#hypothetical genetics

[wolvebonez]

hypothetical fawn golden shaded grizzle!

Soooo as I have mentioned briefly I am in a wcrp, in which said wcrp uses genetic terms & has a genetic roller for rp. someone came in and asked what THIS beast might look like

And so I figure I'll share what I came up with since it took me So Fucking Long and I do think enough ppl who follow me might be interested!!

This is the end result!! I will be copy/pasting my explanation & inserting more images below

Im going to be using more basic explanations of a gene and only in relation to how they apply to this cat so im not writing 5 million word

To start, we have a regular fawn ticked tabby!

Wideband then makes the hairs of the cat have more pheomelanin (golden/background color) and less melanin (fawn color), as well as usually restricting the melanin to the tip of the hair.

Theeennnn we introduce silver (as seen below), which reduces the amount of pigment found in the pheomelanin; when combined with wideband making a cat look particularly pale (since any melanin in the wideband-effected hairs can also be broken up/less "solid," it can result in melanin looking more diluted/warm, it can also visually lighten the melanin areas on a cat.) I probably should've made the pale parts more desaturated at this point but ignoring that….

This is where we get Really Hypothetical!

As far as I'm aware we don't really know what chausie grizzle is or does. I've seen sources like messybeast (lol) claim that it is just silver-tipping found in black chausies/melanistic jungle cats but I dissagree. I personally believe a theory [User] initially mentioned to me is more probable; the idea that it is moreso the expansion of agouti; Potentially making the tabby hairs of the cat have more melanin than normal. (Maybe also restricts it towards the base of the hair to explain the satin-like appearance it can have?)

So…given that they basically would have the opposite effects assuming that this is true, there's really no saying how they'd interact. They could cancel eachother out, one could be dominant over the other, ect… There's also no telling which one of these options is more likely.

I went with the idea that the grizzle would be more dominant/have more effect, but that the wideband could potentially still be in effect where the grizzle seems to be least present (around the belly & flanks) which kind of breaks up the solid-ness of most grizzle cats (since grizzle does vary a lot.)

Silver would still work the same throughout all of this & make the phaeomelanin a lighter almost-white color. (There's a potential grizzle also does this too? But. shrug.) …Again I really should've made the light yellow color more silver-colored but i digress.

Now we have colorpoint! Also have no clue if it'd have some weird secret surprise fucked up effect on grizzle but it does seem to be a fairly reliable gene in that it is just a form of albinism so it should have a similar or same effect on everything. It just inhibits colors in the warmer areas of the body & allows it in the colder parts (thus, extremities!)

....And from there you've guys seen what I did when I added the thai white! Not sure how DBE would effect it, but I made my best guess & it wasn't the most important part of this . adventure jdbhjhg

Oh, bonus picture of my canvas with the most refs i've ever used for one piece lol. (Digital piece, anyway. Ceramics is another thing entirely....)

shoutout to @/felinefractious for sourcing pretty much all of said refs lmao

[greenbirdred]

semi-canon-compliant theoretical nightwing color genetics, woohoo! explanations under the cut!!

"gloss" is the most complicated and distinctive nightwing color modification! once a dragon with "gloss" activated hatches, its teardrop-shaped scales by its eyes will turn silvery to white. a dragon with "gloss" may have it activated later in life, in which case their teardrop-shaped scales may turn silvery but neither mind-reading nor future-sight will activate.

"gloss" is activated in the presence of light. its light detection is synched with a dragon's circadian rhythm, so "gloss" typically only detects light a few hours into night-time. although light-detection is possible while dragonets are in their eggshells, studies suggest that the first few nights after a dragon hatches are the most important for "gloss" activation.

dragons with high "gloss" expression are those who have been born during full moons. the scales by their eyes turn silver; possibly, these scales serve as light-sensing organs, and, upon receiving a large amount of light, they turn silver to reflect more light. high "gloss" dragons tend to have mind-reading or future-seeing abilities—it's thought that the "gloss" gene activates these abilities. visually, high "gloss" dragons tend to have extra layers of keratin on their scales that result in a rich, iridescent appearance.

