Terragens¶
Terrangens is the broad category of intelligent life that has developed from life on Earth, but also generally of any life forms related to Earth life.
Homo Sapiens Sapiens¶
Homo sapiens sapiens is the dominant sophont species on the planet Earth and the only surviving example of the genus homo. Over the past ten thousand years their cultural and technological development went from stone tools and animistic and shamanistic rituals to space flight and organised religions and a somewhat generalised materialist agnosticism.
Currently there are 15 billion homo sapiens sapiens living in the Solar system, with a majority of 70 percent living on Earth.
During the 21st century genetic manipulation developed to such a highly advanced stage, largely through the work on CRISPR, that deliberate modification of the human base line genome was possible. While the majority of these modifications started out as removal of inheritable genetic diseases, it eventually developed into what some called designer babies with genetic modifications designed by their parents. As such, what is considered to be a type (baseline) homo sapiens sapiens in the 23rd century differs from that of the early 21st century.
Genelines¶
In the late-mid 21st century, several years before the Beijing Impact, adult cosmetic genetic modifications became possible, for example for elf ears, different pupil shapes and even nekomimi and similar changes. These modifications could become extreme and we're combined with grafts of cloned and modified tissues, like for example for furries.
However genetics and biology are never an exact science and in some cases these modifications extended to the genetic material in the individuals gametes, making them inheritable and in many cases dominant genes.
These inheritable dominant genes are called Genelines.
Currently there are several thousand genelines within the human base genome, many of which can mix without problems.
Currently, there are some groups within homo sapiens sapiens that describe themselves as 'gene purists' and oppose the continued existence of genelines, with many seeing them as 'degeneration of the purity of man'.
Well known Genelines¶
Spacer Geneline¶
The Spacer Geneline might be one of the first existing genelines that have been created, though it has come into being in a rather haphazard manner and could be described as a combination of several similar genelines into a single one. From the beginning this geneline has been intended to be inheritable and dominant.
It is the most common geneline among homo sapiens sapiens, with a population of nearly one billion and is considered to be a 'basic package' for any new settler in space.
The Space Geneline was specifically designed during the Era of Insulation, when parents wished their children to have an easier time surviving in a space environment. The basic genetic, transgenic and modifications of gene-expression were as following:
- Increased lung capacity (modified gene-expression)
- Increased blood cell count (modified gene-expression)
- Shorter body for reduced body volume, and resulting reduced caloric needs (genetic)
- Increased radiation resistance coming from bacteria (transgenic)
- Increased bone density and massive reduction of osteoporosis (genetic)
- Increased muscle density and massive reduction of muscle dystrophy (genetic)
- Reduced body hair cover (modified gene-expression)
- Various modifications to reduce the chances of developing various forms of cancer and degerative age related diseases
Of course there were a few unintended consequences of those genetic modifications, which were, in the majority, benign. The reduced body hair cover for example lead to a stronger expression of hair growth on the head. For biological females, this expressed itself in thicker hair, while in addition the biological males experienced very strong facial hair growth, which in turn lead to a culture of carefully trimmed, shaped and luxurious beards.
Another benign side effect was that one transgenic modification lead to Spacer skin glowing a light neon green under UV light. Increased bone and muscle density, while massively reducing the effects of micro and low gravity environments boosted the bodily strength, so that Spacers can operate normally even under up to twice Earth standard gravity.
The modifications to improve oxygen intake and retention in tissue and blood, lead to the development of barrel chests and the blood that clotted quicker at injuries. It also allowed a Spacer to 'breathe vacuum' for up to two and a half minutes, if they are untrained, enough to get to a safety station or put on personal vacuum gear.
The better general health of Spacers, be it through genetic changes or healthy living, has currently increased their median life expectancy to 150 to 160 years, and though it is expected that newer generations might push the median over 200 years.
Methuselah Geneline¶
The Methuselah Geneline is the result is genetic manipulation of adults, with the goal of a longer life, through transgenic integration of bacterial genes to repair the genes and to improve the immune system. This lead to a higher life span compared to the median life span of a type homo sapiens sapiens.
Those born of the Methuselah Geneline experience a slowed ageing process from 16 years onwards and are expected to reach ages of 250 years at minimum, before ageing related problems appear.
Intersex Geneline¶
The Intersex Geneline is the result of intersex individuals undergoing genetic and some surgical modification to allow them to become intersex in body expression. This usually takes the shape of adding either male or female genitals to their birth body, as well as sculpting the body for their desired body shape.
As some would father or mother children, these modifications would become genelines.
Biggus Dickus Geneline¶
A somewhat embarrassing geneline for many of its members, is the geneline known as 'Biggus Dickus', originating with male homo sapiens sapiens who felt that nature didn't equip them with the 'correct size' of their male sexual organs. It only expresses in males.
A similar geneline exists for female homo sapens sapiens, in the form of the 'Dolly Parton' geneline.
There are some rumoured cases, where these two geneline exist in combination with the intersex geneline.
Furry Genelines¶
There are a number of so called Furry Genelines, based on individuals who underwent extensive genetic, as well as surgical modifications to their bodies, including the grafting of cloned and modified tissues to become a member of their chosen 'furry species'. In several of these cases, these genetic modifications remained true in the followup generations, creating 'real anthro animals'. Mixing of these genelines is possible, resulting in 'hybrids'.
