Mars-born children

Adult settlers will start colonization, but eventually children will be born on Mars, the next generation of a growing population of Mars colonists. Either the progeny of the first settlers continue the colonization process or, to avoid inbreeding depression, embryos with a maximum of genetic diversity are brought up (inspired by The Cascade).

• If Mars born children are capable of returning to Earth, the Martian environment will need to be sufficiently interesting to keep them there. As for any pioneer situation, the pioneers are willing to put up with a lot of hardship, but their children may not see the point.

Effects of gravity on growth

Experiments in zero gravity show that animal embryos do not develop properly in zero-g (reference?). Mars has 0.38 gravity, so, even if the said child was not deformed, that child would develop and grow in 0.38 gravity. So, the child may be perfectly healthy by Mars standards, but severely weak by Earth standards.

• It might be possible to provide a 1g setting on Mars using rotating settlements. Occasional visits to large centrifuges might provide a better growth environment. (See Low gravity for more discussion on this.) This is the subject of much debate and can be seen as anything from a trivial problem to a unsurmountable obstacle. Further research is needed.

Immune systems

Children growing up on Mars will not come in to contact with the same microbes as Earth children would. Thus, it will be important to vaccinate them to boost their immune systems.

• If the Mars settlement has a continuous influx of immigrants, then the isolation problem may not be very severe.
• If the Mars settlement has extensive food production facilities, these may serve as reservoirs for bacteria that will enhance the children's immune system. Plants and animals living throughout the settlement would probably also improve children's immune system response.