When I was growing up, I always wanted to be a mermaid. I grew up living on a beach, and spent most of my time in the water—specifically under water, always testing how long I could hold my breath. I thought one day I would just be swept away to live with the mermaids like Aquamarine. As I grew older, I realized my dream would never quite become a reality… but maybe it will?
Recent research has possibly discovered a way for humans to potentially breathe underwater, according to this article.
The researchers at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada have found that since mankind came to be, human DNA has absorbed hundreds of viruses. The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United states of America. They compared this to salamanders, as algae often becomes stuck in embryos, growing with them and not leaving their DNA, literally making them part algae. The researchers suggest that this process could be applied to humans, merging our DNA with that of algae so we too could breathe underwater and salamanders do. This idea isn’t too far fetched, since we are both vertebrate.
Researcher Dr. Ryan Kerney said “Algae inside the egg capsules provide oxygen to the embryo and the algae gets waste from the embryo which is rich in the nitrogen the plant needs,” according to the article. Kerney also said the researchers found algae DNA in the reproductive organs of adult salamanders, so it is possible that this gene is inherited.
Of course, this new discovery could have a major impact on our future. According to scientists, it could potentially mean that bioengineers could use algae as a source of oxygen for organisms, including humans. This study is the first that suggests the partnership of a plant and vertebrate, but the biological impacts and effects are still unknown.
I feel this study is very interesting, but posses many unanswered questions. It is highly unlikely this could suffer from the Texas sharpshooter problem, or the file drawer since this is brand new research that is only testing one idea, however it is very uncertain as to what the long-term effects may be. The scientists have no actually done any mutations yet, as far as the public is aware. This could lead to a whole new branch of science, manipulating DNA to allow for inhumane effects, such as breathing underwater. It would be important to take into consideration the future of this, also if this is ethical or not. What benefits come from adding the DNA of algae to our human DNA? If this is ethical, is it ethical to swap the DNA of fish and give ourselves gills? All these questions have yet to be answered, however I feel this is a whole new world of science that will open doors to future advancements in our society. For now, my biggest question is… will we be able to swim underwater like in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire?
This is a very interesting theory to think about. I spent my entire childhood in the ocean, and often wished the same thing, that I could breathe underwater. If this theory turns out to work, it could possibly lead to so many more possibilities. While in search of an alternative planet to sustain life, we could factor in life underwater as well. I would be very excited about the DNA swap, and would want to have it done if successful. Cool Post!