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CTD - Grey Autopsy


Guest Azrael Strife

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Here's the first draft, any comments are appreciated.

GREY AUTOPSY
X-NET ENTRY//3285435.347/AJU/PEGASUSNET/XC/AC/ALIEN/AUTOPSIES/GREY

Our Research Division has finished the autopsy of the Alien creature our operatives have found on the field.
The Alien being, baptised as “Grey” by our operatives, has puzzled our scientists, it seems to be of a simpler structure than us, with the notable exception of its brain and eyes, overall, the creature is below us, speaking in evolutive terms, having developed in an unnatural and disproportionate way.
The autopsy has revealed what could be considered an extremely primitive digestive system, barely developed and with notorious signs of atrophy, which points to the conclusion that the creature has little use for these, this problem has not yet been resolved by our Biochemistry Department.
The mouth does not seem to have a specific function, since it is unsuitable for digestion and as there have not been found vocal cords, for communication.
What has indeed confused our Research Division is the fact that the creature lacks reproductive organs, parthenogenesis has been hypothised and discarted since the Grey’s genetic structure appears to be fairly unstable and could not support such a reproductive method. These creatures just can not reproduce naturally.
The Grey’s brain and eyes are the most developed organs, being their capability far beyond our own.
The webbing between the fingers and the flat feet indicate an aquatic homeworld, evidence which seems to point the Grey’s origin to a planet away from our Solar System.
The Grey is a very interesting creature, the level of evolution of the eyes and brain does not match the rest of the organs, and the genetic instability suggests genetic modification, which would be a good answer to the question of how could a creature evolve in such a bizarre way, not even having reproductive means. Some of our scientists claim that the Grey is a genetically engineered creature, if so, the question remains: Who created the Grey and why?

-I knew it, I knew the Area 51 had those aliens in there, look at it!, it’s the same as in the pictures and the autopsy video!, call me crazy now!
-James Peterson, Biochemistry Department.
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Evolution is not a linear process and does not step towards higher or lower life forms. Complex life forms are produced through random mutation through a system that they now term 'punctuated equalibrium.' There is no higher or lower on the ladder of genetic adaptation, just backwards and forwards in time. If the scientists figure that the grey has a simpler structure than humans do, they would surmise that their environment calls for a simpler structure- not that it is a throwback.

The reason why mammals dominate the earth today is that mammals were better equiped to deal with the climate changes than dinosaurs- not because they are more complex than dinosaurs (which may or may not be the case). If the climate change went the other way, or if it stayed the same, mammals may not have progressed beyond vermin. Much like the crocodile which has been thriving in the same ecological niche since before the time of the dinosaurs, mammals may not have seen much opportunity to differenciate.

Edit:
Given the above information, I would just comment on the level of sophistication or development of the organs, rather than their level of 'evolution.'

perhaps 'obvious' signs of atrophy would be better.

Theorising parthenogenesis would be better since I don't think that they would be able to experiment to test a hypothesis.

Saying that it does not have vocal chords might be a little pre-mature if we are going to have death sounds for it. Perhaps vocal chords that do not seem adapted to producing sounds varied enough for vocal speech.

Unstable genetic structure sounds.. wrong to me. Genes are molecules. If their molecular structure is unstable, how to they continue to exist intact? All that is needed here is a statement regarding their lack of sexual organs. Edited by fux0r666
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I agree in that whole evolution thing sounds wrong, did when I wrote it (but sounded good enough for a rough first draft ^_^ ).
Sorry about that vocal cords thing, I thought that a creature with no vocal cords could make noises like the death scrams, my bad.
And the unstable genetic estructure, I don't know, I doesn't seem all that bad to me, it'd mean that the creature has not developed naturally, and maybe that its genetic structure can not withstand prolonged periods of time "functioning", meaning that the creature could not live for too long.
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Hmm, from what I've heard, we're all quite genetically "unstable--"as everything that continues to evolve does not have a "stable" genetic structure, according to some website I stumbled upon a couple years ago. If animals had a constant, solid genetic background, the evolutionary process would stop in its tracks. Let's face it--genes don't change based on what the creature desires to survive; they adapt to evolve into something more complete. So, yes, according to everything we know so far about genomic adaptation (which isn't much), we're all genetic "works-in-progress." That, coupled with the fact that the Grays seem to get a kick out of playing with their own genetic code, could easily lead to some serious genetic deformation. Viruses are even starting to tamper with our own genetic makeup in the real world, altering (and, hence, making unstable) the human genome. Change comes from instability.

