Future Predators of Humans

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Future Predators of Humans
Topic Started: May 17 2009, 06:07 PM (9,999 Views)
rufus	May 17 2009, 06:07 PM Post #1
Newborn Posts: 37 Group: Members Member #171 Joined: May 14, 2009	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.

Replies:
Black_Panther	May 21 2009, 03:32 PM Post #16
Adolescent Posts: 472 Group: Members Member #56 Joined: Aug 17, 2008 Gender: Private Nationality: Mexico	lamna May 21 2009, 02:12 PM Highly evolved and atrophied creatures that can't burn blood normally and need to drink human blood. With heat rays. And tripods. Yes, but, remember to do them immune to common flu and viruses.
	http://spidervenom022.deviantart.com Go in there for some odd stuff that could make you puke, and ask for some free sketches.


colddigger	May 21 2009, 05:56 PM Post #17
Joke's over! Love, Parasky Posts: 9,470 Group: Members Member #143 Joined: Feb 28, 2009 Nationality: Canadian. Just like Phasey! Favorite Quote: "If it weren't for the gutter my mind would be homeless!" - BaliTiger23	how about the humboldt squid?
	Oh Fine. Oh hi you! Why don't you go check out the finery that is SGP?? v Don't click v Spoiler: click to toggle seizures? seizure warning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WviwYLZubSw Spoiler: click to toggle


Canis Lupis	May 22 2009, 02:58 PM Post #18
Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth. Posts: 5,881 Group: Away Staff Member #95 Joined: Oct 16, 2008 Gender: Female Nationality: United States Favorite Quote: "A speccer once tried to tell me I was wrong. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti."	The genes you need to genetically engineer a super-predator are: genes that code for sexual reproduction: this will increase genetic variation, which will create a Creature that becomes increasingly more efficient at catching (and eating) humans. Bat: their immune system allows them to carry thousands of diseases without being infected. These same genes that code for this immune system will be able to reduce genetic rejection in the Creature. German shephard: they are extremely obediant to their masters. The genes that control this will prevent the Creature from attacking its creators. Octopus: their chromatophore-controlling genes will allow the Creature to blend somewhat seamlessly in with the environment. Plus, octopi produce a lot of eggs, which will allow the Creature to reproduce quickly. Rat: they have an extremely short gestation period, which will help the Creature to reproduce quickly. Human: we have genes that tell us we need to seek out other humans. With these genes, the Creature will seek out our race. Cow: they need to eat constantly. These genes in the Creature will force them to need to eat constantly. Tiger: they are obligate carnivores. These genes will force the Creature to only eat meat. Polar bear: these are the largest land carnivores on Earth at the moment. These genes will make the Creature large and give it a high metabolism, allowing them to have greater stamina and endurance. African crowned porcupine: they have the longest quills of any animal on Earth. These genes will allow the Creature to grow quills, preferrably on its head. Tapeworm: their scolex (head) is barbed and sticks in the organism. These genes will make it extremely difficult for the Creature's quills to be removed. Poison dart frog: their poison is extremely potent. The genes that code for this, when combined the quills, will create an extremely deadly harpoon for the Creature. Box jellyfish: these guys also have extremely potent poison, plus they have cnidocytes and nuematocysts. This will give the Creature an instantly fatal poison, with something to help inject the poison into the victim. Tarantula: they have special muscle cells that allow them to launch their body hairs. These genes will allow the Creature to launch their quills. Chameleon: they can accurately and quickly launch their tongues at their prey. These genes will allow the Creature to accurately launch its quills at its victim.



lamna	May 22 2009, 03:43 PM Post #19
Posts: 21,140 Group: Global Mods Member #26 Joined: Jul 1, 2008 Gender: Male Nationality: British	Put all that in a machine and out walks a man. I don't think you quite understand how genes work.
	Living Fossils Fósseis Vibos: Reserva Natural 34 MYH, 4 tonne dinosaur. T.Neo Are nipples or genitals necessary, lamna? [flash=500,450] Video Magic! [/flash]


