The Moosut

The moosut is an entity that is associated with the rocky planet Mars. The small prehistoric-looking ape has survived for millions of years on a world that has long been thought to be incapable of supporting any sort of life. Its survival is due to its unique body systems and physiology, which have enabled it to survive the harsh environmental conditions on Mars. Unlike other animals such as humans, years of evolution have made the moosut ideal for such a climate. As a result, an examination of the moosut's organ systems and structure will shed light on the reasons for the organism's survival on Mars. The Environment of Mars

Mars commonly referred to as the “Red Planet,” is the fourth planet in the solar system. “It is considered as the most similar planet to Earth due to the presence of clouds in its atmosphere, seasonal weather patterns, volcanoes, canyons, and polar ice caps” (Wilson). The surface of Mars has been changed to its current state by volcanism, crust movements, and dust storms. Dust storms are a regular occurrence in Mars. The effects are dramatic including physical features carved by the wind, wind streaks, and giant sand dunes.

Mars, like Earth, has an atmosphere. However, the atmosphere of Mars is way thinner, approximately 100 times thinner than the earth’s atmosphere. The composition of the atmosphere of Mars is as follows: Carbon dioxide- 95.32 percent, Nitrogen- 2.7 percent, Argon- 1.6 percent, Oxygen- 0.13 percent, and Carbon monoxide- 0.08 percent. Besides the major components, the atmosphere of Mars also has minor amounts of water, neon, nitrogen oxide, xenon, krypton, and hydrogen- deuterium- oxygen.

Since Mars is further away from the sun than Earth, it is far much colder. This is also influenced by the thin atmosphere of Mars. Average temperatures in Mars are around 80° F. However, during winter temperatures near the pole go as low as 195° F while at the equator midday temperatures can reach 70° F which is quite comfortable based on the standards on Earth. The dust storms of Mars are the largest in the entire solar system. The resulting dust can cover the entire planet and persist for months. Like Earth, it also snows on Mars. The only difference is that the snowflakes are made of carbon dioxide rather than water. The poles of Mars are entirely covered in snow. The extreme cold and thin atmosphere of Mars means that it is impossible for liquid water to exist on the surface for long.

Since Mars has a thin atmosphere and no ozone layer like Earth, the surface of the planet is exposed to cosmic rays. Cosmic rays are harmful to life forms due to their effect on the genetic material. As such, the surface of Mars is virtually sterile. The cosmic rays are also a danger to space explorers so they must be protected sufficiently to protect themselves from the effects of cosmic rays.

Mars has striking geological characteristics. The most significant is Olympus Mons, which is the largest volcanic mountain in the entire solar system. There are numerous volcanic mountains on the surface of Mars. In the northern Tharsis region, the volcanoes are so huge that they change roundness of the planet. Mars also has a colossal equatorial rift valley and a canyon system stretching thousands of miles. Also noteworthy is the fact that Mars has two small moons. The origin of the two moons- Phobos and Deimos- is not known at the moment (National Geographic).

The question of life on Mars has been the subject of discussion since the start of space exploration. However, to date, there is no evidence of any form of life on the planet. Earth is believed to be the only planet capable of sustaining life. The evidence of the presence of water on Mars millions of years ago could be evidence that life existed once (Friedmann, Imre and Ali 168). The discovery of the moosut breaks all previous theories about life on Mars.

Organ Systems of the Moosut

The moosut is a small organism which is about one-foot-long and weighs 3 to 4 pounds. It resembles a large centipede. However, unlike centipedes, moosuts have an endoskeleton like the vertebrates of earth. A characteristic feature of the moosut is the hard protective body armor. This could sometimes be confused for an exoskeleton.

Central Nervous System

The central nervous system of a moosut is similar to that of vertebrates. It consists of a brain, spinal cord, and nerves that a responsible for connecting the brain to the organs. The brain of the moosut is characterized by a large cerebrum which is an indication of complex integration of sensory organs. The moosut has conspicuously large eyes which protrude from its small head. However, the eyesight of the moosut is poorly developed because it does not have to see to survive. It inhabits an environment uninhabited by any other, so there is no competition or predation of any kind.

Spatial awareness and analyzing the environment around it is key to the moosut’s survival. As such, like many reptiles, it has an organ of chemoreception that is referred to as the Jacobson’s organ. The sensory cells which make up the organ enable the moosut to analyze its environment and react accordingly.

The brain of the moosut is considerably smaller when compared to that of a human being. There is no evolutionary need for a moosut to develop a complex brain such as that of a human being due to the significantly different circumstances. The entire central nervous system is primitive and resembles that on the reptiles of earth. The lack of developed eyesight is also in stark contrast to the situation in human beings where seeing is necessary for proper quality of life. The presence of a Jacobson’s organ in the moosut also proves that the central nervous system is closer to that of reptiles rather than that of a human being.

Circulatory System

The moosut has an elaborate circulatory system which is orchestrated by a central organ resembling a human heart. However, instead of red blood, a green fluid runs through the body of a moosut. The green fluid is way denser than blood found in human beings and other vertebrates. The fluid also flows at a slower rate than human blood. The difference in the circulatory fluid is because unlike in human beings where liquid water is the biochemical solvent, moosuts use methane as the biochemical solvent. The moosuts habitat lacks water so they cannot afford to have water running through their bodies with no prospect of replenishment in case anything happens.

The components of the moosut’s circulatory system resemble those of human beings. The heart- like organ is the center of the circulatory system and it is responsible for pumping the circulatory fluid around the network of blood vessels. Unlike in human beings, the heart of a moosut has two compartments rather than four. Blood vessels vary in size just as is the case in human beings and are responsible for transporting the circulatory fluid to the extremities.