Looks like Az beat me to the Gray CTD--believe it or not, I was actually thinking to myself "hey, how about I shoot for a Gray autopsy?" right as I logged on a few minutes ago. Probably for the better, though. My favorite part: the use of the word "baptised." I was thinking that "christened" would have fit better, but in the end, I saw that particular phrase couldn't have been worded any better. It's all in the introductions, I've learned.

Ah, listen to me. Just rambling again. Anyway, I'll go see if I can come up with anything else to try and help. Excellent submission, by the way.
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[quote name='The Master Maniac' date='Sep 14 2004, 11:31 PM']Looks like Az beat me to the Gray CTD--believe it or not, I was actually thinking to myself "hey, how about I shoot for a Gray autopsy?" right as I logged on a few minutes ago. Probably for the better, though. My favorite part: the use of the word "baptised." I was thinking that "christened" would have fit better, but in the end, I saw that particular phrase couldn't have been worded any better. It's all in the introductions, I've learned.

Ah, listen to me. Just rambling again. Anyway, I'll go see if I can come up with anything else to try and help. Excellent submission, by the way.
[right][post="94531"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

Ok, bugged too much for that genetic stability thing :D ).
Christened or baptised, I'm not sure, It has been pointed to me already that I should change the word, I'll look for the word and make a choice.
Well, MM, there are still plenty of autopsies to do, have you checked the CTD asset list? Pick one and have a go!
[url="http://www.projectxenocide.com/ctassets/creativetext.html"]http://www.projectxenocide.com/ctassets/creativetext.html[/url]

Modified it a little, Fux and MM feedback.

GREY AUTOPSY
X-NET ENTRY//3285435.347/AJU/PEGASUSNET/XC/AC/ALIEN/AUTOPSIES/GREY

Our Research Division has finished the autopsy of the Alien creature our operatives have found on the field.
The Alien being, baptised as “Grey” by our operatives, has puzzled our scientists, it seems to be of a simpler structure than us, with the notable exception of its brain and eyes, overall, the level of complexity reached by the Grey’s anatomy is below ours, having developed in an unnatural and disproportionate way.
The autopsy has revealed what could be considered an extremely primitive digestive system, barely developed and with obvious signs of atrophy, which points to the conclusion that the creature has little use for these, this problem has not yet been resolved by our Biochemistry Department.
The mouth does not seem to have a specific function, since it is unsuitable for digestion and as the Grey’s vocal chords are so primitive that they are not suited for verbal communication such as ours, communication through moans and such sounds is a possibility, though due to its complex brain structure, it has been suggested that these creatures may communicate by telepathic means, this has not been corroborated.
What has indeed confused our Research Division is the fact that the creature lacks reproductive organs, parthenogenesis has been theorised and discarded since the Grey’s anatomy is not capable of such reproductive method. These creatures just can not reproduce naturally.
The Grey’s brain and eyes are the most developed organs, being their capability far beyond our own.
The webbing between the fingers and the flat feet indicate an aquatic homeworld, evidence which seems to point the Grey’s origin to a planet away from our Solar System.
The Grey is a very interesting creature, the level of sophistication of the eyes and brain does not match the rest of the organs, and our experiments on the genetic code of the Alien creature strongly suggest genetic modification, which would be a good answer to the question of how could a creature evolve in such a bizarre way, not even having reproductive means. Some of our scientists claim that the Grey is a genetically engineered creature, if so, the question remains: Who created the Grey and why?

-I knew it; I knew the Area 51 had those aliens in there, look at it! it’s the same as in the pictures and the autopsy video!, call me crazy now!
-James Peterson, Biochemistry Department.

Edit, please tell me it isn't the Grey Autopsy CT what I just saw in the Asset list... man, not again. :crying: Edited by Azrael
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The mechanisms of mutation are ionizing radiation and viral infections. It's not like our DNA falls apart at the drop of a hat.

Saying that we are genetically 'unstable' is kind of misleading because it implies we are more unstable than normal and that the instability has something to do with us. It's simply a question of semantics.

If you want the grey race to appear as manufactured, you could say that all examples of the race are genetically identical.. Or, that all examples of a given rank are indentical, and that the differences between the ranks only to appear to be on the order of difference there is between human siblings. You could also include (now I forget the terms for this so you may have to do some quick research) that while the bones of the grey appear to be quite young (there are few growth rings), their DNA seems to show substantial aging (the protective caps are worn down on the ends of the strands) which suggests cloning or genetic manipulation of some kind.

