When I was 19 I remember having a conversation with my uncle about biology and genetic engineering that still surfaces from the bubbling sea of ideas I’ve had and continuously think about but can’t possibly have the time to work on. I had learned all about photosynthesis and chloroplasts along with all the other basic inner workings of most cell and realized their significance. If we could somehow implant them into human dermal cells, could we then produce our own food from the sun and not have to eat? Maybe we would not have the surface area to produce enough calories to sustain our complete existence, but it would at least make a dent. We already produce our own vitamin D from the Sun, why not produce our own sugar too?

Why would anyone ever want to go through the effort to implant chloroplasts into human cells? In addition to providing some sustenance to the individual would there be any other benefit? Oxygen is a waste product of sugar production while carbon dioxide is consumed. How much would humans produce in total if they were all green? Probably not as much as we consume, but we would be one step more efficient.

The implantation of chloroplasts into epidermal cells is actually closer to reality than most people may realize. The gene gun was invented back in 1987 and has been used to create hybrid plants and deliver DNA-based vaccines many times since. The projectiles of the gun are gold nanoparticles that have been coated in the DNA to be injected. It fires the projectiles via compressed air like a shotgun blast right through cell walls. An entire chloroplast or even just the code for one could be shot into skin cells using this gun to create green skin. Melanin genes could also be used for contrast to create a genetic, chemical-free tattoo.

And then there is the bulldozer that runs on oatmeal… There will be a time in the not too distant future where genetic code is as easy to write as computer software. Researchers are already working to bring back extinct animal species like George M. Church at MIT and his mammoth project. The chickenosaurus project by Jack Horner is another example. Once the boot up sequence is completely understood there is nothing to stop us from creating new organisms from scratch. Every creature from every sci-fi movie ever will be created ad nauseam. There will need to be new laws and regulations on the creation of novel species. Think of how terrible it would be if someone genetically engineered the aliens from Aliens or Critters. The regulation of genes and genetic code segments will be an everyday thing necessitated by general public safety; it would become too easy to create a species that would undermine the delicately balanced global food chains and lead to another mass extinction event.

For now we can start by just making some green people.