Agriculture Sphere

Fish on Mars?

To maintain a well balanced diet, the people living in Koinae raise fish, which they eat once a week. Now you may be asking yourself: How do you bring fish from Earth to Mars, water and all, and keep them alive? Well, the answer lies in one of the technological breakthroughs of the twentieth century: cloning.

In March of 1997, Scottish scientists revealed that they had successfully cloned a lamb, named Dolly, from the DNA of an adult sheep. Approximately forty years later, when Koinae was established on Mars, DNA of fish on Earth made the long trip from Earth to Mars, which, upon arrival in Koinae, was used to clone Mars's fish population. These cloned fish were then bred to facilitate a food resource for the colony.

The Fish Farm in Koinae was an experiment when the colony was first established. Very little was known about how fish would do in the lower gravity environment of Mars. However, after the first year the fish population on Mars was thriving.

Because of the smallness of this facility, the colonists are only served fish once a week, making fish a special treat on Mars. Efforts to expand the farm are being planned, but nothing has been started yet.

* Click here to see how the fish in Koinae are prepared.

Cloning is a very hot topic right now. Many people feel very strongly on both sides of this issue. What are some of the potential benefits of cloning; what are some of the potential dangers? Share your thoughts with us on the MarsCom!