Message from @ebowden
Discord ID: 405930034021400576
It's just a genome, it has no intelligence.
Well, yes. Of course.
There won't be a battle between the wild type and non-wild type parts.
It doesn't work like that.
Fair point.
So here's how my reasoning went.
So this tech, when the recrants stole it, was still in a very early stages. These stories take place not that far in the future. So the way it alters DNA is crude, slapdash. In some cases fragments of the human DNA are still left behind.
Now when I was saying the human DNA is reasserting itself I don't mean that as literally as I think you are taking it. I will get to that.
As I said the DNA alteration is done via a viral agent. One of the breakthroughs that makes this possible is the viral agent is self replicating in itself, and so once introduced into the body it is perpetual. It coexists wit the body theoretically symbiotically.
Wat
Is it even integrated into the genome?
Both.
Ok I can see how this is confusing.
It isn't now.
Like I said not a biologist. Thanks for helping me sort this out.
I guess stricly speaking it might not.
So, how does this not spread and turn a shitload of people's babies into furries?
Also, the self-replicating stuff is not in the least bit necessary for when they modify embryos.
Another of the breakthroughs in my notes. While capale of replication the virus that is the foundation of all this tech is not capable of mutation. in the story it is specifically noted the team that cracked that nut got a nobel prize. It infects a cell, and alters that cell specifically. That cell continues to replicated like normal. The initial treatment is what could best be called "queen" viruses. A biological factory that consumes human waste products and produces the viruses proper. These seek out and infect existing cells and are everywhere in the body altering their shape and (to a lesser degree) this tech is, and I feel I need to emphasize. this, imperfect.
Wut
Unless you have something that is just meant to cause mutations, but that's different.
Wow, it's summer here and Rusty is shivering now he has his fur cut.
The "queens" create the cells that to the alterations on a regular schedule. They always create the same cells. Those cells, the ones that do the alteration, are not capable of replications.
wut
"A biological factory that consumes human waste products and produces the viruses proper."
More wut.
"These seek out and infect existing cells and are everywhere in the body altering their shape and (to a lesser degree) this tech is, and I feel I need to emphasize. this, imperfect."
Why would it be altering cell shape? Patterning is mostly done with patterns of cell growth and apoptosis.
Hilarious.
Lol!
I think we have a venezuelan in Scrump's chat.
What I'm trying to get across is that the alterations are not self replicating. And there is a mechanism in place to change and alter each cell of the body as it is created. This works best on things like hair and skin. Not so good on things like organs and bone. Especially the nervious system which never grows new cells if I remember right.
Well, you can alter non-replicating cells.
And it does actually grow new cells.
If the virus can replicate, that means you have to deliver a lot less of it, sure.
But then you have to worry about it spreading.
Which I don't imagine is a problem for them.
Which is where the idea for the "queen" cells comes in.