Mutants from X-Men!

POSTED BY: XFanatic
UPDATED: Sunday, January 11, 2009 14:16
VIEWED: 3875
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XFANATIC

Monday, March 27, 2006 1:14 PM

In simple terms a mutant is an individual with traits in their DNA that differ from their genetic progenitors. Mutation occurs in all living organisms and is the normal mechanism of evolution. A small percentage of mutations in nature are beneficial, giving the mutant a significant advantage over the rest of the members of the species. Often this advantage means the mutant will prosper and pass their genes to their offspring, eventually improving the entire species' chances of survival and development. Evolution is an accumulation of these mutant traits, usually along thousands or tens of thousands of years, changing a species to another.

Overview

Sometime, most likely during the last millennium, a human mutant was born with an alteration in his or her DNA that had the potential to give them a significant advantage over the rest of humankind. This 'x-factor', the dominant genetic trait, was passed down to their offspring, from them to their children and slowly the x-factor became widespread. Yet for many centuries the full advantages this genetic quirk gave remained dormant.

It is somewhat of a misconception to call super-humans 'mutants' since this x-factor is inherited from their parents - yet it has become the popular term. The scientific term, however, is 'Homo Sapiens Superior', and they are not mutated humans since in almost all cases the x-factor is inherited from their parents. 95% of the children of a pair of Homo Superior are also Homo Superior, nearly 75% of the children of a Homo Sapiens and a Homo Superior are also Homo Superior. The x-factor seems to defy the laws of genetics.

Although mutants are usually very similar to humans in appearance and psychology, recent studies seem to hint there are also some important differences. Currently technology allows for an electroencephalogram to detect enough of those differences to identify a mutant without the need to perform a lengthy (and incredibly expensive) genetic testing in an 80% cases. Many psychologists support the idea that there are also some important sociological and psychological differences between humans and mutants, although these theories are currently strongly disputed.

However, although mutants are slightly superior to humans along the board, the reason there seems to be such a large gap between both species of humankind is that the majority of mutants manifest extraordinary abilities that seem almost magical to normal humans: the mutant 'Gifts', or superpowers.

Five years ago, and rather suddenly, thousands of young mutants all over the world started to manifest talents that defied scientific explanation. Even now, after countless billions of dollars spent on research, it is still a mystery why mutants have 'superpowers' and why they manifest such a huge variety of abilities. Some theories have been proposed, and the most accepted one is that all mutant powers are just manifestations of the same power, just expressed differently, yet solid evidence to support any theory is scarce.

The 'First Wave' five years ago is now blamed to the synergy effect mutants seem to have upon each other.

Currently is estimated that from one in 25,000 to one in 10,000 persons are mutants (numbers depend on the area, mutants tend to congregate in cities). An estimated 20,000 mutants live in the United States, and 250,000 to 500,000 worldwide (and some studies place the number at twice that). It is a small minority, but a dangerous and vocal one.

History

Extensive genetic and historical research has led to evidence that by 1700 those with the x-factor mutation were incredibly few in number. For the next century and a half, Home Sapien Superior tended to arise in tiny groups within vast geographical areas. Perhaps one in ever 10,000,000 of the world's population carried the x-factor. However, mutations seemed to be clustered together in close proximity, often two or three emerging within a small geographical area. Certain areas became 'hot-spots' for genetic mutation, but these first Homo Superior lived and die

RABIT

Monday, March 27, 2006 2:04 PM

While I'm a fan of this kind of stuff , I'm a little confused; why'd ya post text from he Marvel database/wiki ( http://www.marveldatabase.com/wiki/index.php/Mutant)?

Rabit

CS

Monday, March 27, 2006 2:53 PM

I thought it was pretty interesting

Its an interesting theory, but I don't fully agree. It is maybe possible that someone would be born with a mutation giving them superpowers. And it is possible that this would pass down to their children. But why would the power be different?

And most of the X-men powers are completely impossible (kitty, nightcrawler, collosus, emma, storm, cyclops, iceman etc).

XFANATIC

Monday, March 27, 2006 2:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Rabit:
While I'm a fan of this kind of stuff , I'm a little confused; why'd ya post text from he Marvel database/wiki ( http://www.marveldatabase.com/wiki/index.php/Mutant)?

Rabit

Actually I'm the person who wrote posted the info on the MarvelDatabase.

XFANATIC

Monday, March 27, 2006 2:59 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by CS:
I thought it was pretty interesting

Its an interesting theory, but I don't fully agree. It is maybe possible that someone would be born with a mutation giving them superpowers. And it is possible that this would pass down to their children. But why would the power be different?

And most of the X-men powers are completely impossible (kitty, nightcrawler, collosus, emma, storm, cyclops, iceman etc).

The powers could be different because the x-factor in of itself doesn't give a specific power. Every person's genetic code contains the potential for numerous powers.

And the powers of the mutants you mentioned aren't impossible. They would just have to be very, very complicated.

JAYNEZTOWN

Sunday, January 11, 2009 2:16 PM

wolverine x-men origins