The blood of a human being features the presence of blood cells such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. These cells carry oxygen in the blood, protect the body against invading pathogens, and enable blood clotting respectively. The moosut lacks any such cells in their circulatory fluid. Red blood cells are not necessary because the organisms respire anaerobically. The white blood cells and platelets have been lost over time since they serve no function in the moosut.

Digestive System

The digestive system in human beings is made of the gastrointestinal tract and organs such as the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. “The gastrointestinal tract is a series of hollow organs joined in a long twisting tube from the mouth to the anus. The hollow organs are mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus” (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases). The digestive system is essential to human beings since it is the only way through which the body can gain nutrients.

The moosut has no digestive system. This is because it does not acquire nutrition through the consumption of organic and inorganic substances. Instead, the moosut is photosynthetic. It uses the small amount of light received by mass to manufacture its nutritional requirements. This is made possible by the presence of photosynthetic cells on its body surface. The cells are highly sensitive to even small light intensities. The photosynthetic process in moosuts is so efficient that the organism can maintain normal nutritional levels even after months of virtually no sunlight which is common after the massive dust storms associated with Mars. The ability of an animal to carry out photosynthesis is peculiar since on Earth it is a confine of green plants and photosynthetic bacteria.

Musculoskeletal System

Moosuts have an endoskeleton and segmented bodies just like arthropods and vertebrates. The organism has ten legs, each of which carries a portion of the organism’s weight. Human beings are also segmented only that there is a high level of specialization of the segments that we barely notice it. In the case of the moosuts, all the segments are similar and as such are salient. Human beings have two legs which support the bipedal posture unlike the multiple appendages observed in the moosuts.

The musculoskeletal system of both human beings and moosuts is composed of similar components- bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and cartilages. Besides providing structural support, the musculoskeletal system is also responsible for providing leverage and movement in both cases.

Respiratory System

The moosut is an anaerobic organism meaning that it does not require oxygen to survive. This is perfect since only 0.13 percent of the atmosphere of Mars is Oxygen. In anaerobic respiration, other chemical substances are used as final electron acceptors instead of oxygen. As such, the moosut does not feature a classic respiratory system found in human beings. The most significant organ in the respiratory system is the lungs. Other components include the trachea, bronchus, and bronchioles which lead air from the environment into the lungs. The respiratory processes in the moosut primarily take place in the individual cells, specifically the cell membrane. As such, the moosut is an aggregation of anaerobic prokaryotic particles where the cell level caters for all respiratory needs without the need of an organ such as the lungs as is the case in human beings and other vertebrates.

Novel Organs in the Moosut not found in Human Beings

Moos Cells

The environmental conditions in Mars are undoubtedly harsh. The moosuts have to reproduce despite the environmental conditions to ensure their existence in the long term. In normal circumstances, reproduction is through copulation between male and female types. Copulation, in this case, resembles conjugation in bacteria where a sex pilus is extended from a donor to a receptor organism. For moosuts, however, the pilus is longer and sturdier. Copulation is usually limited to a two- week duration every year. If an organism misses this deadline, then moos cells come into play.

Moos cells are an aggregation of specialized cells from the terminal segment of the organism. The organ is present in both male and female moosuts. In case the deadline is missed, the moose cells are capable of vegetative growth. Like budding in yeast cells, the organ breaks off from the rest of the organism and starts the growth and development process into a mature moosuts. Vegetative reproduction takes twice as long as sexual reproduction, but it still ensures continuity of the species.

Tegument pouch

This organ is also unique to the moosuts. Like moos cells, it also enhances the survival of the organism in the case of extremely harsh environmental conditions. The moosut can handle harsh conditions on Mars. However, in the case of dust storms when particulate matter suspends in the atmosphere for months, the organisms have to go into hibernation mode to aid the conservation of energy. Photosynthesis means that the nutrient reserves in a moosut can sustain it for up to a year. As such, the loose skin on the first four body segments turns into a flexible hollow organ referred to as a tegument poach. The moosut then coils itself and fits into the tegument poach. The poach takes a rigid circular shape and protects the organism from any form of damage during the hibernation period. The tegument poach is similar to the endospore formed by some bacterial species, only that it is located on the outside of the organism. On the end of the hibernation period, the organism can resume its metabolic activities with only a very short lag period to adjust to the new conditions.

Moosuts’ survival in Mars can also be attributed to their damage suppressor gene which codes for a protein that shields nucleic material from damage by cosmic rays. The cosmic rays are also a major reason why there is no life on Mars. The presence of superior DNA repair mechanisms also reduces the damage done by any ionizing radiation.

Conclusion

The moosut is an interesting organism due to its ability to survive in the hostile environment of Mars. The combination of perfect evolutionary traits has made it perfect for the environment. A look at its organ system shows that it combines features of different vertebrates and even unicellular organisms such as bacteria. This creates an organism capable of dealing with the environment of the red planet.

Works Cited

Friedmann, E. Imre, and Ali M. Koriem. "Life on Mars: how it disappeared (if it was ever there)." Advances in Space Research 9.6 (1989): 167-172.

National Geographic. “Mars.” Natonalgeographic.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. “The Digestive System & How it Works.” N.p. n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.

Sharp, Tim. "Mars' Atmosphere: Composition, Climate & Weather." Space.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.

Wilson, Jim. "Mars Overview." NASA, 10 Mar. 2015. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.