Questions tagged [genetic-engineering]
For questions about artificially modifying the DNA of a life form.
180
questions
2
votes
1answer
110 views
How could you modifying humans to make us resistant to technology addiction?
In a near future-tech scenario, mankind is plagued by rampant technology addiction to the point the point that it begins to threaten the overall stability of society. Tech companies have become more ...
3
votes
2answers
115 views
What would radiation-hardened human colonists look like?
I am designing a future history setting where humans develop the technologies of genetic engineering long before those needed for terraforming, yet at the same time they have access to some form of ...
6
votes
1answer
269 views
Can a Mad Science Experiment Involving Men and Horses REALLY Create a Realistic Centaur?
Lately, I've been looking at Google images of "centaur skeleton", but they don't look that convincing to me. The problem is whether or not the last human lumbar vertebra would be the right ...
4
votes
6answers
1k views
Genetically engineered organisms ideally designed to being cattle?
I have thought of a highly advanced civilization which species are comparably weak but much more intelligent and that is extremely advanced in genetic engineering that they replaced all of their ...
4
votes
3answers
137 views
How to build a star-sized humanoid superorganism? [closed]
For whatever reason, humans in the far future want to build a star-scale humanoid creature. This massive lifeform would completely envelop a star in its chest area, turning the star into its "...
11
votes
7answers
1k views
A human civilization genetically altered themselves to specialize in certain roles, why would it be naturaly undone after said civilization vanishes?
Architects were a rather weird civilization. You see, not only did they create servant races like demi-humans, but had also engineered themselves to be specialized in various areas. Here is the ...
0
votes
0answers
42 views
GM SPORTS: A species designed for playing TENNIS [duplicate]
The year is [Random number between 2100 and 3000]. I own a state-of-the-art GM laboratory with capacities to create any possible species, almost like in Spore Creature Creator. For my own amusement, I ...
3
votes
2answers
78 views
GM SPORTS: A species designed for GOLF
The year is [Random number between 2100 and 3000]. I own a state-of-the-art GM laboratory with capacities to create any possible species, almost like in Spore Creature Creator. For my own amusement, I ...
15
votes
6answers
3k views
Constant acceleration as artificial gravity. Would flipping over halfway still be comfortable?
My question isn't about whether constant acceleration can create artificial gravity, as I know that it can. I am thinking more about worldbuilding in the sense of a practical transportation system ...
3
votes
2answers
63 views
Plant bioforming for use around Jupiter
I'm sketching out a scenario for a relatively far-futuristic story wherein humans have spread throughout the solar system, using the extreme ends of bioforming and gene-splicing to supplement their ...
0
votes
1answer
71 views
Would drugs and 'eugenics' be the key to human offworld survival?
On my book, there are rules that all humans that leave earth or go to a new planet need to have the necessary biological upgrades to survive alien vessels, worlds, and cosmic issues that go hand-in-...
1
vote
1answer
86 views
Is it possible for a godzilla-like creature to be created using genetic modifications? [duplicate]
This 'Godzilla' should be THE godzilla featured in the films Godzilla, and Godzilla, King of The Monsters. Of course, the main issue will be the atomic breath. Is it physically possible, with mastery ...
7
votes
8answers
465 views
What would encourage multiple animal species to evolve human features simultaneously?
The setting is fifty-five million years in the future on Earth, with multiple humanoid species that have different ancestors, but share similar characteristics. Their ancestors would be animals that ...
12
votes
6answers
3k views
Ending “Natural” Reproduction
Quick Overview
Here's the situation: your species, under directive of your friendly world government, has been informed that all "natural" (aka reproducing like your normally would and having a child ...
2
votes
5answers
530 views
Would Simultaneously Hermaphroditic Humans Still be “Men” and “Women”?
When looking exclusively at the muscular and skeletal systems of male and female humans, on average, we'd find what scientists call "sexual dimorphism". Even their voices are sexually dimorphic--...
2
votes
2answers
221 views
What would happen if a black person used genetic modification to turn off the MC1R gene?
The MC1R gene turns pheomelanin into eumelanins but there are another kind of pehomelanin called pheochromes. So if a brunette or black person used a cosmetic gene therapy to turn off this gene how ...
2
votes
1answer
128 views
Can 2019-nCoV be altered to be carried by the wind?