Additionally you could include traces of viral infections quite alike the ones that were developed on earth and were proposed for germ-line genetic augmentation.
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Well, you're right. After all, most of everything we know about genetics is merely theoretical. It's probably best to go a direction a little less unpredictable with the research entries, so I agree. I suppose an alternative way to point out these genetic anomalies would be to mention the fact the Grays' genetic makeup shows signs of extensive tampering and engineering. Perhaps this is more easily concluded in the light of their supposed aquatic, extraterrestrial background--while they seem to have a solid evolutionary path judging solely from their appearance, the way their genetic makeup is written out seems to belie mere physical supposition. After all, using their own DNA as a catalyst, the Grays have ages sought to "better" their race using captured genetic code. This should make an interesting subject of morality, in a way, though I've never thought the aliens to be the morally-conscious type... Another interesting idea might be that, through this long-winded test of time, their intensive research into "augmenting" their genetic code has produced many varying effects, including immunities to certain diseases, or permanent, lasting physiological side-effects. Heck, they can be mere shadows of their former selves, in a sense.

Well, I defiintely like what I see with this one. I can't think of anything else to nitpick over, myself. ^_^ Great submission. Oh yeah--I was thinking of doing a few CTD experiments on a couple myself, as I've even got a few little works-in-progress for a few of them that I currently think aren't good enough to post here yet. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.
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Master maniac, I think that you're confusing genes with heritage. There is no way to tell from DNA anything about the evolution of a species. You can only tell how similar two DNA strands are.. if they are close, one or the other may be the ancestor, or they may have a comon ancestor. There is no way to tell.
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Well, according to research, we're all 99.9% alike in terms of genetic makeup. Our individuality is said to be determined by that extra bit of genetic material. But, again, that's all in theory. Essentially, genes [i]are[/i] heritage. They shape who and what we are.

Anyway, back on track. How about rewording this one little bit:

[quote]The Grey’s brain and eyes are the most developed organs, being their capability far beyond our own.[/quote]

into something a bit more like:

"Perhaps their most distinguishable feature, the Gray's highly developed, enlarged eyes seem to feature a level of complexity so astounding, that the human eye pales in comparison. Sensitive to light on both ends of the spectrum, the Grays can percieve light with a remarkable degree of accuracy, even in low-light conditions, making them an excellent nocturnal species and a formidible enemy in darkness. While their eyesight doesn't necessarily grant them night vision, as such, their eyes allow them to track moving objects and focus on them much more quickly than our own. The superior colliculus appears to be artificially developed in order to give the Gray hightened eyesight and coordination, while the inferior remain fairly untouched, meaning that they rely more on sight than sound. This could be a useful weakness.

One of the most notable characteristics of the Gray we've found so far is its incredibly advanced brain structure. It's clear from what we've found that we're dealing with a remarkably intelligent species, complete with the capability for cognitive thought. Whilst their physical stature doesn't necessarily make them particularly powerful warriors, Gray soldiers remain a serious threat due to their enourmous capacity for battlefield tactics, combining cunning and deadly accuracy with firearms to make very capable fighters. The Gray heirarchy seems to favor intelligence over brawn, however, and the most intelligent of the lot are usually promoted to leaders that control individual squads on scouting missions or the occasional abduction. From what we've analyzed of not only their intellect, but their social structure as well, the Grays are, at the very least, just as intellectually advanced as humans, and a dangerous foe.

Something else worth noting would be the apparent uselessness of the mouth. While this species appears to have fully functional vocal cords, its mouth doesn't appear to be articulately appropriate for oral communication, due to the fact that the Gray's face is comprised of only ten to twelve individual muscles. This suggests that some other form of communication is used--especially in the light of the fact that the Broca's region of the brain, which controls interpretation of speech and the forming of spoken words, is less developed than our own, while many of the brain's more important regions are roughly five to ten times more advanced. This obviously suggests an emphasis on using other means to communicate with one another--we might even be looking at telepathic communication here."

I'll see what I can think of later. Again, just trying to make a few suggestions. Great work so far!
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[quote name='The Master Maniac' date='Sep 15 2004, 08:14 PM']Well, according to research, we're all 99.9% alike in terms of genetic makeup. Our individuality is said to be determined by that extra bit of genetic material. But, again, that's all in theory. Essentially, genes [i]are[/i] heritage. They shape who and what we are.[/quote]

I'm sorry but most of your premises in that argument are wrong.