Carlos	May 22 2009, 04:15 PM Post #20
Adveho in me Lucifero Posts: 11,702 Group: Members Member #5 Joined: May 31, 2008 Gender: Male Nationality: Portugayse Favorite Quote: Blame is the playing of children and is given to many like a gift that cannot be returned. Acceptance is the tool of the mature that is rarely loaned out.	Yes, genes aren't like lego pieces; they work more like the elements of a recipe. Plus, cows are always eating because they eat plants, which are low in nutrients, no genes involved
	Lemuria: http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/topic/5724950/ Terra Alternativa: http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/forum/460637/ My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Carliro


Temporary	May 22 2009, 05:27 PM Post #21
Transhuman Posts: 2,092 Group: Members Member #167 Joined: Apr 29, 2009 Area of expertise: Xenobiology Nationality: USA	It can if it's a small number of closely related species, but when it gets to the big numbers of distant related species, it gets complicated. You would need the right genes to regulate the expression of other genes and then make sure the sooner don't mess with the latter and the latter doesn't mess with other later and the sooner doesn't mess with the other sooner, not too mention the fetus development would need to be managed very carefully and manipulated to get the genes to express the right way and... you get my point. I like the animal though, reminds me of Fringe. ANYWAY, I got to thinking: The Most Dangerous Game is also the most dangerous predator. First, let's take a human and modify it slightly. Never stop producing Infant Stem Cells, so it can heal from any wound and borderline immortal (the limits on mitosis won't exist). Use genes from our relatives, like the apes, to make it stronger. Modify the digestive system so the new species only eats meat, and an instinctive craving for human flesh. Yeah, it could fight it like an addiction, but it would give in and eat someone, over and over again. We may need to strengthen the instincts to prevent suicide (it would be miserable) but we got a pretty good human-killer here.
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colddigger	May 22 2009, 05:47 PM Post #22
Joke's over! Love, Parasky Posts: 9,470 Group: Members Member #143 Joined: Feb 28, 2009 Nationality: Canadian. Just like Phasey! Favorite Quote: "If it weren't for the gutter my mind would be homeless!" - BaliTiger23	how about using the word ''aspect'' or ''characteristic'' instead of ''gene'' when working with aspects and characteristics...
	Oh Fine. Oh hi you! Why don't you go check out the finery that is SGP?? v Don't click v Spoiler: click to toggle seizures? seizure warning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WviwYLZubSw Spoiler: click to toggle


Canis Lupis	May 22 2009, 10:32 PM Post #23
Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth. Posts: 5,881 Group: Away Staff Member #95 Joined: Oct 16, 2008 Gender: Female Nationality: United States Favorite Quote: "A speccer once tried to tell me I was wrong. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti."	I know what genetic engineering is and I know the concept of it, but, as lamna and JohnFaa pointed out, I haven't researched it much (probably should if I'm writing a sci-fi book about it). That was just what the ultimate transgenic creature would be like in my opinion. I know it's completely fanciful and implausible, but if you were trying to create the ultimate predator of humans, you couldn't do much better than that or the creature on "Fringe". Maybe I should have described the "Fringe" creature instead. BTW, the bat immune system gene idea was adapted from "Fringe". How plausible is that actually? I personally think it's quite plausible, but I don't know much of the technicalities. Does anyone have a more plausible ultimate transgenic predator of humans out there? If so, I'd personally like to see other people's ideas.



Xenophile	May 22 2009, 10:38 PM Post #24
Formerly known as alienboy. Posts: 501 Group: Members Member #135 Joined: Feb 5, 2009 Gender: Male Area of expertise: Xenobiology Nationality: Martian Favorite Quote: It is possible that our brains are to complicated to be understood by something as simple as our brains	The problem with selecting individual genes is that genes code for many characteristics. For example, a gene that codes for fast reflexes may also code for an increased chance of cancer. I like your ideas though .