After surveying customers about their new product, 2019-nCoV™, E.V.I.L. Inc. realized that many of them would pay for an upgrade which allows for the virus to be carried by the wind itself in order to ...
6
votes
6answers
273 views
Practical reason for genetically engineering exotic skin colors in humans?
I am trying to come up with a non-aesthetic reason for a group of humans to have been genetically altered to have an exotic skin color. Purple, blue, green, red, I'm not particularly fussed about ...
3
votes
1answer
78 views
A plausable explanation of how life is created with digital DNA
I recently read that not only would a creatures digital DNA need to be stored but its mitochondria and microbiomes DNA needs to be stored.
A previous questions answers mentions epigenetic structures, ...
5
votes
4answers
206 views
Biological Features Necessary for a Humanoid to Have a Much Higher Rate of Reproduction?
So for this question there’s a Mad Scientist/Dark Lord that wants to engineer a race that can out breed mankind and carry him to victory. He has access to sufficiently advanced genetic engineering/...
-3
votes
2answers
107 views
How could 3D Bioprinting and Synthetic Biology be used for reproduction?
I think it will be possible in the far future to take a single person`s cells, genetically enhance and change them using genetic engineering and synthetic biology using new genes, and put it in a 3d ...
5
votes
3answers
259 views
How could genetic engineering be used to create an opposite sex clone?
Do you think it will become possible to create opposite sex clones in the future? A male clone from a woman or a female clone from a man?
I think it will become possible. To create a female clone ...
6
votes
1answer
145 views
Improved lungs?
What needs to be improved or added to the structure (device) of human lungs to be able to filter toxic chemical compounds in the air (for example, in mines the air may contain nitrogen, methane, ...
10
votes
5answers
389 views
How could someone use genetics to place a skin tattoo on their descendants?
Imagine a world quite like our own, except where technology took a different turn. Instead of researching communication, transportation, the cosmos, and the general nature of the universe, scientists ...
5
votes
2answers
177 views
How to Subvert or Mind Control Human Worker Drones
Evil cyborgs, formerly humans, called the Overseers have set about building gargantuan megafactory arcologies that sprawl across the landscape. In order to keep the massive tangles of pipes and ...
0
votes
2answers
69 views
Why dwarf designer dinosaurs? [closed]
Set in the mediate future new gene splicing is the new game in the market, we took over an island in the pacific ocean and set up a a natural habitat for the dinosaurs free of any kind of human ...
3
votes
3answers
294 views
Is it possible to create an organism that is completely immune to radiation?
Radiation is the ultimate bane of all organic life. Its particles punch holes in our DNA, causing mutations and giving us cancer. But, is there a way to make an organism that is unable to get ...
0
votes
2answers
150 views
ideal virus for eco-terrorist [closed]
This is a follow up question to my earlier question what makes a disease deadly?
In my book, the villain, a biology professor inspired by Ted Kaczynski, wants to revert humanity into a hunter ...
4
votes
6answers
275 views
Why can't I activate bloodline abilities despite access to proper genetic material?
I am Incognito, a mad scientist who studies the bloodline abilities of specific clans. My research has led me to a small village which hosts a powerful family called the uchiha clan. These individuals ...
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votes
1answer
126 views
What would be some noticeable differences on tiny human beings? [closed]
Let's say a very advanced alien race makes tiny human beings just for fun. Of course they wouldn't be just shrunken normal humans because they'd just die, the alien race made the necessary changes for ...
11
votes
4answers
1k views
Myelination in cephalopods
I am a complete amateur regarding biology, so please forgive me if this question is a little stupid.
Could we ever create squids that have human-level intelligence and could serve as a replacement in ...
5
votes
4answers
104 views
Genetic engineering to cure a disease leading to a worldwide apocalypse - how plausible is it? [closed]
I'm planning on writing a story in a post-apocalyptic world where normal humans are hunted by genetically modified predators, both human and otherwise. However, I first actually need to create this ...
2
votes
2answers
159 views
What kind of genetic engineering would be required to give a human-animal hybrid the following characteristics?
In my world, taking place sometime in the near future, scientists decide to mess around with genetic engineering. The goal is to create hybrid supersoldiers with animal genes ad have them perform ...
