[ukmicky (OP)]

Why don’t we try to introduce very basic forms of life to Mars. Why is  it so important to keep it sterile.

[alancalverd]

Why not spray the walls of the National Gallery with white paint? Because what is there, or in the case of Mars isn't there, is interesting. If we covered the surface in, say, a yeast infection that we already understand, it wouldn't be.

[ukmicky (OP)]

Could   we not  introduce a life  form with a specific genetic marker which would allow us to differentiate between an introduced life form and one that may have evolved on the planet .


I would also say we should be doing everything possible to ensure life as we know It has a chance of surviving in as many places as possible . It’s possible we are alone in the universe and if life died out with the demise of our planet which will happen at sometime our existence would have been a waste.

[Bored chemist]

And what if it ate the native bugs?

The thing is that we know what the soil and atmosphere are like. We can mimic them here on Earth and seed that with any bacteria we choose- without the cost or vandalism of sending bugs to Mars.

[ukmicky (OP)]

I wouldn’t call making use of a inhospitable ,barren and probably lifeless planet vandalism and If  we do nothing it will sit there for another 5 billion years doing nothing which will be a total waste.

Not only that but at sometime in the future we will send people to the planet and will then at some stage accidentally introduce life forms to Mars through us living on it even if we try not to , so unless the world comes together and says no man can ever step foot on Mars the argument that it  must be kept free from all forms of earth life makes no sense.

[Bored chemist]

I wouldn’t call making use of a inhospitable ,barren and probably lifeless planet vandalism and If  we do nothing it will sit there for another 5 billion years doing nothing which will be a total waste.

Not only that but at sometime in the future we will send people to the planet and will then at some stage accidentally introduce life forms to Mars through us living on it even if we try not to , so unless the world comes together and says no man can ever step foot on Mars the argument that it  must be kept free from all forms of earth life makes no sense.

So, you propose to do the pointless expensive experiment because...?

[ukmicky (OP)]

Because we can and because in the grand scheme of things there being a second planet with life can only be a good thing for life and it’s existence . And who knows maybe we could introduce enough of a life form that could produce oxygen from the Martian atmosphere which could help us in the future survive on the planet.

[charles1948]

And what if it ate the native bugs?

The thing is that we know what the soil and atmosphere are like. We can mimic them here on Earth and seed that with any bacteria we choose- without the cost or vandalism of sending bugs to Mars.

Experiments with growing Earth organisms in a Martian environment go back to the early 1960s.  In those days we didn't have reliable information about Mars.  We thought the Martian atmosphere was composed mainly of Nitrogen.
Can you believe that?  So obviously the experiments were hopeful, but a waste of time.

Nowadays we know better.  Thanks to all the probes and landers which have gone there.  We now know that Mars is definitely a freezing-cold, cratered,  lunar-like desert, with a vanishingly thin CO2 atmosphere. Completely devoid of animal life, or even vegetation.  All it might have, possibly, is fossilised bacteria from 3 billion years ago.

I mean, who cares about extinct Martian bacteria? 

Unless  -  they might be of use in weapons research.  The recent pandemic has shown the potential of bat/pangolin pathogens.  And they are merely terrestrially-derived.  Suppose a Mars-derived pathogen could be developed..
Against which no vaccines would work. It would be the ultimate weapon.

Isn't it interesting to note that the latest US Mars probe "Perseverance", which just successfully landed, will collect 31 test-tubes of Martian soil.  This soil will be stored, ready to be collected and taken to Earth by a new NASA mission in a few years' time.

What should we make of that?

[Hayseed]

Because you or we, can not.  Try it.   It will die.  Life can not live on Mars or anywhere else.   It's that simple.    If life could live anywhere else........it would have.    Life is not natural in this universe.

[ukmicky (OP)]

okaaaayyyyyy

[Hayseed]

Life needs more than just an environment.   It needs other life forms to survive.  It's like a network.  Life exchanges resources back and forth.

[Kryptid]

Because you or we, can not.  Try it.   It will die.  Life can not live on Mars or anywhere else.

Actually, cyanobacteria have been found to survive under Martian conditions in the lab. As to whether they could reproduce and thrive under those conditions, we don't yet know.

It's that simple.    If life could live anywhere else........it would have.

And you know there isn't life outside of Earth? How?

Life is not natural in this universe.

Are you trying to say that it's artificial? If so, then a life form would have needed to create it anyway.

[alancalverd]

Life needs more than just an environment.   It needs other life forms to survive.  It's like a network.  Life exchanges resources back and forth.

There's a hint of chicken and egg here. Interdependent life forms have evolved on this planet but given CO2, sunshine and water, plant life could evolve on Mars without animals until the atmosphere becomes toxic.

[ukmicky (OP)]

Life needs more than just an environment.   It needs other life forms to survive.  It's like a network.  Life exchanges resources back and forth.

Not quite correct