Could we, in theory, use something like CRISPR to give a new baby replacement super-kidneys (or whatever organ it is that makes drinking saltwater be a bad time)? It seems like if we cracked that, we’d be set as a species.
Thanks for your time.
Could we, in theory, use something like CRISPR to give a new baby replacement super-kidneys (or whatever organ it is that makes drinking saltwater be a bad time)? It seems like if we cracked that, we’d be set as a species.
Thanks for your time.
According to this article, a longer loop of Henle in the kidney could be the secret to what allows some mammals to drink sea water.
For reference on why we didn’t evolve this naturally, this Stack Exchange answer suggests that most land animals live near fresh water.
This is the best answer.
Also, we need a lot of freshwater for our food (plants and animals). The amount we personally use for drinking is neglible.
It would solve nothing.
Now, if we could grow something like corn or soy with salt water… That would be a game changer.
On the other hand, we already have the technology to desalinate water. It’s mostly a cost and energy issue, not a technology issue.
If we grow some crop with salt water, we will be literally salting the earth, so unless we are talking about hydroponics/aquaponics, that would be very damaging for the soil and environment. That needs to be consider as well.
hmm how about making a seaweed that grows meat tumors then.
Or just eat the seaweed. Tons of nutrients in there. Plus it tastes great as a salad!
Good point. Another reason to favor desalination.
It’s a good point, but desalination has the same issue. Whenever you use seawater to produce something with almost no salt in it (be it desalinated water or crops), that means the salt has to go somewhere else. Probably in concentrated form.
Desalination may not salt the earth, but brine can create dead zones in the water. There are solutions like diluting it, and there are cases of operators who don’t care. Either way, salt is an issue if you use salt water. Has to go somewhere.
Diluting it is just undoing the desalination on the water used to dilute it.
There are better ways to do this. Examples:
In theory, this could give and take the same amount of salt water to and from the ocean, while still providing desalinated water for use.
Another way to dilute brine is to add it to the ocean in small bits in multiple locations, so neither location exceeds a certain salt concentration.