Bio-Tech: Glandular Modifications
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A network of internal glands, the endocrine system, secretes hundreds of different hormones into the bloodstream. The tiny pituitary gland (under the brain) is in overall command of the endocrine system. Other glands – the adrenal, thyroid, parathyroid, pineal body, pancreas, thymus, ovaries and testes – release hormones into the bloodstream to regulate the body's growth, development, and routine metabolic processes, as well as emergency, emotional, and sexual responses. For example, the adrenal gland (above the kidneys) regulates how the body consumes water and reacts to stress; in stressful situations, it tells the liver to release more glucose (for extra energy) and the heart to beat faster (increasing blood flow to the muscles).
Selective glandular biomodification can optimize the body's hormonal balance so that a person will develop in a certain way (more muscular, for instance), perform differently under stress, or experience stronger or weaker passions.
Gengineering of the pituitary and thyroid glands, or designing new, voluntary regulatory glands that produce similar hormones, could adjust metabolic processes such as growth and maturation, and possibly allow control over involuntary biological functions like respiration and digestion. This can grant a tendency toward or away from particular builds, e.g., Taboo Trait (Fat). Deliberately engineering Skinny or Overweight may even be desirable, depending on prevailing ideals or other purposes, e.g., reduced weight for gengineered flyers or extra fat for cold weather.
It may also be feasible to engineer for short-term "emergency performance," or to improve pain or stress response. This can provide advantages such as Combat Reflexes and Fearlessness. An ambitious goal is the voluntary control of the sudden bursts of "hysterical" speed or strength that some people are capable of in emergencies. This might require genetic tinkering to modify the adrenal glands or, as with metabolic control, the creation of new voluntary glands that produce similar hormones. This is Combat Reflexes, or for superhuman levels of performance, the meta-traits Burst Speed or Explosive Strength (see below). The reverse of this is also possible, creating someone who will usually freeze in a combat situation (Combat Paralysis).
In micro- or zero gravity, the lack of weight seems to affect development, causing brittle bones. Gengineering may be aimed at modifying the parathyroid gland to restore calcium levels, and otherwise adjusting the metabolism to life in zero-G.
By tinkering with hormones, the gengineer can also adjust human behavior, creating a being whose emotions are skewed in a desired direction. Modifications of this sort usually center on the adrenal gland, the gonads (which control influential sex hormones such as estrogens – e.g., estradiol – and androgens – e.g., testosterone) or the pituitary (which produces hormones that influence other glands). The strongest influence will be on the three "primal" human responses: fear, aggression, and sexual behavior.
Early Maturation: This feature reduces the age of maturity at the same rate as Short Lifespan without reducing lifespan.
Hibernation: This ability is Metabolism Control (Hibernation, -60%) [2/level]; see Metabolism Control.
| Trait | Cost | TL |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Speed† | 20 per +1.00 | 9 |
| Combat Paralysis | -15 | 9 |
| Combat Reflexes | 15 | 9 |
| Early Maturation 1 | 0 | 9 |
| Early Maturation 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Early Maturation 3 | 0 | 11 |
| Early Maturation 4 | 0 | 12 |
| Enhanced Muscle 1-5† | 8/level | 9* |
| Fearlessness 1-5 | 2/level | 9 |
| Hibernation 1-4 | 2/level | 9* |
| High Pain Threshold | 10 | 9 |
| Improved G-Tolerance (0.3 G) | 5 | 9 |
| Metabolism Control 1-2 | 5/level | 9 |
| Metabolism Control 3-4 | 5/level | 10* |
| No Degeneration in Zero-G | 1 | 9* |
| Overweight | -1 | 9 |
| Skinny | -5 | 9 |
| Taboo Traits (a particular Build) | 0 | 9 |
| Unfazeable | 15 | 10 |
- *Species modification.
- †This advantage must be taken in conjunction with one or more of these limitations: Aftermath, Cardiac Stress, Costs Fatigue, Emergencies Only, or Temporary Disadvantage; Aftermath or Temporary Disadvantages are usually based on Bad Temper, Berserk, Gluttony, or Lecherousness.
Here are two examples:
Burst Reflexes (TL9): A controlled release of adrenaline lets you react quickly. This is Basic Speed, +1.00 (Costs Fatigue, 2 FP, -10%) [18].
Explosive Strength (TL9): In emergencies, your body can trigger an explosive burst of adrenaline-fueled "hysterical" strength for a very short period. This is Enhanced Muscle 5 (Costs Fatigue, 1 FP/second, -10%; Emergencies Only, -30%) [24].
For another example, see the Felicia.