The fact that humans are extremely genetically similar is empirical fact. It is also empirical fact that chimpanzees and humans are extremely genetically similar. Does that mean that humans evolved from chimpanzees? It could just as easily be that chimpanzees evolved from humans. That is not what Darwin intended to say, though. More likely that we both evolved from a common ancestry, as the fossil record seems to indicate. Note that without paleonotologists, there would be no way of even guessing the reason why we are genetically similar.

Again I have to point out that genes are not heritage in any literal, scientific sense- rather, they provide clues to it by indicating degrees of similarity.
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I never said that I believe in Darwin's straight-on theory. The thing is, I do know that a great part of our parents' likenesses are imported into us genetically, and that determines what we look like, etc. I wasn't referring to the grand, cosmic scheme of evolution--nobody knows enough about it to give either of us any ground (not that I'd argue it, anyway).

But, I don't think this is helping Azreal's CTD any. ^_^
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[quote name='The Master Maniac' date='Sep 15 2004, 11:14 PM']Well, according to research, we're all 99.9% alike in terms of genetic makeup. Our individuality is said to be determined by that extra bit of genetic material. But, again, that's all in theory. Essentially, genes [i]are[/i] heritage. They shape who and what we are.

Anyway, back on track. How about rewording this one little bit:

[quote]The Grey’s brain and eyes are the most developed organs, being their capability far beyond our own.[/quote]

into something a bit more like:

"Perhaps their most distinguishable feature, the Gray's highly developed, enlarged eyes seem to feature a level of complexity so astounding, that the human eye pales in comparison. Sensitive to light on both ends of the spectrum, the Grays can percieve light with a remarkable degree of accuracy, even in low-light conditions, making them an excellent nocturnal species and a formidible enemy in darkness. While their eyesight doesn't necessarily grant them night vision, as such, their eyes allow them to track moving objects and focus on them much more quickly than our own. The superior colliculus appears to be artificially developed in order to give the Gray hightened eyesight and coordination, while the inferior remain fairly untouched, meaning that they rely more on sight than sound. This could be a useful weakness.

One of the most notable characteristics of the Gray we've found so far is its incredibly advanced brain structure. It's clear from what we've found that we're dealing with a remarkably intelligent species, complete with the capability for cognitive thought. Whilst their physical stature doesn't necessarily make them particularly powerful warriors, Gray soldiers remain a serious threat due to their enourmous capacity for battlefield tactics, combining cunning and deadly accuracy with firearms to make very capable fighters. The Gray heirarchy seems to favor intelligence over brawn, however, and the most intelligent of the lot are usually promoted to leaders that control individual squads on scouting missions or the occasional abduction. From what we've analyzed of not only their intellect, but their social structure as well, the Grays are, at the very least, just as intellectually advanced as humans, and a dangerous foe.

Something else worth noting would be the apparent uselessness of the mouth. While this species appears to have fully functional vocal cords, its mouth doesn't appear to be articulately appropriate for oral communication, due to the fact that the Gray's face is comprised of only ten to twelve individual muscles. This suggests that some other form of communication is used--especially in the light of the fact that the Broca's region of the brain, which controls interpretation of speech and the forming of spoken words, is less developed than our own, while many of the brain's more important regions are roughly five to ten times more advanced. This obviously suggests an emphasis on using other means to communicate with one another--we might even be looking at telepathic communication here."

I'll see what I can think of later. Again, just trying to make a few suggestions. Great work so far!
[right][post="94664"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right]
[/quote]

I'd love to implement your feedback, as I haven't touched this for a long time, but the thing is that there is already a Grey Autopsy CT, a mistake of mine.
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guess it has a thread now ^_^

it may as well be looked at again, see if the recorded one can be improved/altered.

[url="http://www.projectxenocide.com/ctassets/SectiodAutopsy.txt"]http://www.projectxenocide.com/ctassets/SectiodAutopsy.txt[/url]


Grey Autopsy

The Grey body plan is relatively simple, possessing almost all organ systems and tissue types seen in higher tetrapods today. Most of these systems, however, seem to have atrophied, save for the incredibly advanced brain.

The integument of the Grey body is similar to that of amphibians, possessing large amounts of mucous-secreting glands which keep their skin moist in air, enabling them to use their skin as a respiratory membrane. The skin between the fingers forms a web-like structure, signs that these creatures are at least semi-aquatic originally.