"gloss" can be activated after hatching, in which case the dragon may gain a lesser version of a high-gloss dragon's iridescent appearance after a molt. a dragon that has not been exposed to moonlight between molts will not have any "gloss" expression.

due to genetic bottlenecks, almost all nightwings living today have the "gloss" gene.

nightwings also have a form of variable piebaldism on their wings! this piebaldism is unstable, and linked to an incompletely dominant allele. the gene expresses as delicate white/silver spotting on the underside of a dragon's wings in its heterozygous form. in its homozygous form, the gene creates large white spots across the dragon's body. dragonets with homozygous spots rarely hatch, and if they do they often die shortly after hatching. this has dramatically limited the nightwing tribe's ability to recover from population bottlenecks.

the last genotype shown here is the sooty complex! this combination of genes results in countershading or differential pigment spread. most nightwings have a few genes of the sooty complex activated, resulting in paler underbellies, darker eye-ridges, etc.

[astrowarr]

the urge to write a roomies zombie apocalypse au is so strong right now. they're just the Most zombie apocalypse au people EVER like they would make so much sense as a little gang

[chewyhanniebug]

this is at least the third time junhan has asked villains science questions on 🫧 just out of his own curiosity and i don't know if it's cute or really weird

[homebrewandhypotheticals]

Hypothetical for you all: A group of geneticists explain that you're uniquely qualified among the entire human population to receive an experimental procedure where they will inject you with DNA fragments from a neanderthal and, over the span of a few years, slowly transform you into one. They believe that this process will grant an unparalleled new view on how our ancient ancestors lived and functioned. They explain a few physical traits you can expect, a greater resistance to cold and increased muscle density, most notably, but they're upfront that they're still spotty on all of the physical changes that will occur, and especially have no idea what the process will do to you mentally and psychologically. However, you're the only shot they have of getting this procedure to work, they've been looking for a genetically compatible person for decades now, and you're the only person they've ever found. Nobody else alive be able to do the procedure, at least for another several decades, which would be a major loss for their organization and the larger scientific community. If they can demonstrate their procedure works and properly observe you once you turn into a caveperson, they explain that it'll completely revolutionize our understanding of evolutionary history and genetics, and will skip us forward almost 100 years in both fields. You'd certainly become famous, the face of the greatest scientific discovery of the century. With this all laid out, both the risks and the potential rewards, do you agree to the procedure? Why or why not? If you do agree to it, what would you do with your newfound fame as a modern neanderthal?

Tl;Dr: Scientists offer to subject you to an experimental procedure to transform you into a neanderthal. They have a limited idea how the neanderthalification process will effect you, but they promise that it'll revolutionize the fields of genetics and anthropology, and you'll become famous as the face of the discovery of the century, if it works. Do you agree to the procedure, or no? Why or why not? What do you do with your newfound fame as a modern caveman?

[mecha--maniac]

If anyone's into it feel free to take this off my hands cause I don't want it:

Metadow where Silver's their kid, facilitated by Metal's mucking about with genetic splicing -- since apparently he's interested in biotech, judging by Heroes -- so insert whatever shipping stuff one wants with them during the 200 years or whatever, and eventually someone gets the bright idea for a test tube baby for some reason, and huh weird it came out looking a lot like that one guy they used to know from the future *wait a minute--*

[frank-olivier]

In the Beginning: A Scientific Exploration of Life’s Hypothetical Origins

In the most profound of inquiries, humanity seeks to comprehend the genesis of its own existence, prompting a meticulous examination of the Earth’s primordial landscape. This quest to unravel the mysteries of life’s origins has captivated scientists and scholars for centuries, leading to a nuanced understanding of the intricate interplay between chemical, biological, and environmental factors that potentially gave rise to the first living organisms.

