Dotsk: Difference between revisions
More actions
Adding categories |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
While the Zooids are all genetically identical, they have many different forms dictated by various chemicals and signals. For instance, some zooids develop to become almost entirely composed of muscle while others take on the roll of livers and still others secrete hormones. They range in size from 3 millimeters across to over 100 mm and each comes complete with its own nervous and digestive systems, capable of movement, and are capable of self-replication. As a Dotsk matures, the zooids become more and more specialized until they become essentially regular tissue. In order to repair tissue damage, zooids reproduce by budding much like larger versions of cells. |
While the Zooids are all genetically identical, they have many different forms dictated by various chemicals and signals. For instance, some zooids develop to become almost entirely composed of muscle while others take on the roll of livers and still others secrete hormones. They range in size from 3 millimeters across to over 100 mm and each comes complete with its own nervous and digestive systems, capable of movement, and are capable of self-replication. As a Dotsk matures, the zooids become more and more specialized until they become essentially regular tissue. In order to repair tissue damage, zooids reproduce by budding much like larger versions of cells. |
||
An interesting advantage of the zooid system is that cancer will only affect one zooid at a time. While it can spread to other zooids, the body can effectively terminate any cancerous zooids before this. As a result, the entire phylum is practically immune to cancer. |
|||
=== Brain === |
=== Brain === |
||
The brain of a Dotsk, as an independent organ, is assembled by zooids before the Dotsk |
The brain of a Dotsk, as an independent organ, is assembled by zooids before the Dotsk hatches. Several zooids will initiate apoptosis, killing most of their cells while leaving neural stem cells in their place. Using the nutrients from the destroyed zooids, the brain begins growing, shielded from the other zooids in a sort of skull to prevent them from using up its resources. This development will pause after a Dotsk hatches for several years. At this time the body focuses on development with the goal of bringing the Dotsk to nearly full maturity physically (albeit small in size). |
||
The Dotsk will begin metamorphosis at about 4 years of age. While the physical body will not change much externally, the nervous system undergoes extreme changes during this three-month period. After the months of development wrapped within a cocoon, the Dotsk will transition to, while immature, a sapient being. With total control over the body, the brain will continue growing for another ten years before reaching full development. |
|||
The nervous system of the Dotsk is very complex. Working something like an analog computer, long and short pulses across the nerves convey different information. Each zooid receives signals from the brain while also signalling each other directly. As a Dotsk matures, the brain takes on an increasing role in the management of the zooids' nervous systems until creating a single fully unified nervous system. |
The nervous system of the Dotsk is very complex. Working something like an analog computer, long and short pulses across the nerves convey different information. Each zooid receives signals from the brain while also signalling each other directly. As a Dotsk matures, the brain takes on an increasing role in the management of the zooids' nervous systems until creating a single fully unified nervous system. |
||
=== Other Internal Organs === |
|||
The exoskeleton is formed before the Dotsk is born and maintained by millions of zooids near the surface. The tough iron-oxide-based exoskeleton has a grey and red hue. It offers significant protection as well as structure for the Dotsk. |
|||
[[Category:Species]] |
[[Category:Species]] |
||
[[Category:Martial Space]] |
[[Category:Martial Space]] |
||
Revision as of 17:52, April 7, 2022
The Dotsk (Araira Araira veritus) are an intelligent species native to the moon of Eithlinn within the Via Aylathiya galaxy. A communal species, it is rare for a Dotsk to leave their home system, a system dominated by one nearly fantastically large megastructures known as Mili, a structure known as a Recurrent Supernova Engine. The Dotsk have no subspecies, unusual for a Kardashev III species, due to their general lack of emigration. Based on Heteropoly acids rather than the more conventional carbon, the Dotsk are part of the Noirae domain of life, a domain of life native to space across Via Aylathiya. The Dotsk are unique among sapient species to be descended from space-based life.
A phylum-spanning adaptation of the Dotsk is a body plan called "Kolonae." This body plan represents a large number of zooids, smaller genetically-identical organisms, that work together to create an exoskeleton and larger organs that they themselves cannot emulate (such as the nervous system and lungs). The Kolonae body plan is common in Noirae life forms, but also common across most species. The zooids exist within a four-legged body with one prehensile pseudopod created by the zooids themselves with flexible collagen-like skin. Dotsk have two large eyes with several secondary eyes arranged around the head. Behind the head is an abdomen where the legs are attached containing most of the zooids.
Anatomy
The Dotsk have only a handful of distinct internal organs, with all other bodily functions handled by the genetically identical zooids contained within them. Organs include the nervous system, exoskeleton, and central stomach and fermentation chambers. Circulation is handled by a decentralized pumping system in which many muscles across the body pump blood.
Zooids
The Zooids that compose a Dotsk are technically separate organisms, with separate life cycles and metabolisms from the whole organism. The zooids are mostly located within the abdomen and are responsible for the final stages of digestion, reflexes, muscle movement, bodily repair, reproduction, the circulation of blood, and most of the maintenance of homeostasis across the body.
While the Zooids are all genetically identical, they have many different forms dictated by various chemicals and signals. For instance, some zooids develop to become almost entirely composed of muscle while others take on the roll of livers and still others secrete hormones. They range in size from 3 millimeters across to over 100 mm and each comes complete with its own nervous and digestive systems, capable of movement, and are capable of self-replication. As a Dotsk matures, the zooids become more and more specialized until they become essentially regular tissue. In order to repair tissue damage, zooids reproduce by budding much like larger versions of cells.
An interesting advantage of the zooid system is that cancer will only affect one zooid at a time. While it can spread to other zooids, the body can effectively terminate any cancerous zooids before this. As a result, the entire phylum is practically immune to cancer.
Brain
The brain of a Dotsk, as an independent organ, is assembled by zooids before the Dotsk hatches. Several zooids will initiate apoptosis, killing most of their cells while leaving neural stem cells in their place. Using the nutrients from the destroyed zooids, the brain begins growing, shielded from the other zooids in a sort of skull to prevent them from using up its resources. This development will pause after a Dotsk hatches for several years. At this time the body focuses on development with the goal of bringing the Dotsk to nearly full maturity physically (albeit small in size).
The Dotsk will begin metamorphosis at about 4 years of age. While the physical body will not change much externally, the nervous system undergoes extreme changes during this three-month period. After the months of development wrapped within a cocoon, the Dotsk will transition to, while immature, a sapient being. With total control over the body, the brain will continue growing for another ten years before reaching full development.
The nervous system of the Dotsk is very complex. Working something like an analog computer, long and short pulses across the nerves convey different information. Each zooid receives signals from the brain while also signalling each other directly. As a Dotsk matures, the brain takes on an increasing role in the management of the zooids' nervous systems until creating a single fully unified nervous system.
Other Internal Organs
The exoskeleton is formed before the Dotsk is born and maintained by millions of zooids near the surface. The tough iron-oxide-based exoskeleton has a grey and red hue. It offers significant protection as well as structure for the Dotsk.