Canis Lupis	May 22 2009, 10:47 PM Post #25
Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth. Posts: 5,881 Group: Away Staff Member #95 Joined: Oct 16, 2008 Gender: Female Nationality: United States Favorite Quote: "A speccer once tried to tell me I was wrong. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti."	I know. It's a big problem. As is gene rejection. But, hopefully, as our genetic knowledge increases, we can solve those problems. And, not meaning to sound overly defensive of my fanciful idea, I was assuming the creater of the Creature had an almost complete genetic knowledge.



Xenophile	May 22 2009, 11:03 PM Post #26
Formerly known as alienboy. Posts: 501 Group: Members Member #135 Joined: Feb 5, 2009 Gender: Male Area of expertise: Xenobiology Nationality: Martian Favorite Quote: It is possible that our brains are to complicated to be understood by something as simple as our brains	That seems reasonable.



Temporary	May 23 2009, 08:30 AM Post #27
Transhuman Posts: 2,092 Group: Members Member #167 Joined: Apr 29, 2009 Area of expertise: Xenobiology Nationality: USA	Quote: BTW, the bat immune system gene idea was adapted from "Fringe". How plausible is that actually? I personally think it's quite plausible, but I don't know much of the technicalities. To be honest, I have no idea how gene rejection works so I don't know. If it's like organ rejection, probably. How about this: Take Killer Bees, replace the pheromones they naturally home-in on to sting (like in defending their hive that attack anything that has the smell of already being stung) with human pheromones. Next replace the part of the stinger that injects their weaker toxins with something more dangerous. I'm thinking the stuff from the Yellow Fattail Scorpion. Basically, a swarm that instinctively attracks anything that smells human relentlessly, spreads quickly, and kills easily.
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lamna	May 23 2009, 11:15 AM Post #28
Posts: 21,140 Group: Global Mods Member #26 Joined: Jul 1, 2008 Gender: Male Nationality: British	This is a lot of effort for something you could still fight with a sharp stick and sharper wit. Take Ebola-Zaire, but give it the ability to go from host to host like Ebola-Reston. Subsequent tweaking should get the kill rate to over well over 90% and could cut down transmission time. Release that globally into crowded cities and you can pick of the disorganised survivors with your monsters, and they won't have the infrastructure to produce more ammunition. It's inevitable though that some people will get lucky or organised and you many need other weapons to destroy them.
	Living Fossils Fósseis Vibos: Reserva Natural 34 MYH, 4 tonne dinosaur. T.Neo Are nipples or genitals necessary, lamna? [flash=500,450] Video Magic! [/flash]


Canis Lupis	May 23 2009, 11:21 AM Post #29
Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth. Posts: 5,881 Group: Away Staff Member #95 Joined: Oct 16, 2008 Gender: Female Nationality: United States Favorite Quote: "A speccer once tried to tell me I was wrong. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti."	Maybe the ultimate predator of humans won't be an organic creature at all. Maybe nanotech? Ever read "Prey" by the late Michael Crichton?



agatharights	May 23 2009, 11:45 AM Post #30
Prime Specimen Posts: 1,835 Group: Members Member #82 Joined: Sep 22, 2008 Gender: Female Nationality: American Also known as: Agatha	I think I started to read that book. Inevitably, it is lost somewhere under my bed in the mass of books I read at night and then never find again. Nanotech was actually what I used for the end of humanity in a short story. It wasn't malicious, but it was simply the problem of nanotech absorbing each other. So there would be huge pits filled with blenders. Because the war-nano that said "DESTROY EVERYTHING" met with factory-nano that said "MAKE BLENDERS" and thus- "MAKE EVERYTHING INTO BLENDERS" But yeah, humans are just too good at destroying other creatures and too far-spread. I place my bets on technology.
	Everything is Transformers and Dungeons & Dragons and nothing hurts.


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