#Time Lord biology

[justletmeramble1701]

Do you guys subscribe to the theory that (at least, starting in NuWho) the Doctor can, somewhat, subconsciously control his regenerations?

Like, of course, 8 wanted to be a warrior, so he became the War Doctor (I know that he drank a potion for that, but that might’ve just been lemonade according to the Target Novelization).

War wanted to be the hero, to earn the title, the Doctor, again, so he became 9.

9 wanted to be someone who was the perfect partner to Rose (human), so he became 10.

10, in his vanity, wanted his final regeneration to be young, so he became 11.

11, after all the heartache, wanted to be more distant (and also what they said in series 8), so he became 12.

12 wanted a kind, fresh start, so he became 13.

13 wanted to open up to someone, so she became 14.

14 wanted time to heal, so he split off 15.

This is not an original theory, and I'm not even saying that I buy into it fully it, but it's interesting. It would be interesting if the Doctor had a tiny bit of control over their regeneration (Romana did, somehow) and most of the time his wants either backfire or only half work.

What do you think?

[gallifreyinstituteforlearning]

Looming vs. Natural Reproduction - what on Gallifrey's going on here?

As the first of the trending topics, GIL's noticed some confusion about the concept of looming vs. natural reproduction in Gallifreyans. Have no fear; GIL's here to help.

🧬 What is looming?

It's a bit like 3D printing, but for people. These Rassilon-created Genetic Loom Breeding-Engines weave new Gallifreyans from a mix of matter and biodata. Looms produce Gallifreyans of all genders, (though females are loomed slightly less frequently). Each House has its unique Loom, which embeds familial traits into its creations.

❓ Why is looming a thing?

The invention of Looms was Rassilon’s grand solution to a serious problem. Following the catastrophic Curse of Pythia, Gallifrey faced extinction. The Looms became lifelines, ensuring the continuity of Gallifreyan civilisation.

🔮 What is the Curse of Pythia?

The Pythias were a kind of magical matriarchal monarchy, with rulers known as Pythias ruling over ancient Gallifrey in succession. Pythia number 309 (out of 309) was elbowed out by Rassilon. She was, understandably, really hacked off. She condemned Gallifrey to wither and then threw herself into the Crevasse of Memories That Will Be, never to be seen again. This 'withering' is known as the 'Curse of Pythia'. It resulted in mass sterility of Gallifreyans - supposedly instantly killing babies in their mother's wombs, and preventing any Gallifreyan from reproducing naturally from that point forward.

🍷 So Gallifreyans used to reproduce naturally?

Yes. Before the sterility curse, Gallifreyans reproduced just like humans, with a little wine, a candlelit dinner and maybe an album by Barry White.

✨ So does this 'Curse' still exist?

No. The apparent lifting of Pythia's curse was marked by Leela's pregnancy (yes, THAT Leela), which hailed a return to natural reproduction among Gallifreyans. Others besides Leela have also been able to reproduce naturally.

🔄 So what method do they use?

This blend of technological and biological means of reproduction leaves Gallifreyans in a unique position. They could use both methods depending on social, political, or personal factors.

🧐It can't all be that simple, GIL ...

Wow, you've been here before, haven't you?

There are accounts that the supposed 'Curse of Pythia' didn't actually come from Pythia.

Self-inflicted: Some say it was a side-effect of a massive time tech experiment that went awry.

It never existed: Others suggest there never was a curse. Rassilon, seeking absolute control, concocted a narrative to enforce a sterile, controllable society, eradicating the unpredictability of natural birth and driving forward eugenics in his perfect society.

🏫 So ...

Thus, the plot thickens. Were Gallifreyans always capable of natural reproduction but held back by societal constructs and fear? Did Leela's pregnancy unveil a truth long buried or simply reawaken a dormant biological ability? That's up to you.

But of course, GIL denies this version of events, cos how else would we get the funding for all the biscuits in the canteen from the High Council? Praise Rassilon!

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[gallifreywhere]

The Doctor, with only his third brain lobe functioning, stood with them, but said nothing. He smiled as he looked out at the view, but his smile was vacant.

'Wonder how long he'll be?' said Jenny.

'If he survives,' said Nanny.

'He'd better,' replied Jenny. 'A world without the Doctor would be a poorer place.'

(From Rebellion on Treasure Island, by Bali Rai)

[radio-ghost-cooks]

doctor who fans. hey fellas. question.

do Time Lords have twice as many veins bc they have two hearts or do they just have a normal amount of veins under a stupidly large amnt of stress?

[starryeyedgazer]

Okay I have a question actually when 14 was knocked out was he hit in the head or between the shoulders this is very very important.

[heimeldat]

I think other anon means that one fanon thing you see in a lot of fic where for some reason or other Gallifreyan throats/necks are ridiculously sensitive, a la Vulcan hands

I must not be reading the same sorts of fics, cause I've never come across that.

