8/9/2019 THE TEORETICAL POSSIBILITY OF SELF-SUSTAINABLE LIFE FOR
A HUMAN-ALGAE HYBRID
1/1
THE TEORETICAL POSSIBILITY OF SELF-SUSTAINABLE LIFE FOR A
HUMAN-
ALGAE HYBRID
Fredrik Andersson & Kim Lindgren
2010-03-24
INTRODUCTION
The transhumanist imagination can at times seem frighteningly
unrealistic, with ideas that feel
more at home in a science fiction novel than in reality.
However, as we let our imaginations soar itis important that we
keep ourselves grounded in observable reality. Let us, with that in
mind
examine a possible symbiosis or genetic hybrid between algae and
a human. There is no question
that if human beings could conduct photosynthesis, even
partially, we would be able to preventstarvation for countless of
people, as well as improve the standard of life for everyone in
the
world. The prospect is exciting, but is it possible?
INVESTIGATON
We estimate the energy requirement for the average human to be
3000 kcal/day (which is anexaggeration of the 2000kcal/day diet
recommended by most food and health administrations).
The sun emits energy equal to 1.96 calories per second on an
area 1cm in size. For the purposesof this investigation we will
assume that this theoretical plant-man would have chloroplast
efficiency equal to that of algae. We have not accounted for the
variance in sun energy during theday and can only be considered a
basic proof of concept.
Sunlight/cmsec : 1.96 calories [1]Chloroplast efficiency: 7.7%
[2]Seconds/day: 60*60*12 = 43200Energy requirement/day: 3000 kcal
(estimate)Human surface-area: 18000 cm (men) [3]
Sun-energy/daycm (calories): 1.96*43200 = 84672 calories
Converted solar energy: 0.077*84672 = 6519.744
caloriesEnergy/personday : 6519.744*18000 = 1.17e calories
= 117355 kcal/day>> required energyCONCLUSION
As we can see, the energy we could acquire trough the skin using
the same chloroplast efficiencyis more than enough to satisfy our
required daily energy intake. It is entirely possible that wed
be
able not only to survive on a day to day basis but also to store
enough energy in the form ofsugar to survive during the night and
during winter months. This should only be considered a very
basic evaluation of the concept, but it does point to exciting
possibilities.
SOURCES
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunlight
[2] Magee J. L., DeWitt T. W., Coolidge E., Smith, Farrington,
Daniels. 1939. APhotocalorimeter. The Quantum Efficiency of
Photosynthesis in Algae. Journal of the
American Chemical Society 61:3529-2522[3]
http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2001/IgorFridman.shtml
