Scientists Propose Creation Of Lunar "Noah Ark' To Preserve DNA of Earth's Endangered Species and Plants

A pioneering group of scientists has put forth a revolutionary proposal: the creation of a passive lunar biorepository to store cryopreserved samples of Earth's most threatened species. The innovative plan aims to safeguard biodiversity for future generations due to the rapid decline in Earth's biodiversity due to various anthropogenic factors such as climate change, habitat destruction, and pollution while also supporting potential space exploration and terraforming efforts.

A Lunar Noah’s Ark

The proposal, championed by Mary Hagedorn, a research scientist at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, envisions a lunar Noah’s Ark.

Hagedorn, known for her work in preserving coral species through cryopreservation, aims to extend this technology to a broader range of taxa. The lunar repository would initially focus on cryopreserving animal skin samples containing fibroblast cells. These samples would be stored at temperatures near –196° Celsius, leveraging the Moon's naturally low temperatures and remoteness from human-made disasters.

Cryopreservation Technology and Initial Focus

The proposed biorepository will utilize cryopreservation technologies that allow cells to remain frozen but viable for hundreds of years. Initially, the focus will be on cryopreserving animal skin samples with fibroblast cells. An exemplar system has been developed using cryopreserved fish fins from the Starry Goby, Asterropteryx semipunctata.

These samples will be expanded into fibroblast cells, recryopreserved, and tested in Earth-based laboratories for packaging robustness and radiation sensitivity.

Cryopreservation, a method that involves cooling and storing cells at extremely low temperatures, has shown promise in preserving the genetic material of various species. Cells remain in a suspended state, halting all biological activity, which allows for long-term storage. When needed, these cells can be thawed and reanimated, offering a potential lifeline for species facing extinction.

Methodology and Roadmap

The lunar biorepository will initially incorporate a range of endangered animal taxa with the potential to rebuild human-friendly sustainable ecosystems during space flight, on another planet, or back on Earth. Critical groups for initial inclusion include ecological engineers, pollinators, extreme environment fauna, primary producers, temperate to cold water fishes, threatened and endangered animals, organisms important in space exploration, wild relatives of domesticated organisms, and species of cultural importance.

The biorepository will eventually expand to include plants, as animal life depends fundamentally on plant ecosystems.

Challenges and Solutions

Building a biorepository on the Moon poses several challenges. These include:

1. Robust Packaging: Protecting DNA samples from the harsh conditions of space, including extreme temperatures and vacuum, requires innovative packaging solutions. Fibroblast cells, which can become pluripotent, are key to this future-looking program. Mechanisms for robust packaging that can withstand liquid nitrogen temperatures, microgravity, and vacuums are being addressed.

2. Radiation Protection: Radiation can degrade exposed samples. Using antioxidant cocktails and protease inhibitors during cryopreservation can reduce radiation-induced oxidative stress. Physical barriers, such as water, lead, cement, regolith, and newly developed materials, can also passively or actively block radiation.

3. Temperature Management: Certain areas of the Moon, especially at the poles, have permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) with temperatures close to –196°C, ideal for long-term storage. Logistics of transporting biomaterials to these areas at liquid nitrogen temperatures, although challenging, are feasible with future rovers and astronaut missions.

4. Microgravity Effects: The long-term effect of microgravity on cryopreserved samples is not fully understood. Initial tests on cryopreserved cardiac cells on the International Space Station (ISS) have shown promising results, but further research is needed.

5. Ice Presence: PSRs contain substantial amounts of ice, which may be an important resource for future human missions. The existence of this ice suggests that storing frozen or vitrified hydrated samples in similar areas should be possible without sublimation.

International Collaboration and Governance

Creating a lunar biorepository is envisioned as a decades-long program requiring extensive international cooperation. The project will involve ecologists, biologists, cryobiologists, geneticists, engineers, legal experts, and bioethicists. Governance of the repository would mirror the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, with an international advisory panel overseeing operations and ensuring the preservation of samples within the public domain.

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway serves as a passive biorepository maintaining seeds at –18°C, utilizing the natural permafrost temperature. However, changing climatic conditions threaten its stability. In contrast, the Moon’s lack of atmosphere eliminates the threat of climate change, making it an ideal location for a biorepository. A portion of the lunar south pole has a stable temperature that never rises above –196° Celsius (-320 Fahrenheit), which would make cryogenically preserving the materials easier.

The proposal calls for global participation in this ambitious project. By creating a lunar biorepository, humanity can hedge against the loss of biodiversity due to natural disasters, climate change, and other threats. This effort represents a critical step in safeguarding Earth's ecosystems for future generations and advancing our understanding of cryobiology and space exploration. As we face unprecedented biodiversity loss, the lunar biorepository offers a beacon of hope. It combines cutting-edge technology with visionary thinking, promising to preserve the essence of life on Earth and potentially aiding in the establishment of sustainable ecosystems beyond our planet.

The team emphasizes that this proposal is not just a scientific endeavor but a moral imperative to protect the diversity of life that has evolved on our planet.

Future Prospects and Significance

In addition to safeguarding Earth's biodiversity, the lunar biorepository would advance our fundamental understanding of how cells behave in space. It would also preserve animal, plant, and microbial samples that may be essential to human exploration of the solar system or galaxy. The biorepository could store biomaterials for food, filtration, microbial breakdown, and ecosystems engineering.

The establishment of a lunar biorepository would mark a significant milestone in humanity's efforts to conserve biodiversity and explore the cosmos. It would provide a unique opportunity to study the effects of long-term space exposure on biological materials, paving the way for future space missions and the potential terraforming of other planets.

Given the current state of Earth's ecosystems and the accelerating pace of species extinction, the lunar biorepository represents a visionary and practical solution. It offers a way to preserve the genetic heritage of our planet while advancing our capabilities in space exploration and biotechnology.