How Will Humans Evolve on Mars?

from Access Reality · host Ali Cadili

Dr. Scott Mcleod, associate teaching Biosciences professor at Rice University joins us to discuss evolutionary biology on Mars. Topics discussed include whether and how natural selection will work on humans in a low gravity, high radiation environment. Questions addressed in this conversation include what human martians will look like in terms of appearance and physiology, the effect of microbe introduction into Mars, changes in microbiome composition and immunity for humans living on Mars, feasibility of plant and animal life on Mars, and who should be selected to go to Mars based on considerations of genetic diversity. Dr. Solomon also explains his motivation and interest in the field of human evolution as a Biologist specializing in animals, specifically ants.