I think the Time Lord sense of touch is more sensitive than a human's in general, and I think the extra concentration of major nerves converging on the dual brain stems would make the neck more vulnerable to vagus strikes (note how easily the Doctor gets knocked out in both classic and modern episodes).

Beyond that, idk. As far as the Doctor goes, Eight might be more touchy than other regenerations about things touching his neck, not because his skin is any more sensitive, but because he's got to be more aware of ANYTHING near his neck after getting his throat hacked open with a dull blade.

[backpackingspace]

Listen the only doctor that's been a women is 12. Even then that is only sometimes.

[piniatafullofblood]

I was thinking about the functionality of the doctor having two hearts. and, like, I know that it’s a show- he has two hearts because it makes him more separated from humans and more alien, and that’s basically it, but no! because it makes sense! Because regeneration energy is something exclusive, (as far as we know,) to time lords, it makes sense that they would need either A), twice the amount of blood, or B), the blood to move twice as fast, so that regeneration energy can be made at the drop of the hat.

Either from the momentum of the blood (that doesn’t make sense ik but it’s science fiction work with me here,) or so that the extra blood can be converted into regeneration energy.

Idk shit about human biology so this might all sound like kid-logic type nonsense, but whatever.

[renegade-time-lord]

Given how much sleep helps human beings, I wonder why time lords don’t need more sleep than we do. I would think that given how much faster their brain works, how much smarter they supposedly are, their use of telepathy, their relationship to a tardis, and use of regeneration, that they would need more sleep to regulate all of that. I could see sleep being very useful to someone whose brain has all of those other personalities and skills stored away in there. Telepathy and their memory abilities also seem like skills that would benefit from having an automated “brain clearing” system. With a symbiotic relationship with a tardis it seems possible that sleeping would improve the ships function as well as the pilot’s.

And given that a consequence of sleep deprivation can be impaired moral judgement it would be very funny to see the Doctor about to do the whole genocide thing and then his companion is just like….Doctor go take a nap. Victoria had the right idea. Let the old man sleep.

With this in mind I wonder what they do instead of sleep, if anything. I think we might have seen time lords meditate before or heard mentions of being able to sort some things in their mind. So I suppose that could be a possibility. Unless of course I’m totally misremembering that, which is very possible

[sciderman]

this isn't THRIVING... this is FALLING APART... with STYLE

[pc-98s]

the mavity thing was a good example of how time lords have history-proof memories and can remember events across timelines and despite changes to history. it was also extremely silly

[justletmeramble1701]

After 14's tenure and how they have been headcanoned as "he/they", how do you gender 13? I keep thinking about one of her first lines "Why are you calling me madame?" I know that the joke is that the Doctor has never been a woman before so they aren't used to being called "madame" yet, but, I don't know, something about it seems telling.

When 11 regenerated and thought he was a woman, he panicked. Being a woman instinctively felt wrong, but thirteen felt confusion at being identified with a female honorific. It wasn't exactly a negative reaction, but it wasn't exactly positive a positive one either. It was just kind of neutral. That's not me saying she dislikes being a woman, there are many moments when she revels in it (Demons of the Punjab comes to mind), but those moments also come with new experiences, so who knows.

Now that 14 said that his gender was "the Doctor" (if one reads into the subtext of the pronouns conversation between him and Beep the Meep as that, it could just be read as just a joke), do we think 13 actually identify as a woman or does she just accept that she looks like one, so humans will call her one. She doesn't dislike or like it, she just accepts it.

I don't know if this actually means anything. This could be just another example of Time Lords being a confusingly gender fluid species, but it hasn't left my brain.

If this line of thinking holds, what does it mean for other incarnations? Would 4 care about such a "human" concept? 9 is so uncomfortable around other men. It reads as both the male territorial way and the female threat aversion way. How do 2, 6, and 12 feel about their own gender based on their vibe (I don't know how else to phrase it)?

Again, Time Lords have been presented as a strange form of gender fluid since, I believe, the wilderness years, so who's to say how the Doctor feels about this topic at any given time.

I don't think I actually said anything with this post, but who knows, what do you guys think?

[gallifreyinstituteforlearning]

🤔🧬 How do Gallifreyan Houses influence abilities and traits?

Forget the sorting hat, Gallifrey's got its own system for pigeonholing their kids. Each House shapes its members' abilities and traits through their distinct genetic Loom cores, mapping out their general talents when they're born.

Prydon Academy: Strategists and Linguists - Houses aligned with Prydon focus on developing strategic minds and language skills. Their Loom cores likely enhance brain regions for critical thinking and linguistic prowess, making them natural politicians and diplomats.

Arcal Academy: Scientists and Engineers - Arcal-affiliated Houses produce logical thinkers and scientific minds. Their genetic templates are tuned for analytical skills and technical understanding, perfect for those who love to unravel the mysteries of the universe.

