Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Kosh · 11-12-2002, 06:30 PM

Watching the DSC channel at times makes me feel like we really the short end of the stick in exchange for our brains. If you could alter the evolutionary past (or just play around with genetics), which adaptations from other animals would you wish for? Me:

1. Night vision like a cat

2. Muscular like a cat

3. Ability to withstand high force impacts (like ants, etc). Probably impossible with our size though...

4. Ability to climb walls like a spider

5. Photo-synthesis (OK I cheated and used a plant)

6. Fail-safe vital organs. Like multiple hearts (OK, I took that one from Star Trek)

What else?

Jeremy Pallant · 11-12-2002, 06:42 PM

I think Alan Dean Foster did a short story about humans being "modified" so that they could do photosynthesis. A journalist was kidnapped and treated so he could observe and publicize the benefits. I forget the details. I thought at the time it was a pretty cool idea...photosynthetic humans, that is, not kidnap.

Doubting Didymus · 11-12-2002, 06:55 PM

Do humans have enough surface area for photosynthesis? I think we would need leaves and branches to max out our ratio.

Edited to note: You would also have to get used to being bright green.

[ November 12, 2002: Message edited by: Doubting Didymus ]

pz · 11-12-2002, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Doubting Didymus:
Do humans have enough surface area for photosynthesis? I think we would need leaves and branches to max out our ratio.

Compare the metabolic rate of a tree to the metabolic rate of a mammal. No way could we get enough surface area to make even a dent in our energy demands with photosynthesis.

Quote:

Edited to note: You would also have to get used to being bright green.

And frolicking in the sun naked.

RufusAtticus · 11-12-2002, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kosh:
Watching the DSC channel at times makes me feel like we really the short end of the stick in exchange for our brains. If you could alter the evolutionary past (or just play around with genetics), which adaptations from other animals would you wish for?

Depends on what environment you want me to live in.

Camaban · 11-12-2002, 07:15 PM

Pigs have 30 minute orgasms....

How popular would that be?

lpetrich · 11-12-2002, 07:22 PM

I'll look outside the animal kingdom to fungi and protists and bacteria:

The ability to manufacture essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, vitamins, etc. That way we could live off of even the junkiest of junk food.

Perhaps also the ability to digest cellulose.

Jeremy Pallant · 11-12-2002, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pz:
Compare the metabolic rate of a tree to the metabolic rate of a mammal. No way could we get enough surface area to make even a dent in our energy demands with photosynthesis.

Good point. I suppose it would depend on how tightly packed the photosynthetic organelles could be arranged.

True, we would have to go around largely naked, and live in a suitably sunny climate, but I can afford to be blase about that (300 days of sunshine a year).

Doubting Didymus · 11-12-2002, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Compare the metabolic rate of a tree to the metabolic rate of a mammal. No way could we get enough surface area to make even a dent in our energy demands with photosynthesis.

Not even with a massive great canopy?

Kosh · 11-12-2002, 08:08 PM

I should have known better with a bunch of engineers. Ok, suspension of disbelief. Forget the logistics, which traits would you want?

11-12-2002, 06:30 PM	#1
Kosh Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Orions Belt Posts: 3,911	Which adaptation(s) do you covet? Watching the DSC channel at times makes me feel like we really the short end of the stick in exchange for our brains. If you could alter the evolutionary past (or just play around with genetics), which adaptations from other animals would you wish for? Me: 1. Night vision like a cat 2. Muscular like a cat 3. Ability to withstand high force impacts (like ants, etc). Probably impossible with our size though... 4. Ability to climb walls like a spider 5. Photo-synthesis (OK I cheated and used a plant) 6. Fail-safe vital organs. Like multiple hearts (OK, I took that one from Star Trek) What else?

11-12-2002, 06:55 PM	#3
Doubting Didymus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: East Coast. Australia. Posts: 5,455	Do humans have enough surface area for photosynthesis? I think we would need leaves and branches to max out our ratio. Edited to note: You would also have to get used to being bright green. [ November 12, 2002: Message edited by: Doubting Didymus ]</p>

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11-12-2002, 06:42 PM	#2
Jeremy Pallant Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA Posts: 1,242	I think Alan Dean Foster did a short story about humans being "modified" so that they could do photosynthesis. A journalist was kidnapped and treated so he could observe and publicize the benefits. I forget the details. I thought at the time it was a pretty cool idea...photosynthetic humans, that is, not kidnap.

11-12-2002, 07:15 PM	#6
Camaban Regular Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 473	Pigs have 30 minute orgasms.... How popular would that be?

11-12-2002, 07:22 PM	#7
lpetrich Contributor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lebanon, OR, USA Posts: 16,829	I'll look outside the animal kingdom to fungi and protists and bacteria: The ability to manufacture essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, vitamins, etc. That way we could live off of even the junkiest of junk food. Perhaps also the ability to digest cellulose.

11-12-2002, 08:08 PM	#10
Kosh Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Orions Belt Posts: 3,911	I should have known better with a bunch of engineers. Ok, suspension of disbelief. Forget the logistics, which traits would you want?

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