Approximately 4 billion years ago, the Earth’s canvas was vastly different from the one we know today, with minimalistic cells emerging amidst this alien landscape. Characterized by carboxylic acid membranes and RNA-driven heredity, these primitive entities laid the foundational blueprint for the astounding complexity that would eventually follow. The evolution of ribozymes, capable of catalyzing metabolic reactions, was a seminal moment, bridging the gap between a lifeless chemistry and the nascent biochemistry of early organisms. This development not only enhanced cellular capabilities but also underscored the symbiotic relationship between genetic innovation and environmental pressures.

The pursuit of energy, a fundamental drive in the evolution of life, led early organisms to harness the planet’s primordial power sources. Mineral catalysis and reactive phosphorus species might have played crucial roles in the synthesis of ATP, with the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway exemplifying the resourcefulness of these early life forms in exploiting available energy sources.

Our exploration of the Earth’s history leads us to Luca, the Last Universal Common Ancestor, whose characteristics offer a fascinating glimpse into the life of our most ancient shared forebear. The proposed environment of Luca, akin to the chemistry-rich settings of volcanic vents, underscores the profound connection between life’s emergence and the planet’s geochemical landscape. Furthermore, the concept of the Origin of Life Domain (OLD) invites us to contemplate the possibility of alternative life forms, unconnected to Luca’s lineage, and the uncharted scientific territories that await discovery.

From the First Organism to LUCA - The Evolution of Life's Core Processes (Wolfpack Astrobiology, March 2024)

Life Began Much Faster Than We Thought (Sabine Hossenfelder, December 2024)

Saturday, December 7, 2024

[proosh]

Dumb question but if Lud got Gil pregnant would their child be fine 🤔

Not a dumb question at all! I have a pretty simple answer to this:

I sincerely do not think that nations operate on anything close to the nuances and complexities of regular human genetics. So yeah, probably, any hypothetical child of theirs would be as "fine" as any other nation/representation.

[supercantaloupe]

the thing is while i would desperately love to have a little kitty cat in my apartment to keep me company and taking care of a creature would probably help me keep on top of my self and home care routines, i think i am just too busy and stressed and have too little time to take care of a cat rn on top of everything else i have to do at work school and home

[futurewife]

my f/os: hey dimples

me: 🥰🥰😍☺️☺️🥰🥰😊😍☺️😊😊

[chipped-chimera]

Goldfish post got me looking up Betta genetics more seriously this time and ughhhhh it's HAPPENING AGAIN I WILL BITE A GOD

If I ever get into breeding it's 120% going to have a health focus FIRST because at the current rate we're breeding them into the floor, we won't have anything livable left.

[homunculus-argument]

Someone here could make a post like "kicking a baby is never ok", and one of you nuance-snorting enlightened intellectuals would barge in like "but what if it's a genetically bioengineered chimera baby who has been spliced with the DNA of a football, who will get rubber bone cancer if they don't get kicked around regularly. you can't ever just make a generalised blanket term statement ever that doesn't consider every single outlier possibility that may hypothetically exist. uwu."

[ochibrochi]

spontaneous magic manifestation was NOT mentioned in the parenting handbook 😬

I know this isn’t how magic in dc works, but the fact that Damian’s ancestry includes some pretty powerful magic users is… INTERESTING 🤔? Drabble under the cut!

I wanna preface that I'M NOT SAYIN' that Damian should/does have magic powers, but there’s still so much unexplored potential with Damian's character, and the thought that he has a dormant adeptness in magic is somewhat compelling to me. Most importantly it would FREAK! BRUCE! OUT!!!!! What is this, magic puberty 😭??

By DC laws, anyone has the ability to learn magic, but it is also possible to be an innate ability. The Al Ghuls are no strangers to the occult-- Ra's has had increasingly been portrayed as a magic user, and the recent establishment of his mother being a sorceress/witch?? Even Talia dabbled in a bit of magic, I think. There is a catch that their power is suggested to be due to Lazarus exposure, but for arguments sake let's say the Al Ghul lineage is inherently proficient in magic (and Lazarus exposure simply enhances it).

