Expert: Walter Hintz - 9/20/2006

Question
Thank you very much, the article was fascinating. Though it didin't tell me about the effects on say, mars or the moon, it still was very insightful, thanks again. Any further correspondence would be enlightening.
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Followup To

Question -
Now, technically, no one knows what kind of changes would occur to a person born in raised in an alternate gravitational field, that is, other planet or moon. But what kind of changes do you theorise would occur to such a person. would he be taller, how would his proportions change, how would it affect bone growth? Do you think such a person would be able to return to earth? These and similar questions I would really enjoy discussing with you.

Answer -
Hi Sam
 It would certainly depend upon the gravitational field. An organism of Saturn or Jupiter  would have to have a structure as flat as a pancake.  But in this case we have extreme differences in the gravitational field.  From observations of astronauts in the absense of gravity it seems that Physiological changes occur but these people are no longer growing.  I found a neat website with some good ideas about this topic.
http;//www.umassmed.edu/shriver/research/biomedical/projects/gravity.cfm.
Check it out and see what you think.

Answer
The effects on mars and the moon would be a matter of supposition.  My guess is that the Martian gravity is not enough different from the Earth to cause any difference.  A child born and raised on the moon with 1/5th the Earths gravity would possibly have physiological problems with respect to bone growth and circulatory problems.  Circulation is affected by gravity.