy is an inspirational dream that Smith, astrophysicist at Blackrock Castle panspermia is one method of is rapidly becoming a reality, thanks to Observatory, and the researchers are altering a hostile, uninhabited the cutting-edge developments across a particularly interested in planets beyond Chances are slim to find a planet with perfect conditions planet to a more Earth-like to host human life. Therefore, scientists study bioforming: variety of scientific disciplines. our solar system that may support life. As the seeding of a planet with life. environment, and Cork Institute Earth’s population grows and resources of Technology’s Professor Roy One such discipline is astrobiology, which become stretched, scientists are looking Sleator and Dr Niall Smith is the intersection of biology and physics. to both nearby planets and those that planet’s surface, or subjecting a planet to propose that synthetic DNA may The genetic makeup of life on Earth is have been discovered throughout the Scientists could create a synthetic impacts from comets, is expensive and be the most efficient approach. controlled by the double helix of DNA. galaxy as potential locations for the microbial colonist that would be perfectly itself requires vast resources. It would Since its discovery biologists have been spread of humanity among the stars. also take 1,000 years or more for a planet researching exactly how to decode this designed for the environment on such as Mars to warm to a temperature helix to extract the information within to IDENTIFYING EXOPLANETS similar to Antarctica. understand how it controls the physical The Earth orbits our Sun at a perfect an exoplanet. attributes of life. We have successfully distance to support life (the habitable liquid water and would not be capable orbiting their stars within the habitable BIOFORMING A PLANET sequenced our own genome, and gene zone). There are no extremes of of supporting humans. Mars perhaps zone that would allow the presence There is an alternative method for altering editing is common within research. temperature, and its location means it holds the most potential as a planet for of liquid water. Most recently, NASA’s a planet’s environment. Prof Sleator Whilst biologists study the microscopic, is neither too hot nor too cold for liquid human habitation, albeit within carefully Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite and Dr Smith suggest that bioforming physicists search for entire planets beyond water, the only planetary body in our controlled artificial environments as its discovered its first Earth-sized planet inside provides a faster alternative for planet- our solar system. As telescope and solar system where this is found. The atmosphere and extreme temperatures a habitable zone, following on from earlier wide alterations. Here, genetically remote sensing techniques improve, they other planets and moons have been well make it deadly for us to step outside discoveries of Earth-sized planets, such engineered organisms can be introduced can study planetary bodies, identifying studied, but all appear absent of life or without protection. as those in the TRAPPIST-1 system and to an inhospitable planet. These cells findings from the Kepler Space Telescope. could gradually modify the surface If the planets within our solar system are While planets that sit inside the habitable environment and atmosphere through Seven Earth-sized planets orbiting in the habitable zone of a star that we call TRAPPIST-1. unable to support life, what about planets zone around a star have the potential to processes such as excretion of gases or beyond these limits? In the early 1990s, house environmental conditions ideal for production of proteins whilst utilising the first exoplanet (a planet outside life, the chances of finding a planet that is whatever materials are available on the of our solar system) was confirmed. already perfect for specifically human life planet surface. Ultimately, they could As telescope technology improved, are slim. Terraforming may be the answer create an environment more suitable for scientists have discovered approximately to this problem. complex forms of life and habitable by 4,000 exoplanets within the Milky Way humans. This seeding of a planet with life galaxy and many more potential planets Terraforming is the artificial shaping and is known as directed panspermia. waiting for confirmation. Scientists are modification of a planet or moon. The The double helix of DNA controls the analysing the conditions on the surface process aims to alter an inhospitable Molecular biologists are already well genetic makeup of of these planets and their atmospheres, environment so that it can become versed in manipulating DNA in simple life on Earth. hoping to find one that supports a similar habitable for humans. This includes organisms such as bacteria and viruses. Shutterstock.com environment to Earth. changing features such as its atmospheric Using various techniques, scientists can chemistry, topography and temperature find specific DNA code inside a cell and TERRAFORMING A PLANET so that it can support Earth life. This level remove or alter it. This enables us to treat Despite this abundance of planets of planetary engineering, for example and prevent diseases, correct genetic Angel Soler Gollonet/ Soler Angel throughout the galaxy, very few are using orbiting solar mirrors to warm a defects and improve crop yields. www.researchoutreach.org www.researchoutreach.org Scientists are constantly learning more about the environmental conditions on exoplanets, and as telescope Behind the Research technologies improve, it will be possible to make accurate analyses of the Dotted Yeti/Shutterstock.com atmospheric and surface conditions on distant bodies. Once we know more Prof Roy Dr Niall about a planet, Prof Sleator and Dr Smith propose that simple biological organisms Sleator Smith already found on Earth could be tailored for survival in specific conditions using genetic engineering techniques. There E: [email protected] T: +353 21 4335405 W: www.cit.ie have also been successful examples of In January 2020, NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite discovered its first Earth-sized planet in the completely synthetic DNA made from habitable zone. The find is called TOI 700 d. Research Objectives digitised genome sequences. Whilst scientists are within the earliest stages of Prof Sleator and Dr Smith use synthetic biology approaches to design cells and life forms that could potentially grow and synthetic biology and digitally designing survive on distant planets. a complete microbe, the research team Nanocraft could travel at 20% the speed suggest this method would ultimately of light, making the journey to Proxima be the most successful for the creation Detail of the earliest colonisers. Using millions Centauri in just 20 years. of computer simulations based on the Prof Roy Sleator Bio Dr Niall Smith holds a PhD in Astrophysics known planetary conditions, scientists Centauri is our closest star at 4.2 light by Yuri Milner, Stephen Hawking and Department of Biological Sciences Professor Roy Sleator graduated from from University College Dublin. He is could create a synthetic microbial colonist years from Earth. Its orbiting exoplanet Mark Zuckerberg, aims to design lightsail Cork Institute of Technology University College Cork with a BSc in Head of Research at CIT and Head of the that would be perfectly designed for the within the habitable zone, called nanocraft capable of crossing vast space Bishopstown, Cork Microbiology, an MA in Education and Blackrock Castle Observatory. environment on an exoplanet. Proxima b, is a potential candidate distances faster than anything we have Ireland a PhD in Molecular Biology. He also holds a DSc (Higher Doctorate) from the planet for colonisation. It would take the so far achieved. At around a centimetre Funding National University of Ireland, a PGCert • The Irish Research Council (IRC) TRAVELLING ACROSS THE STARS Voyager 1 probe around 73,000 years to in size, these micro-spacecrafts contain in Bioinformatics from The University of • Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) As a species, we are only beginning to arrive at this planet at its current speed. everything required for interstellar travel Manchester and an MBA from Anglia • Department of Agriculture, travel away from our home planet. We including antenna, solar cells and a Ruskin University. Food and the Marine (DAFM) have successfully landed on the Moon,