I can't recall "magic" being a part of Damian's training/upbringing (I'm still slowly catching-up on Damian comics so apologies if I miss any canon examples of magic use). Not sure why Talia wouldn't want her little "heir to an ancient assassin empire baby" to learn magic, but it would at least give reason to Damian not knowing about his magic potential, or lack of interest in it.

Through the power of pseudo storytelling, what if Damian's encounter with Mother Soul could have triggered a manifestation of magic that was once dormant; like a pressure cooker waiting to explode with energy when it hasn't been given a safe outlet.

I've yet to read a satisfying arc where Damian truly gets to contemplate his Al Ghul roots outside of "dad is good guy, mum is bad guy". Damian's initial character growth stems from him running away from, and renouncing his association with the League (i.e. "I'm nothing like you, mother and grandfather!").

The most recent thing I've read was Robin (2021), and whilst Damian is much more cordial with his mother, there's still an emotional distance and sense of distrust/resentment (for good reason, even if the context was some cartoonishly evil writing). But there is a silver-lining that they still appear to be fond of each other, in a melancholy kind of way.

Realizing he's "genetically" primed for magic would be especially confronting to Damian. There's no denying his Al Ghul blood, forcing him to confront a facet of himself he can no longer ignore or reject. A family that he likely has to approach for help/guidance.

Damian is put in a position of acknowledging this power could be used for good, to be stronger, to fight crime, balancing it with the implication that what he possesses could be rooted in dark magic (Lazarus enchantment).

If he decides to embrace it, would that be too much of an endorsement of the Al Ghul's dark occultism? Can he separate the two ideas? What if he can't control it? What if he accidentally hurts someone? What if has the ability to save someone where his other skills fall short?

Ideally, I'd love for this hypothetical story to lead into Damian exploring his Al Ghul heritage more intimately, historically, and spiritually (à la RSoB: Year of Redemption adventures). Another little coming-of-age self discovery journey.

I have my own little personal thoughts on what Damian decides to do with his magic powers, but I'd like to leave that open to interpretation... By the end of it I hope that he will at least find some forgiveness over resentment, and a balance between accepting that side of his family a little easier. It is finally a sense of inner peace :)

Any thoughts? Did I get any characterisation wrong? Let's talk over on my DC blog @arkhamochi! I'm currently trying to read all Damian-centric comics until I catch up with the current run. I'm hungry for discussion and analysis!!!!!!

[delta-orionis]

Oh I really like that vulture rep idea!! Also the color changing thing, that’s neat.

I’ve had the idea that in a hypothetical campaign TSAC could give the slugcat some kind of mark or a special vulture mask that would make vultures leave you alone (similar to the chieftain scavenger mask in artificer’s campaign) but idk how to implement that.

I know in the random buff mod there’s a card that will make vultures ignore you (the vulture mutation card I think) but I’m not sure how they implemented that either…

tge signal :)

WOAH ITS MY GUY!! AND MY GUY’S GUY!!!!

I literally posted about The Signal once, I was never expecting them to get fanart haha

[dammit-tazmuir]

For all the things this fandom refuses to believe and chalks up to John's lies, the thing that baffles me to see so many believe without question is the idea of Perfect Lyctorhood.

Guys. Guys, there is no Perfect Lyctorhood.

Or at best, if there hypothetically could be, it's nothing we've ever seen. Paul is the closest thing and I know a lot of you would not consider Paul perfect. John did not achieve Perfect Lyctorhood, and it wasn't even his idea to claim he did. A quarter of NtN extensively details that he didn't.

The old Lyctors didn't know what Alecto was. John definitely told them more than he would have liked to, because of course she doesn't lie and is too obviously inhuman to hide it fully. But if they knew everything, Mercy wouldn't doubt that Alecto ever had a genetic code; she would know she didn't, or that any genes she might've had were made from John's own blood and bone.

