Custom Bio-Tech Perks and Features

[Sindri]

To represent the effects of a society spending a long time tweaking and adjusting genetics to get rid of minor flaws and introduce minor advantages and because I think Vulcan Syndrome is a good source of flavour I'd like to compile a list of custom perks and features along the lines of No Degeneration in Zero-G, Taboo Traits, and No Appendix that can be achieved by gengineering.

[vicky_molokh]

Foolproof Reproductive System:
Species members that are likely to give their spawns genetic or other defects (e.g. due to suboptimal biochemistry) are automatically rendered temporarily sterile through internal mechanisms.
(This is probably rather high-TL, and is more fitting for designing vassal species than for self-modification, but who knows.)

Radical Second Breath:
Character may spend HP on Extra Effort, in addition to/instead of FP.
(Basically, removal of some safeguards.)

[Flyndaran]

Changing the genome of your gametes is written in one of the Gurps books already. Still if you were wary of accidental reproduction, wouldn't it be easier to get a reversible sterilization and when ready have a carefully selected fetus created?

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

Changing the genome of your gametes is written in one of the Gurps books already. Still if you were wary of accidental reproduction, wouldn't it be easier to get a reversible sterilization and when ready have a carefully selected fetus created?

As I said, this is mostly for stuff like dropping a few thousand members of a vassal species on a planet, leaving, letting them breed, and returning when there's enough for whatever purpose they were meant for. It's not supposed to be nice, controlled or consensual. A variation of AbusivePrecursors.

[malloyd]

I've allowed lots of trivial little Immunities - sunburn, poison ivy or another specific irritant poison, pretty much any specific diseases, one kind of tainted atmosphere. Tough Feet (you don't need shoes), Polarized Eyes (cuts out most glare, and snow blindness), Regrowth (teeth only). Expanding your diet a bit, but short of Universal Digestion is reasonable humans don't digest cellulose, but it would be really useful - it is after all a sugar polymer, Immunity to Scurvy (you produce vitamin C, this one should be easy, since almost all other mammals that aren't primates or guinea pigs manage just fine), No Essential Amino Acids (you can interconvert them all, so long as you are getting enough protiens it doesn't matter what they are), Resistant to Heavy Metals shouldn't be too hard (you produce natural chelating agents), Salt Tolerant (you can drink mineral laden water just fine) is a bit harder to figure out biochemically but not ridiculous.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by malloyd

Immunity to Scurvy (you produce vitamin C, this one should be easy, since almost all other mammals that aren't primates or guinea pigs manage just fine)

Bats can't either.

[Sindri]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

Foolproof Reproductive System:
Species members that are likely to give their spawns genetic or other defects (e.g. due to suboptimal biochemistry) are automatically rendered temporarily sterile through internal mechanisms.
(This is probably rather high-TL, and is more fitting for designing vassal species than for self-modification, but who knows.)

Radical Second Breath:
Character may spend HP on Extra Effort, in addition to/instead of FP.
(Basically, removal of some safeguards.)

Why temporarily sterile? If sterilization is considered the appropriate response to genetic defects why not make it permanent?

Hmm yeah I need to do an extra effort thread...

Originally Posted by malloyd

I've allowed lots of trivial little Immunities - sunburn, poison ivy or another specific irritant poison, pretty much any specific diseases, one kind of tainted atmosphere. Tough Feet (you don't need shoes), Polarized Eyes (cuts out most glare, and snow blindness), Regrowth (teeth only). Expanding your diet a bit, but short of Universal Digestion is reasonable humans don't digest cellulose, but it would be really useful - it is after all a sugar polymer, Immunity to Scurvy (you produce vitamin C, this one should be easy, since almost all other mammals that aren't primates or guinea pigs manage just fine), No Essential Amino Acids (you can interconvert them all, so long as you are getting enough protiens it doesn't matter what they are), Resistant to Heavy Metals shouldn't be too hard (you produce natural chelating agents), Salt Tolerant (you can drink mineral laden water just fine) is a bit harder to figure out biochemically but not ridiculous.

These are great examples!

[Sunrunners_Fire]

Originally Posted by Sindri

Why temporarily sterile? If sterilization is considered the appropriate response to genetic defects why not make it permanent?

Because a temporary lack of folic acid in your diet shouldn't sterilize you permanently, only stop you from having children while you are suffering that lack. (Using human reproduction as an example.) Or so I would assume.

[starslayer]

So were not talking about some inborn 'your genetics detect a heart defect, your own genetics will prevent you from breeding' so much as 'your genetics will only allow you to breed when you are in the ideal conditions required for breeding'

I actually imagine this would be relatively trivial to modify and something we could even attempt today; there are plenty of species out there that will only successfully reproduce if conditions are VERY specific. It could even be a good thing for non-servitor races; if you want to have kids you need to take your folic acid pills, work out daily, and not currently have any excess heart/liver/kidney/pancreas strain. Drunken one night stands never result in unwanted children, and BOTH partners have to be serious about a kid before conception can be achieved.

Based on current human birth rates, and how hard some couples need to try this should probably be coupled with more resilient reproductive abilities and a longer life span, otherwise the modification will basically spell the death of the species.

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by starslayer

So were not talking about some inborn 'your genetics detect a heart defect, your own genetics will prevent you from breeding' so much as 'your genetics will only allow you to breed when you are in the ideal conditions required for breeding'

I actually imagine this would be relatively trivial to modify and something we could even attempt today; there are plenty of species out there that will only successfully reproduce if conditions are VERY specific. It could even be a good thing for non-servitor races; if you want to have kids you need to take your folic acid pills, work out daily, and not currently have any excess heart/liver/kidney/pancreas strain. Drunken one night stands never result in unwanted children, and BOTH partners have to be serious about a kid before conception can be achieved.

Based on current human birth rates, and how hard some couples need to try this should probably be coupled with more resilient reproductive abilities and a longer life span, otherwise the modification will basically spell the death of the species.

It was intended for an r-strategy species that nonetheless results in a moderate final population of reasonably fit individuals.