Idea about metahumans

[Anders]

You should never breed two tail-less Manx cat with each other. The Manx trait is dominant, so if a cat has one version of the Manx gene it is tailless. However, if it has two copies, it has a badly deformed pelvis and will die shortly after birth.

What if metahuman potential was this way? So if two metahumans had kids, they would be have serious congenital disorders (if metahuman potential was dependent on one gene, 1/4 of all kids would have these disorders; this is unlikely, and one can play around with the numbers as one wants).

[Flyndaran]

Werewolf The Apocalypse had such an "inbred" type; metis. Their natural base form was the wolf-man rather than wolf or man. They were thought an embarrassment and display of incest.

The issue I see is why would a pyrokinetic, and a telepath have a messed up kid? Most comics have all super powers coming from a few or even laughably single gene. So playing with classic Mendelian genetics crashes into "metahuman" comic-biology rules, in my opinion.

[Randyman]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

Werewolf The Apocalypse had such an "inbred" type; metis. Their natural base form was the wolf-man rather than wolf or man. They were thought an embarrassment and display of incest.

The issue I see is why would a pyrokinetic, and a telepath have a messed up kid? Most comics have all super powers coming from a few or even laughably single gene. So playing with classic Mendelian genetics crashes into "metahuman" comic-biology rules, in my opinion.

Trying to apply real-world physics to superhero comics is an irreconcilable conflict, IMO. Where it has been tried, and that irreconcilable conflict didn't wreck the attempt, was in genre deconstructions where that conflict was the focus of the deconstruction.

[alexondria]

Maybe you have a lot of different combinations genetically that create powers, but without a certain additional combination they are dormant. Then you could say that it's the gene or combination of genes that activate the powers that cause a problem if you have 2 of them.

[Anders]

That could work. Or just epigenetic programming. A zygote with all their chromosomes from the egg, or all from the sperm, is not viable even if all the chromosomes necessary to make a female (46, XX). Instead you get a tumorlike growth, and an early miscarriage. So two sets of genome-halves both set up to enable metahuman powers could cause something similar.

[FireTigeris]

Easier still is the "metehuman genes" no matter where they are can't tolerate OTHER metahuman genes so fetus are never brought to term (think RH negative mother) - this will also complicate metas getting transfusions or donor organs... as extra plot spice


This also allows you to force one power per meta if desired.

[The Benj]

Wild Cards works basically that way. A child of two carriers will definitely have it, and has the same odds of death, mutation and powers as an immediate infectee (90%, 9% and 1%, respectively).

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by The Benj

Wild Cards works basically that way. A child of two carriers will definitely have it, and has the same odds of death, mutation and powers as an immediate infectee (90%, 9% and 1%, respectively).

Since up to around 70% of human fertilizations result in first term spontaneous abortion due mostly to genetic defects not conducive to life, those odds would just result in lower fertility.
Death in the first few weeks really wouldn't be noticed by most not constantly taking pregnancy tests. Unless the Wild Card "mutation" causes something to the mother, of course.

[The Benj]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

Since up to around 70% of human fertilizations result in first term spontaneous abortion due mostly to genetic defects not conducive to life, those odds would just result in lower fertility.
Death in the first few weeks really wouldn't be noticed by most not constantly taking pregnancy tests. Unless the Wild Card "mutation" causes something to the mother, of course.

The Wild Card doesn't "turn" until some sort of strong stress triggers it. Could be in birth, could be in childhood, could be at puberty, or even in adulthood.
It certainly doesn't improve your odds of surviving gestation.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by The Benj

The Wild Card doesn't "turn" until some sort of strong stress triggers it. Could be in birth, could be in childhood, could be at puberty, or even in adulthood.
It certainly doesn't improve your odds of surviving gestation.

Oh, my apologies. I thought it was upon contact with the alien mutagen. I haven't read the series and just assumed. I should know to be wary of assuming.
I know it tends to work like that in most comic books for over powers, but not for most physical alterations like Nightcrawler, Mystique, etc.