Because they didn't know what she actually was or what actually happened (foreshadowed too by Mercy's "if you had lied about anything else" lines, when actually he did), they drew the wrong conclusion. They assumed something different in his process allowed Alecto to persist. But we now know the truth is that Alecto was simply too big to consume. She didn't die because she was already limitless. This will never apply to another human. But he lets them believe their conclusion because he thinks it's better and easier to talk his way out of than them figuring out the real truth.

It does remain possible that Anastasia and Samael were genuinely on the cusp of that breakthrough, but I honestly doubt it. That was another conclusion drawn by the Lyctors as a follow-up to the previous wrong one, and when John answers, he visibly hesitates. It feels like he's once again going, "....Sssure, yes, let's go with that." I don't know what Samael and Anastasia WERE on the verge of. Maybe they would have become gestalt like Paul, and the possibility of just one dying was why Pal begged Cam "don't look back", and John was afraid of the power they'd achieve (could Paul have greater thalergy than a normal Lyctor?) and/or of just the others seeing a different process and getting mad at him.

AND/OR, ACTUALLY? Especially if their attempt was one of the earlier ones (around the middle rather than the end), but even if it wasn't: I think a Paul situation has a STRONG possibility of being exactly what happened. John's most outright lies are usually the ones other people tell that he just nods along with. When it's from himself, if it's not feigned incompetence, he usually goes for half-truths and misleading truths. He says Anastasia panicked halfway through and if he hadn't stepped in they would have both died. I think it's very possible that John panicked halfway through as he realized what they were doing, and that it's genuinely true they would have both died— in the same way Camilla and Palamedes both died, to create someone new.

And we know how much John hates change. How desperately John needs to keep his specific people close. What are the odds he was so afraid of losing both of them and being left with a new person he didn't know, couldn't predict, and couldn't easily control with them having a whole Lyctor's power and maybe more? Especially if Cyth and Loveday, Cassy and Nigella, Cyrus and Valancy, Ulysses and Titania, maybe even G1deon and Pyrrha— if any others hadn't undergone the process yet, and there was a chance they'd see Samastastia and decide that was the path they wanted too. If he thought this meant he might lose all his friends instead of only the less favored half.

Either way, though, based on everything we know, there is no simple soul swap that results in dual immortality. Even John and Alecto involve a fusion of megasoul. "You and she are one." (This is also likely how a seemingly real facet of John could talk to Harrow in Alecto's dream.) And we've seen through NtN, the soul longs for the body. The body longs for the soul. A body housing a different soul doesn't last long, even when those souls ARE semi connected. A body even temporarily renting space to a foreign soul is a massive strain, like Cam carrying Pal.

Lyctorhood inherently involves death and consumption and acting against nature. It is the indelible sin. It's possible that Grand Lysis avoids that sin by making it about mutual death, about giving instead of taking, but it's still bittersweet at best. I highly doubt we're going to see a perfect solution that fixes everything, at least via more necromancy, because that's not the kind of series this is. It's messy, beautiful in its flaws, embracing the understanding that life is change and things can never be exactly as they were, and can rarely be exactly what you want, and letting go and moving on are necessary parts of life eventually.

Don't misunderstand! I do think Gideon will either be resurrected (perhaps the last true one ever) or there will be another way for her and Harrow to happily be together. In Gideon's case, there was nothing natural about her death, and the decision to say "no" is a rejection of the system that led to it.

I just also think the odds of rewriting the laws of life and death entirely are more likely than Lyctorhood But With No Consequences. It always has consequences. There is no Perfect Lyctorhood, but there's something good on the horizon, whatever form it takes. After all...

"There are more worlds than this. Come with us. We are the love that is perfected by death, but even death will be no more. Death can also die. There's still time, Ianthe. Time for you and for Naberius Tern."