5
votes
3answers
111 views
Recreating Dinosaurs (or at least doppelgangers)
In theory organisms derived from birds through genetic engineering could resemble theropod dinosaurs. So my question is what animals would serve as the basis for the other two groups of dinosaurs (...
7
votes
4answers
167 views
How can I avoid scientific genetic engineering in a story about a biological creature's DNA manipulation?
I have a story based around DNA manipulation by biological creatures that evolved into what they are today, but can gain abilities by taking the DNA of other creatures.
The story is set in the ...
2
votes
4answers
160 views
Can a living human's DNA be modified for use as a living library?
I know that DNA can be used to encode information, using ACGT as a quaternary instead of binary encoding.
Could a functional genetically-modified human walk around with a lot of information stored ...
3
votes
3answers
222 views
Human survival on unaltered Mars
What would it take for humans to survive on mars, without shelters, akin to the Martian, in terms of genetic engineering? Is it even remotely viable, or would some mechanical assistance (oxygen tanks?)...
2
votes
2answers
161 views
GMO Agriculture - Medieval farming with modern day seeds and advanced robots, how hard or how easy could it be to be rich using them?
Let's just say that you are stuck in a different world. You found a biological research and production starship wreck...
You decided to have GMO plants/seeds agriculture on your land that you bought ...
5
votes
2answers
297 views
What happens when a person with some edited genetics (like say, eagle eyes) reproduces with a person with regular genetics?
If person A has had the genes dictating their sight/ the internal structure of their eyes, replaced by say, eagle eyes or cat eyes.
What happens when they reproduce with person B who has regular ...
3
votes
5answers
429 views
Could women become as strong as men while still having less muscle mass? [closed]
My story includes a government plan to create woman who are as strong as an average man. The biggest factor in the sex-strength difference is muscle mass as far as I know. However, the ratio of fast-...
3
votes
2answers
119 views
What element could be used on a fictional metal-poor planet for biological oxygen exchange?
I'm working on a hard sf novel about humans being forced to survive on a metal-poor planet. They have to take dietary metal supplements at first but eventually a bio-engineer rigs the biochemical ...
1
vote
1answer
122 views
GMO brains / Basic emotions
I am writing a dystopia and in this world people have been genetically modified for decades to a degree that their emotional abilities are super basic and especially the ability to feel pain is ...
2
votes
4answers
140 views
What are some difficulties in synthesizing desirable substances produced in nature?
Suppose that there is a substance that is produced in nature by an organism. This substance is rather desirable. The reason this substance is desirable can be anything: Whether it is because it is a ...
15
votes
9answers
6k views
Could a Weapon of Mass Destruction, targeting only humans, be developed?
Specifically, if deployed on a town. The buildings, animals (flora and fauna) would be completely untouched, but not a single human would survive the blow.
Secondly, if this is possible, what gene, ...
5
votes
1answer
227 views
What would happen if Aromatase turned much of a man`s testosterone levels into estrogen?
I'd like to create a story in which a genetically modified man has Aromatase Excess syndrome.
For example, if a man has a genetic mutation where he produces a lot of aromatase that turns 10% of his ...
8
votes
4answers
306 views
How big could a land-dwelling arthropod get if it wasn’t limited by oxygen consumption?
Insects and other land-based Arthropoda are stuck at the size they are due to how inefficient their respiratory system is. They were able to reach the size they did in the Carboniferous period because ...
7
votes
7answers
609 views
Could an all-male society exist?
I'd like to create a sci-fi story with a country or planet where only men are allowed to live and they use in vitro gametogenesis and ectogenesis (artificial womb) to have children without any woman.
...
5
votes
2answers
319 views
Creating chimera virus by rogue scientist
In my world there is a rogue scientist who wants to wipe out at least 90% of humanity. He's has a sample of measles which are very contagious but he needs something new. Could he merge measles with ...
6
votes
7answers
298 views
How would a military counter the use of genetically modified insects used to defeat CBRN protective gear?
One military has developed insects with strong jaws capable of chewing through the weaker parts of CBRN (Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense) gear and then injecting neurotoxins ...
4
votes
2answers
81 views
How can existing cattle and poultry farming (housing/processing) be modified to accommodate human food stock?
This is a follow up question to the one below:
How can existing methods of plumping, genetic modification, and gmo feeding be altered to accommodate the need for plumper, meatier human food stock?
...
