Inner Sphere genetic Engineering

[Atlan]

So. Genetic Engineering. The concept of altering people in a way that can be passed on to their children, demonized by Star Trek.

In Battletech, Genetic Engineering is almost always associated with the Clans, and their Iron Wombs, and their supersoldier program which doesn't really seem to actually acomplish anything that can't be attributed to their life-long training program.

But the Clans arn't the only example of Genetic Engineering in BT- just the most well known.

I discovered (while reading Touring the Stars: Gulf Breeze) that there are genetically altered people living in the Lyran Commonwealth, who were engineered to withstand high gravity worlds.
I discovered (while reading Touring the Stars: Promised Land) that those same high-g people were from the FLW, and engineered by the Star League.

I discovered that the Battletech Comic had a Capellan Minister of Economics with blue skin, and Comstar ROM agents with pointed ears and dorsal fins on their heads.

I discovered the mentions of Terra's Belters have some vague combination of cybernetics and genetic alterations.

SO- are there any other examples of genetic engineering on humans in Battletech?

[Middcore]

Inb4 Canopian catgirl joke

[AlphaMirage]

Surprised no one talked about Frobisher and its aquatic people yet.

I remember reading something about the very early Age of Exploration that saw widespread introduction of germ cell manipulation into Hegemony colonists that allowed settlement of many different alien worlds. I think it was called Homo Stellaris or something like that.

There are rumors of the Genecaste among the .

Technically you also have Delphians which are immune to the Delphi Curse. There is also the blood fever among the Azami, both are not quite genetic engineering as much as Darwinism. While its not intentional genetic engineering regardless people adapt to local conditions and reproduce or die.

[Nerroth]

In the long term, as Clan Iron Wombs become more prevalent across the Inner Sphere and near Periphery, I wouldn't be surprised if certain noble houses use this as a form of IVF, for couples who would otherwise be childless.

After all, technically Alaric, as a "tank-born" (not quite the same as a regular Trueborn) is the result of an Inner Sphere noble creating an heir using this kind of technology.

Indeed, I would also not be surprised if Clan Sea Fox begins to "sell" this option to Spheroid noble clients. For the right price, of course...

[Metallgewitter]

You don't have to look that far. Phelan and Caitlyn Kell were both "artifically" created due to Salome Ward being unable to concieve naturally

[cray]

The majority of humanity was genetically engineered in the 22nd and 23rd centuries, creating what James McKenna referred to as, "Homo Stellaris." As noted in ATOW p. 369:

"[Inner Sphere] Life spans are usually quite high, in the
90s and 100s, but instead of being entirely a result of local
medical care, part of this average results from the centuries
when doctors across human space wielded genetic vaccines.
Humans are simply healthier now than before James McKenna
coined his term, “Homo stellaris.""

JHS:Terra, p. 136 noted the changes weren't radical:

"(Readers will have to
forgive me if I do not recognize James’
McKenna’s “homo stellaris” as different
from homo sapiens sapiens. JumpShips,
a few genetic vaccines, and a pretty
speech do not a new species make.)"

However, this wasn't a radical change, nothing like Shadowrun's geneware or bioware. The homo stellaris effort aimed to bolster immune systems against the feared virgin field pandemics of alien worlds.

Even Gulf Breeze's genetic engineering wasn't especially radical: "only minor edits to their joints and cardiovascular systems"'

The Belters of the Terran system apparently use a bit more genetic engineering - more tolerance to zero-G and maybe more life extension edits - but that's not confirmed in canon yet.

[AlphaMirage]

I knew you'd come through with the homo Stellaris page reference Cray. ++1

[PsihoKekec]

I discovered that the Battletech Comic had a Capellan Minister of Economics with blue skin

That could be a side effect from overuse of coloid silver.

[cray]

That could be a side effect from overuse of coloid silver.

Or body paint, but misuse of colloidal silver is more amusing.

[Atlan]

Thanks to Hotpoints 'Guided by the light of a (red) cameron star' updating today, I have learned about McEvedy's Folly, a planet where a mad scientist attempted to create, among other things, human-animal hybrids.

[PsihoKekec]

Ah yes, BT attempt to bring the insane hilarity of 1996 Island of Dr. Moreau to tabletop. Perfect setting for ToW game, if you have a GM with good sense of humor.

[beachhead1985]

That could be a side effect from overuse of coloid silver.

Chromium Picolate, every day, every orifice; chromium picolate.
-Dale Gribble