Bizarre Alien Biology: Difference between revisions

** They are technically sexless, though may imitate conventions of species who aren't. It normally takes two individuals to make an "egg", but only due to the amount of secreted substance needed. Once the egg (which looks like a meteor) is formed, DNA samples of ''anything'' can be put inside via openings, and it will naturally create a new viable chimeric being capable of [[shapeshifting]] between hybrid and parents' forms, and usually not sterile, [http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2005-03-28 though often asexual]. [[Extra Parent Conception|Any number of sources]] can be used ([http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2003-09-09 "the current known record... is twelve"]). And need not even have an Uryuom as one of the genetic parents - though it gives some perks, thus an egg itself doesn't pass Uryuom DNA and only acts as a "cross-compilier". Basically, they reproduce via a genetic engineer's wet dream.

** The fun part is that aside of the mechanisms, these functions together make surprising amount of sense biologically. Eggs could be symbiotic organs (much like mitochondria) whose primitive ancestor was stealing pre-evolved ferment sequences. Uryuoms may walk into any biome, domesticate or fend off "interesting" local critters, stick a few drops of blood into eggs, and raise as their own a generation of Greater Chimera already adapted to this environment - not enough of them fertile to be a competition, but enough to reliably keep a symbiotic society. Then they easily maintain communication within and between populations - no matter what vocal apparatus the original species had, a chimera can shapeshift half of the way, Uryuom shifts halfway and syncs the languages in seconds. If you thought [[Hive Caste System]] is too efficient, this cheating beats it twice before breakfast.

 

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