Miscellaneous Loroi question-and-answer thread

[Hālian]

Ageing is caused by a combination of damage to DNA caused by free radicals (atom/molecule/ion with unpaired valence electrons) and the fact that on the ends of DNA you have a lot of junk which is there solely because every time a cell replicates, a little of the DNA is lost. It's called a telomere. Better to lose junk than the important stuff... except the junk eventually runs out.

I guess one possibility of suspending ageing is a means of adding more junk to the ends, and then repeating it every so often. To combat the problem of direct damage, have the original DNA on file and check cell DNA against it. Then repair the damage, either by fixing it directly or by replacing the DNA strand altogether, in the manner a virus does. Viruses could probably be used that way, but so far, only the replacement of single alleles is being used on humans. At least to my knowledge.

Wouldn't telomerase activators also help suspend aging?

[projekcja]

Wouldn't telomerase activators also help suspend aging?

Yes, but they'd make us much more susceptible to cancer. Every living person has lots of small cancer tumors that do not grow to dangerous sizes due to the telomers fuses running out.

[Grayhome]

So what kind of technologies do the Loroi have that Humanity would be willing to trade for, and which would they be willing to trade? Any ideas?

[Arioch]

So what kind of technologies do the Loroi have that Humanity would be willing to trade for, and which would they be willing to trade? Any ideas?

The Loroi are a full tech level ahead of Humanity. Pretty much any Loroi device or process is going to be more advanced than the Human equivalent.

[projekcja]

And how do the Loroi generally feel about sharing technologies with primitive civilizations? Are they likely to open up and share lots of new technologies with humaniti, or are they likely to hold everything back, even if humaniti joins the war against the Umiak?

[Arioch]

And how do the Loroi generally feel about sharing technologies with primitive civilizations? Are they likely to open up and share lots of new technologies with humaniti, or are they likely to hold everything back, even if humaniti joins the war against the Umiak?

That would depend entirely on the details of the situation, but the Loroi do not have any kind of taboo against sharing technology. Many current Loroi technologies are the result of collaboration with their allies.

[Hālian]

Does umiak blood clot? Or will he bleed out if you crack him open?

[Arioch]

Does umiak blood clot? Or will he bleed out if you crack him open?

Umiak have closed vascular systems as complex as any mammal, and are as capable at dealing with bleeding and internal injury. But cracking one open would represent some pretty traumatic injury... I think the individual would be in trouble unless it received prompt medical attention.

[RedDwarfIV]

After all, a human would be in trouble if you cracked their skull. No reason why an exoskeleton would be any different, though exoskeletons would be more resistant to knocks.

[Arioch]

He was probably referring to the open circulatory systems that arthropods have, in which there no blood vessels and the body cavities are just filled with fluid. However, Umiak aren't arthropods, and being exoskeletal doesn't mean you also have to have a primitive circulatory system.

[RedDwarfIV]

Interesting to know, but I was referring to the fact that having your skull broken open tends to release some of the contents. Or result in splinters heading inwards. Nasty things.

[wasp609]

im wondering if a lorois ears are sensitive.

[NuclearIceCream]

im wondering if a lorois ears are sensitive.

Oh Boy! Reminds me of that Warhammer 40k Eldar ear thing I found on 1d4chan.

[Hālian]

im wondering if a lorois ears are sensitive.

Oh Boy! Reminds me of that Warhammer 40k Eldar ear thing I found on 1d4chan.

?

[Arioch]

im wondering if a lorois ears are sensitive.

Do you mean do they have good hearing, or are their ears ticklish?

Loroi have good hearing, but it not radically different from a human's.

As for ticklishness, that depends on the individual.

[sunphoenix]

Speaking of ears.. would touching a loroi's ears... seem erotic to a loroi? Keeping in mind they're normal social aversion to physical contact.

[discord]

my guess would be that 'intimate' is the proper adjective? grammar never was my strong suit.
but it is the right term, because ALL touching is pretty damn intimate to loroi, and since it is something that pokes out from the rest, it is probably a preferred touching spot for intimate actions.

[Arioch]

Speaking of ears.. would touching a loroi's ears... seem erotic to a loroi? Keeping in mind they're normal social aversion to physical contact.

I think that would depend on who is doing the touching and under what circumstances.

Even in human society, for one adult to touch another adult's ears or face is pretty unusual unless the participants share some kind of intimacy (or one of the people is some kind of professional).

[sunphoenix]

Even in human society, for one adult to touch another adult's ears or face is pretty unusual unless the participants share some kind of intimacy (or one of the people is some kind of professional).

Ah. Too true.. sorry, silly question.

[NuclearIceCream]

im wondering if a lorois ears are sensitive.

Oh Boy! Reminds me of that Warhammer 40k Eldar ear thing I found on 1d4chan.

?

There was a lore thing written by games workshop that was supposed to be a sort report on Eldar biology and it stated the Eldar's ears are an erogenous zone. Somebody from 4chan was then inspired to write a short story with that in mind.