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Future Predators of Humans
Topic Started: May 17 2009, 06:07 PM (9,988 Views)
rufus
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I rememebr that once in Peter Ward's book he mentions the differnt things that could possibly thin the human population. He mentioned, then dismissed at once the possibility of a new sort of predator. As he correctly observes, any such predator would be quickly elininated or contained if it started preying on our species. Humans would simply not allow ourselves or our children to become food.

But that got me to thinking. Suppose some future genetic scientist, engineered some sort of future predator to prey upon humans, perhaps as a way of cleansing the population of :defectives" or undesirables". The species could be genetically programed to hunt only humans as a food source. And it might be programed to eliminate only those humans who carried certain traits such as genetic maladies.

This would have to be done in such a way that the human population would not know what was happening, and could not take the action needed to eliminate the predators. This creature would be engineered from humans themselves.The creature could have engineered traits from other animal species, such as camaflauge abilites, and perhaps sonar from bats to stun their prey. BTW, I thought of this idea long before that "future predator" thing from Primeval, and I thought of posting this today, even before I read that other thread.

I also thought of making this idea into a story, in which the heor has to find who is releasing and controlling these predators and how to stop them. I usually try not to bash genetic science in my stories, like some authors do, but in this case the plot would demand that I do have a rogue geneticist.
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Holben
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How about a collective superorganism immune to bullets? Slimy and made of microorganisms?
Time flows like a river. Which is to say, downhill. We can tell this because everything is going downhill rapidly. It would seem prudent to be somewhere else when we reach the sea.

"It is the old wound my king. It has never healed."
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sam999
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TWLM
Nov 19 2009, 12:35 PM
How about a collective superorganism immune to bullets? Slimy and made of microorganisms?
No doom slime alowed outside it's forma.
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lamna
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Oh people have been injured and killed by Orcas, just mostly at aquariums where they have fallen on their trainers. But I understand your point, Orcas don't like eating boney low fat humans, just like GWS. But they are smart enough (or have better senses) that they won't attack us.

But still, scary as hell. No way you are getting me in the water with one of those things. Generally anything big, powerful and can come at your from below is scary as hell. But I digress.

They are smart enougth to know to follow fishing boats for scraps. If they were more intelligent they might figure out humans were depleting fish stocks they might want to even the odds. Against a factory ship they are buggered but they could easily take down smaller vessels.
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Are nipples or genitals necessary, lamna?
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The Dodo
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T.Neo
Nov 19 2009, 09:40 AM
I'm afraid I have to agree with Ward here. Humans will simply eradicate predators before they have any chance to affect the population.

The only species I could imagine as a real threat to humanity would be another sophont.
What about a disease causing micro-organism.
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lamna
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That's not really a predator is it. Unless it hunts and consumes people I don't think it counts.
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Are nipples or genitals necessary, lamna?
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Holben
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Orcas sometimes 'suck' the fish off nets, so only their lips are left.

They aren't scary! I think they are quite appealing!
Time flows like a river. Which is to say, downhill. We can tell this because everything is going downhill rapidly. It would seem prudent to be somewhere else when we reach the sea.

"It is the old wound my king. It has never healed."
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lamna
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Maybe not to you but the are huge underwater predators. Can't change that about them.
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Holben
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We are medium sized land predators. Can't change that.
Time flows like a river. Which is to say, downhill. We can tell this because everything is going downhill rapidly. It would seem prudent to be somewhere else when we reach the sea.

"It is the old wound my king. It has never healed."
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sam999
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Holbenilord
Sep 24 2009, 11:45 AM
But creatonists probably are that stupid. I wouldn't be surprised. And the doom slime could squelch straight up to them, all they'd do is tell it how stupid scientists are (wrongly). One of them would probably release it in the first place.
That would be very silly, "And now pray for your lord J-AAAAARRRRRRRAAAGGGGGG!!!!!"
I am not suffering from insanaty. I truely enjoy being mad.
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Holben
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They wouldn't mind- after all, they'd go to heaven for dying for their beliefs!
Time flows like a river. Which is to say, downhill. We can tell this because everything is going downhill rapidly. It would seem prudent to be somewhere else when we reach the sea.

"It is the old wound my king. It has never healed."
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sam999
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Holbenilord
Nov 22 2009, 11:12 AM
They wouldn't mind- after all, they'd go to heaven for dying for their beliefs!
And apart from being under risk of being eaten life would impove for us.
I am not suffering from insanaty. I truely enjoy being mad.
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Holben
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Maybe.
Time flows like a river. Which is to say, downhill. We can tell this because everything is going downhill rapidly. It would seem prudent to be somewhere else when we reach the sea.

"It is the old wound my king. It has never healed."
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sam999
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Holbenilord
Nov 23 2009, 02:47 PM
Maybe.
Remove all creationists, life gets better. It's that simple.
I am not suffering from insanaty. I truely enjoy being mad.
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Holben
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I shout at creationist adverts, so i can't really say i'd hate that.
Time flows like a river. Which is to say, downhill. We can tell this because everything is going downhill rapidly. It would seem prudent to be somewhere else when we reach the sea.

"It is the old wound my king. It has never healed."
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sam999
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Holbenilord
Nov 24 2009, 12:49 PM
I shout at creationist adverts, so i can't really say i'd hate that.
I know it started it's crash but this is vearing of topic.
I am not suffering from insanaty. I truely enjoy being mad.
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