Patrex Academy: Creative and Philosophical Minds - Houses from Patrex are all about creativity and deep thinking. They might have genetic enhancements for artistic abilities and telepathic skills, fostering a community of artists and philosophers.

Cerulean Academy: Environmental Guardians - Houses aligned with Cerulean nurture a connection with nature. Their Loom cores could instil empathy for ecosystems and a keen understanding of environmental sciences, creating guardians of Gallifrey's natural world.

Drome Academy: Social Advocates - Drome-focused Houses emphasise social awareness and empathy. Their genetic makeup might promote emotional intelligence and a strong sense of social justice, producing advocates for equality and democracy.

Scendeles Academy: The Versatile and Adaptive - Houses linked with Scendeles encourage a broad range of talents. Their Loom cores might be more diverse, allowing for adaptability and a wide array of skills, from innovative thinkers to practical problem-solvers.

So this leaves us with a fun reason for a poll. You might be a Hufflepuff, but ...

Gallifreyan Biology for Tuesday by GIL

→🫀Gallifreyan Anatomy and Physiology Guide (WIP) →⚕️Gallifreyan Emergency Medicine/Monitoring Guides →📝Source list (WIP)

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》📫Got a question / submission? 》😆Jokes |🫀Biology |🗨️Language |🕰️Throwbacks |🤓Facts 》📚Complete list of Q+A 》📜Masterpost If you like what GIL does, please consider buying a coffee or tipping below to help make future projects, including complete biology and language guides.

[savage-rhi]

If I had this kind of power at the height of my rage with fibromyalgia, people and professionals seeing me as less than because of it, and considering going for virology as a degree, I would've been absolutely teriffying and a fucking menace.

I'm grateful I got nerfed in math.

[raspberry-gloaming]

LOOMING AND THE IMPACT ON THE LEVEL OF INBREEDING ON THE TIME LORD POPULATION, AN ESSAY

And how inbreeding is a big issue amongst the Time Lord population, due to their elitism and strict caste system.

[doctordefinitearticle]

(( note: the following content contains themes such as: domestic violence, hinted eating disorder and mentioned character death. This is a work of fiction. Viewer discretion is advised. ))

[ AUDIO RECORDING FROM AN UNIDENTIFIED DEVICE. RECORDING #126. ASTROTEMPORAL LOCATION: Gallifrey, The House of Lungbarrow. TIMELINE DESIGNATION: D–2 ]

[beep.]

The Doctor: Arthur! What brings you here?

Arthur, shaken: Ah- I- I was just... Having some quiet time...

The Doctor: Has something been bothering you?

Arthur: Um... It's fine.. you.. you needn't worry...

The Doctor: Oh please. I can't just let my husband suffer quietly. If something's wrong, you know you have to tell me.

Arthur, growing nervous: Um... I'll just... I'll just go and—

The Doctor: Just one more thing: you wouldn't mind if I take a peek inside, would you? I have been quite paranoid as of late.

Arthur, hesitant: It's a Zero Room. Or.. did you mean...

The Doctor: I know it is. I would just like to make sure there isn't a certain dead child inside. As for your mind, I don't need your consent for such things.But really, you have nothing to worry about, right? You wouldn't lie, especially not to me.

Arthur: Right, right... I'll just...

The Doctor: Why leave so early?

Arthur: Let go— I'm just hungry.

The Doctor: I'm sure it can wait a few more minutes. Besides, you had plenty this morning.

Arthur: Just because you're thin as a twig doesn't mean everyone wants to be. Bit starved looking, you are.

The Doctor: Do not talk back to me.

Arthur: Oh yea right, i forgot that the only person you'd let talk back to you is me if i were a girl named Rose, had bigger tits, box bleached blonde hair and shitty 2000s makeup.

The Doctor: Need I repeat myself?

Arthur: What, you angry 'cus it's the truth?!

[silence. A blunt noise, akin to a hit. Arthur gasps for air.]

Arthur: What the fuck—

The Doctor: Does it hurt?

Arthur: What the hell was— ah- ow-

The Doctor: It's what you deserved.

Arthur: What is wrong with you?!

The Doctor: Nothing. I simply am a Time Lord, unlike some.

Arthur: I AM A TIME LORD!

The Doctor: Then act as such.

Arthur: You— you can't just tell me what to do! I'm not a tot, i can do as i deem right!

The Doctor: It's not about what you think or want. Not anymore. Maybe on Earth your schemes would've worked. Here? Nada. You are to do as you are told by those above you.

Arthur: You're as much an insolent little shit as i am!

The Doctor: You were given three lifetimes to adjust. Perhaps I should've left you to rot on Earth.

Arthur: What are– back off—

[a shoulder pops. Arthur screams. Crying marks THE END OF THIS RECORDING.]