Worldbuilding

Questions tagged [genetic-engineering]

Ask Question

For questions about artificially modifying the DNA of a life form.

160 questions
Newest
Active
Bountied
Unanswered
Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
-2
votes
1answer
48 views

How could 3D Bioprinting and Synthetic Biology be used in the future 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
166 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 ...
5
votes
1answer
102 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
345 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 ...
6
votes
2answers
149 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
60 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
247 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
130 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
247 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 ...
-5
votes
1answer
116 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
80 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
113 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
95 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
151 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
142 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
204 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
142 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
264 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
324 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
111 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
114 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
126 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
221 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
239 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
491 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
272 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 ...
5
votes
7answers
288 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
74 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? ...
1
vote
2answers
118 views

How can existing methods of plumping, genetic modification, and gmo feeding be altered to accommodate the need for plumper, meatier human food stock?

I am an orc warboss called "The Beast" who has invaded earth and enslaved humanity. You humies are a worthless sprcies that have accomplished nothing of note in your civilizations throughout history. ...
3
votes
2answers
161 views

Is it possible to engineer airborne Ebola?

In my world, a mad scientist wanted to end humanity and he was looking for something with a high mortality rate. He found Ebola. But it's not airborne though. Could it be possible to genetically ...
5
votes
1answer
219 views

Could genetic engineering enable humans to make use of titanium or some similar material instead of calcium for bone formation?

I'm planing to create "super powers" born out of genetic engineering, but I don't want magic miracle stuff like an x-man, I'm looking for a realistic approach, so overall can you modify the materials ...
4
votes
1answer
647 views

Modern-day genetically engineered monsters – what's possible? [closed]

I'm a budding mad scientist working in my backyard, with access to about 10,000 dollars' budget, a genius aptitude for genetic engineering, and garden tools. I've got some kind of backstory to avenge, ...
0
votes
2answers
125 views

Humans under different suns

What would humans look like if they were genetically suited for life under a giant orange star like Iota Draconis ? These would be people who were genetically indistinguishable from humans from earth, ...
10
votes
4answers
405 views

Could you engineer a baby for a same sex couple?

Kikazaru and Protogon have been fierce rivals in the designer baby industry/artificial wombs since time and memorial, but Kikazaru is looking to finally best its rival by introducing a new scheme: ...
1
vote
1answer
92 views

Genetically engineered Moray Eel?

Is it conceivable to genetically engineer a moray eel large enough to hunt and eat humans in its cave like habitat? It needs to have: armored skin that can withstand gunfire good all around swimming ...
4
votes
14answers
4k views

How to achieve physical gender equality? [closed]

Now, I am constructing a human-like civilization that has more advanced technology than our own. They share genes through sexual reproduction. I hope in this world, there will be fewer rapes caused ...
0
votes
7answers
443 views

How can genetic enchancements allow male and female sports leagues to intertwine with each other?

The human race is divided into two variants: male and female. The former is generally more dominant physically due to its size, making them bigger, stronger, and faster. They are predisposed to being ...
0
votes
1answer
379 views

Would it be possible to genetically engineer Dragons? [duplicate]

DRAGONS. ARE THEY POSSIBLE? By current genetic engineering..? no. But let's say somehow we got shot 200 years into the future?! Would you think it would be possible scientifically? Defining "...
6
votes
2answers
263 views

Genetic modifications for the ultimate office drone?

In a dystopian future, genetic editing, stem cell research and cloning have become commonplace. Humans in embryo can be genetically modified and designed to a immense variation; some people can give ...
1
vote
1answer
147 views

Genetic altering to make human lungs strong enough to process water [duplicate]

I am aware that human lungs can't process water due to other reasons, but I am working on a setting that has genetically altered humans of various degrees and one of them can breathe water and air. I ...
1
vote
3answers
1k views

Can An Adult Be Genetically Engineered? [duplicate]

Would be possible to apply genetic changes (like splicing in a radiation hardening gene) to an adult human? With near future technology, like advanced forms of CRISPR? Or can things like that only be ...
0
votes
2answers
115 views

What does the physiology and biochemistry of a vacuum adapted post-human look like? Part 5: Senses

I am a post-human adapted for permanent life in vacuum and micro-gravity. How might my physiology and biochemistry overcome the following challenges? Please note I have a strong cultural aversion to ...
3
votes
4answers
149 views

How could an AI be in the real world organically and humanely (not in a robotic body)? [closed]

Say I have some artificial intelligence characters in a virtual reality world that my human characters have bonded with in ways of friendship, romance, etc before they find out they're AI. How would ...
4
votes
5answers
447 views

Genetically created centaur for combat purposes

Edit: In an attempt to not make a gigantic wall of text, I ended up cutting important information from the question. I have re-elaborated the question for better understanding of the setting. Sorry ...
26
votes
13answers
4k views

Real DNA encryption (or at least making it hard to decode/change)

So I'm the owner of a startup which is going to make our lives easier with custom-DNA creatures! Our few first products are selling very well and nothing was wrong until last week's events. Another ...
9
votes
5answers
1k views

Bioengineered reversible sterility

The Humern empire is vast, unbelievably powerful and (in certain matters) brutally authoritarian. One such issue is that of reproduction. In order to ensure that all subjects of the Empire remain ...
2
votes
2answers
507 views

Can genetic modifications become hereditary? [closed]

Could genetic modifications become hereditary over time? If so could they evolve over time similar to regular genes? For example making carbon fibre bones for whatever reason would they eventually ...
2
votes
9answers
477 views

Why might a species create a biological torture species?

So, their is an ancient species I’m creating, and their names are simply “The Progenitors”. They existed over 3 million years ago, I’m the Milky Way Galaxy, but sometime 1 million years ago, the ...

1 2 3 4