Many of us have had the mermaid phase in our childhood (Yes, I’m talking about watching YouTube videos of people swimming around in those fake mermaid tails), but could mermaids ever be real? Not in myth, but in biology (Maybe one with red hair? And a weird obsession with forks? No? Okay)
Welcome to the crossroads of imagination and genetics.
Evolution in Reverse?
Humans evolved from aquatic ancestors, and some scientists speculate that an “aquatic ape phase” could explain our relatively hairless skin, our ability to hold our breath, and even our fondness for swimming. But breathing underwater? That’s another level.
Fish use gills, specialized organs that extract oxygen directly from water. Humans, with our single pair of lungs, are as good as dead if left too long underwater. But what if genetic engineering changed that?
Could We Build Gills? And what else do we need?
| Feature | Scientific Possibility |
|---|---|
| Gills | Artificial gills have been prototyped, but it is extremely complex to build. We’d need CRISPR to insert genes that grow new structures or adapt lungs to extract oxygen from water. |
| Webbed limbs | Syndactyly (webbing between fingers/toes) already exists naturally. Genes could enhance this trait for better swimming. |
| Salt tolerance | Marine animals have specialized kidneys or glands to handle salt. Altering human genes related to kidney function might help. |
| Cold resistance | Genetic alterations could increase brown fat or mimic adaptations from animals like seals or whales. |
CRISPR: Myth-Making Toolkit
CRISPR-Cas9 is the gene-editing tool making headlines for everything from curing diseases to creating glowing animals. It’s powerful, but honestly? Controversial. Hypothetically, you could use CRISPR to give a developing embryo traits that mimic aquatic creatures. But is it ethical?
Closing Thought:
We may never sprout gills, but exploring the “mermaid gene” teaches us something powerful it teaches us about the limits of biology, the reach of technology, and the stories that make us human.
So keep dreaming, keep imagining, because that’s what makes science beautiful. (Yes, I have little philosophical moments)
