#I love my specbio that makes no fucking sense

[phantomtrax]

convergent evolution is honestly a funny as fuck excuse for fucked up taxonomy. Yeah i decided that this guy is a species of snails that evolved to be humanoid and have human intelligence over millions of years while completely unrelated to actual primates. How? Ummmmmlol it juse happened

[finely-tuned-line]

RP:

Log 218

FTL: FTLR-3 has taken the form of the cyan lizard that was its host. It remains immobile, but the form it has taken is clearly that of a cyan lizard. One especially similar to the one from which it originated from. I've described my hypothesis as to why it would do such a thing in Log 216, but to summarise, it's for the sake of efficiency. Efficiency of movement, efficiency of existence. It's taking the best of all three sub-types of Rot and combining it.

FTL: I fear that this new form may grant FTLR-3 a much extended range of movement that, especially when combined with its apparent ability to learn, could result in it breaking out of the containment chamber. If all goes well, this will not be the case. I will carry on in my attempts at creating a potent corrosive substance, just in case LIFEGIVER's treatment does not arrive on time.

FTL: As for updates on the progress of my attempts to create such a substance, there aren't many. The progress has been lacking and it all is strikingly reminiscent of my attempts to create organisms without a foundation. I do believe that I am on edge of something, though. I cannot tell you what, only that it will aid me in my quest.

FTL: The time after FTLR-3 is eradicated is eagerly awaited. I cannot allow myself to get distracted from this process at this time, but the thoughts of experiments I could be doing now are alluring to me. For example, Eternal Anomaly (as our conversation has unfortunately not yet ceased) mentioned a slugcat-poleplant hybrid.

FTL: Creating a hybrid with a poleplant is indeed a curious idea. One that I wish I could afford the time to explore at this moment. Perhaps not with a slugcat, that seems to defeat the purpose. Slugcats are insanely adaptable creatures, they can withstand just about any modifications. Though a slugcat-poleplant hybrid would have its benefits, my interest lies in the reactivity of the poleplants leaves. What if a poleplant's genetics that pertain to them were implanted into say, a lizard? Forgive me for the amount of experiments that lizards have been the main subject of.

FTL: The 'leaves' could function as a warning system, though perhaps it wouldn't be that much of an effective one. Append them onto the tail though, and they could perhaps warn the lizard of any vibrations in the ground. The red colouring the lizard would be sure to inherit from the poleplants would also serve as a deterrent to predators, invoking the image of a typical red lizard. It could also potentially employ the poleplant's typical hunting method of ambush. Though it would lack the ability to blend in.

FTL: Perhaps if the lizard that would be modified were a white lizard... its camouflage abilities, if combined with the reactiveness of the poleplant. Truly could make a capable predator, armed with many ways to protect itself from any that may threaten it. Its red leaves would make it stand out, even when camouflaged, but everything needs a weakness, no?

FTL: I'll have to put this idea on hold. After this whole fiasco is over, this will be the project I pick up. Just another incentive to get this over with as quickly as possible. I tire of researching FTLR-3, it has too much urgency to it. But I shall carry on doing so, as though my interest grows weaker as my attention attempts to drift elsewhere, I remain curious about its nature.

[finely-tuned-line]

would it be feasible to use iterator neuron dna for use in a modified creature?

RP:

FTL: Yes, it would. I've heard of it before, though I haven't tried it myself.

FTL: It's possible to use the DNA of anything that has it. The fact that a neuron is part of an Iterator does make no difference at all. Though it honestly doesn't really have to be a neuron specifically. Any biological part of an Iterator could be used due to the fact that the DNA always remains the same.

FTL: That fact does seem a bit counterintuive though. Why would a biomechanical (typically more mechanical than biological, might I add) thing such as an Iterator have the same DNA withing all of their cells? There's no need for it such as within a biological creature. Simply because we're built, not born. There's no process of allocating differing cells to differing tasks, necessitating them all to have the same instructions for the purpose of them being able to carry out whatever task they're set to.

FTL: I suppose it's for convenience's sake. Less time to engineer one versatile set of DNA rather dozens of separate sets.

FTL: But to conclude, yes it is possible. Cannot think of too many cases where it would be utile to do so, beyond perhaps it helping facilitate the connection between biology and mechanics that a biomechanical being has.