Biology in Science Fiction
From BioSciFiWiki
The Biology in Science Fiction Wiki presents questions of life science, evolution, and medicine raised by science fiction literature.
These questions are explored in the course BIOL 103 Biology in Science Fiction taught by Prof. Joan Slonczewski at Kenyon College.
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Mutants
Our 2009 theme is "Mutants." What are mutants?
Mutants in X-Men (Marvel Comics):
A "mutant" among X-Men is a person with an X-gene that confers a special power not seen in "real" humans.
The mutant's special power usually appears at puberty, when the person's gender matures.
The super ability may be linked to an extreme handicap, harmful to oneself or others.
Mutants in Biology:
A real mutant can have extra strength, such as the muscle baby.
A mutation in real biology is any change in a gene sequence of an organism, compared to the parents.
Each of us has several mutations, compared to our parents. A changed gene can be inherited by our children. Its effect can combine good and bad.
A mutant gene on the X chromosome can be inherited in only one copy by a male, two copies by a female.
Mutations in gender genes can change a girl into a boy at puberty; cause a man to look extremely female; or make an intersex person.
Can a real mutant be a telepath? Can brainpower be enhanced by a machine like Cerebro?
Questions:
Do real mutants have "super powers" beyond the "normal" population? Can a super power be linked to a serious defect?
What mutations "come out" at puberty? Do mutations make new kinds of gender?
How do mutants cause evolution? How can natural selection increase the frequency of a mutant gene? Can mutant selection lead to a new "race"?
How do mutants depend on their environment? What happens to mutants in extreme ecosystems?
Can a real brain communicate by telepathy? Can our mind power directly control a machine?
Books
The Time Machine, by H. G. Wells. Could mutants evolve into a new race? Would they still be human?
Galapagos, by Kurt Vonnegut. What if mutants returned to Galapagos?
Dune, by Frank Herbert. Could future humans engineer mutants for political aims?
Jurassic Park, by Michael Crichton. Could we bring back the dinosaurs? What if they mutate?
A Door into Ocean, by Joan Slonczewski. How might humans mutate their genes to fit their environment?
Brain Plague, by Joan Slonczewski. Could mutant microbes engineer us? Could a real mutant brain be enhanced by Cerebro?
Student Projects from Previous Years
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