| From: | Joachim H A Buchert <avo_jb@**.HELSINKI.FI> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: Genetics & immortality |
| Date: | Sun, 8 Dec 1996 02:23:41 +0200 |
> This originated in a discussion of immortality in the <rec.games.frp.cyber>
> newsgroup, migrated to a private e-mail discussion w/a friend of mine, and
>
> >>> If [immortality is a genetically inherited trait,] how did the first
> [immortal elf] get it?
> The same way _anyone_ gets the first occurrence of a mutation: luck of the
> draw. The right question to ask is "What caused this mutation in the first
> place?"
The dragons.
Remember, there are several forms of immortality. And the expression may
(does) vary from case to case. Not even the immortals themselves know, or the
one who do aren't sharing.
> It's painfully obvious that neither party to this discussion has the
> slightest inkling of real genetics. The first immortal elf got immortality
> from the gene, _not_ from the "something else". The "something
else" caused
> the mutation. (OK, there's some confusion here re: proximate vs. ultimate
> causality, but let's not get into that.)
Yes, indeed. The elven genes were altered, but this isn't a matter of
pure genetics here, indeed, it is a matter of magic.
And well, it's pretty damn clear no one of us has a good 'inkling' of
that arcane lore.
> Bulldrek! If you can reproduce the "something else", you may be able to
> reproduce the gene, and then it's not limited to specific bloodlines. Also,
> given the current state of recombinant DNA today, and extrapolating 60
> years, if you've got a tissue sample of an immortal, you can probably
> reproduce the immortality gene from that.
Well, hrm. There is a point here, but .. everything cannot be duplicated,
especially if you don't know which gene causes the trait. Also, it might
be travel unexpressed down the bloodlines for some time ..
Again, I remind of magic's involvement.
> Personally, I think it should be a gene that doesn't express until a
> certain (near the peak) mana level is reached. That way, there would be
> elves with the gene walking around today (205X, that is) who aren't
> immortal, because they won't live long enough to have the mana level
You are supposing that the gene doesn't require a level of mana to keep
up the immortality, just to start it. Perhaps, but I doubt it.
Personally, I think the immortals were infertile during the low mana period.
> activate the gene. Also, is the gene dominant or recessive? (Assuming it's
> that simple, which it shouldn't be.) My guess would be that it's actually a
> complex of genes, mostly dominant, and if you don't carry them all, you
> won't be immortal. You might have a higher longevity, tho.
Highly possible, I tend to agree.
> The problem is, it should work for every (meta)human phenotype, and given
> the state of genetics in 205X, one or more of the Big Eight should already
> have this, and the entire board of directors would want it. If it couldn't
> be made to work on an already existing individual, at least you could pass
> it on to your offspring.
The 'elven conspiracy', as it is frequently called in my games, is intent
on not sharing the information, and yes, they are very powerful. TIC
knows the gene for one, but they cannot duplicate it.
- J -