The most common Furry Genelines are:
- Vulpine
- Canine
- Feline
- Dragon
- Sergal
- Shark
Currently, it is believed that twenty million homo sapiens sapiens are part of a Furry Geneline.
Orcinus Orca¶
Orcinus Orca, commonly just called orca, but also known as killer whale, are the largest member of the family Delphinidae and the only extent member of the genus Orcinus, and the second sophont species of Earth.
However, their full sophoncy was only discovered in the mid 21st century, after contact with the Titanai allowed translation software to be exchanged, allowing the homo sapiens sapiens to translate whale song. In many cases, whales turned out to be communicating only in simple ways and were only about as intelligent as apes, with the common dolphins, long held to be the most intelligent whales and fully expected to be fully sophopnt, 'only' turning out to be as intelligent as the chimpanze.
However, once marine biologists and linguists took on the whale song of the Orca, they discovered that its was extremely complex, rivalling that of the established homo sapiens sapiens languages, with songs translated from mothers teaching their calves how to best hunt fish, over history and even mathematics lessons, small talk to even 'shit posting', as one linguist called it, and planning pranks on humans, who they called 'The Dry Ones'.
A first actual real time contact between homo sapiens sapiens and orcinus orca happened on April 10, 2057 in Monteray Bay, where the orca selected for the communication experiment laconically answered 'Took you long enough to figure this out.'
During subsequent communications and translations of other recorded orca whale song, it was discovered that the orca's had been well aware of the intelligence of homo sapiens sapiens for well over three thousand years, but also knew that communication was all but impossible for a long time to come. Their own oral history, transmitted in a manner similar to that of the Aboriginal Australians, spanned over at least thirty thousand years and they had developed a strong culture.
Due to their strong philosphical heritage, they call themselves the 'Wise Ones', which many say is the typical arrogant behaviour of any human species.
This discovery led to the orcas being added to the species of the UN Declaration of Basic Sophont Rights, which in turn opened the door to a surprisingly litigious group of sophonts who, with the help of many eco-friendly organisations, sued a number of organisations, corporations and even nations for ecological damage to their environment.
In the 23rd century, many orca prefer to live in Earths oceans, through many possess a Direct Neural Interface, allowing them to take part in the online life of many on Earth. Only a low number work closely with humans and even less feel any need to go into space. Of those orca that work closely with humans, many are mathematicians specialising in multidimensional spaces, as they have developed a strong intuition for those.
The number of orca in Earths oceans is about 150.000, with their number growing, partially through help with invitro fertilisation.
Corvus Corax¶
Also known as the 'common raven' or just raven, are a species of heavy, medium sized birds, common in the northern hemisphere of Earth.
Like the Orca, their relative intelligence has been well documented before the late-mid 21st century, when linguistic experiments with both captive and wild ravens lead to the discovery that they had developed human level intelligence and a surprisingly complex language that mixed audible signals with gestures.
Other then with the Orca contact, the ravens were surprised about the intelligence of the homo sapiens sapiens, who they always assumed were particularly smart animals.
The knowledge that communication with the intelligent homo sapiens sapiens was possible, spread through the population of ravens in Eurasia and America within a short time frame, as ravens had a very well developed grapevine and easily remembered information.
At the time, raven did not have a well developed culture, largely due to their short lifespan and the dangers of their life style. Once they learned how to interact with homo sapiens sapiens, groups would move into urban centers and adapt to urban environments better, though other groups would remain in rural areas and live their old lifestyle, creating a cultural divide between urban and rural ravens.
To the homo sapiens sapiens, communicating with ravens allowed them to change their behaviour, by simply asking them to, e.g. leave young life stock alone.
Over the 22nd century, interfaces became increasingly common for ravens, and in the 23rd century the majority of ravens have one. They also integrated themselves into Earth culture and society, though only some work actual jobs, as they have an easy time surviving off the land.
Ravens with jobs usually work in professions they are prepared for, like pest control in urban areas (they get free meals and get paid), neighbourhood watch and police work. In rural areas they might work as fire watch or count wild animals. In many cases ravens are seen as Gossip Central in many neighbourhoods.
While they usually communicate with homo sapiens sapiens through their interfaces, the majority of urban ravens carry a small speaker around their necks for easier communication. Incidentally the majority of ravens will be able to actually speak a single word 'Nevermore', which is used by them as a greeting, ever since one of the first ravens to have an interface discovered Edgar Allen Poes poem The Raven.
Genelines¶
Ravens have only two, deliberately created Genelines, meant to be inherited, different to homo sapiens sapiens Genelines.
Longevity Geneline¶
A Geneline developed to increase the lifespan of ravens to 100 to 150 years, while deliberately reducing the fertility of the Geneline to prevent over population.
Spacer Geneline¶
A Geneline designed to allow ravens to live in space and adapt them for microgravity environments. The Geneline includes similar changes to those found in the homo sapiens sapiens spacer geneline.
Ormiold¶
While the Ormiold are usually counted as an alien species, they are also counted as Terragen. This is due to their close relation to Terragen life, as their ancient ancestors have been transplanted from Earth to their homeworld 75 millions.
However, with the growing population of Ormiold on Earth, many of them in Texas, they increasingly identify as Terragen when interacting with non Terragen aliens or their Ineryn cousins.