The musculature and skeletal structure present in the Greys are homologous to that of humans, with an axial skeleton supporting the central nervous system and the axial muscles, and an appendicular skeleton supporting the limbs. The skull is massive compared to that of humans, supported by a strong spinal column and thick neck muscles. Most of the other muscles in the Grey body, however, seem to have atrophied at varying degrees, proof of either a sudden, irreversible change in habitat or genetic manipulation.

The mouth is is toothless, and no structures for mastication exist. The esophagus is also vestigial and possesses very little muscle, making it imposible to ingest food orally. As well, the rest of the digestive system has been greatly reduced and no digestive glands could be found, hinting at the artificial means by which these creatures acquire nutrition. Elimination of solid and liquid waste is also impossible due to the absence of anal and urogenital passages, as well as the vestigial state of the kidneys. The characteristics of the excretory and digestive systems of the Greys leads to the conclusion tht these creatures are dependent on processed nutrients supplied externally, probably through machines that inject digested food into their bloodstream.

The respiratory organs appear to be well-developed, with the presence of pharyngeal passages leading to two sac-like lungs like that of modern amphibians, further supporting arguments that the Greys are originally amphibious, probably habitating wetlands or marshes. Vocal structures are absent, leaving the method of communication between these creatures to speculation.

There are no signs of reproductive organs on this creature, but the shape and structure of pelvic girdle suggest adaptation to birthing young. This suggests that the Greys at one time were a virile species capable of reproduction, leaving their sterility a possible product of genetic tampering.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the Grey anatomy is their brain. This massive structure is comprised of enough brain cells to constitute at least two human brains, hinting at the incredible cranial capacity of these creatures. Further dissection of the brain reveals a disproportionately large frontal lobe, the seat of communicative skills. This, and the absence of vocal structures, has led some of our scientists theorize that the Greys communicate through some sort of telepathic link, but the veracity of this claim is yet to be proven...
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Hmm, there's just a certain kind of strange, creepy vibe from reading that particular submission. ^_^ Very cool, tangible sentence structures evoke a stronger, darker, more immaculate setting, effectively making you feel as if you're directly reading a real autopsy report in a government laboratory somewhere. Very interesting. Hmm, my only complaints (which aren't anywhere above miniscule) are that 1) the theory about the Gray's genetic modulation kind of jumps out of nowhere with no forerunning statements--it's as if the scientists all of a sudden decide to throw out a wild educated guess (which is essentially what they're doing, but a little bit of "background" behind their analysis wouldn't hurt), and 2) being the way the word "axial" is used straight back-to-back. Kind of urks me. Perhaps using a related adjective the second time would be okay. Going into the logic behind the theory of genetics with a couple descriptive sentences might be a good idea. The straight-on scientific terminology is a plus, too. :)

And Az, I share your pain. I entered the Flying Suit CTD via the assets list, and was misguided by the fact it was still listed as "active." I got thrown in the light that the CT was already final (or so I've heard), after writing a CT of my own for it. Not trying to complain here (by any means)--just don't know if I stumbled upon an outdated page or something. *shrugs*
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[quote name='The Master Maniac' date='Sep 19 2004, 02:40 PM']Hmm, there's just a certain kind of strange, creepy vibe from reading that particular submission.  ^_^  Very cool, tangible sentence structures evoke a stronger, darker, more immaculate setting, effectively making you feel as if you're directly reading a real autopsy report in a government laboratory somewhere. Very interesting. Hmm, my only complaints (which aren't anywhere above miniscule) are that 1) the theory about the Gray's genetic modulation kind of jumps out of nowhere with no forerunning statements--it's as if the scientists all of a sudden decide to throw out a wild educated guess (which is essentially what they're doing, but a little bit of "background" behind their analysis wouldn't hurt), and 2) being the way the word "axial" is used straight back-to-back. Kind of urks me. Perhaps using a related adjective the second time would be okay. Going into the logic behind the theory of genetics with a couple descriptive sentences might be a good idea. The straight-on scientific terminology is a plus, too. :)

And Az, I share your pain. I entered the Flying Suit CTD via the assets list, and was misguided by the fact it was still listed as "active." I got thrown in the light that the CT was already final (or so I've heard), after writing a CT of my own for it. Not trying to complain here (by any means)--just don't know if I stumbled upon an outdated page or something. *shrugs*
[right][post="95110"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

Complaining, eh? :whatwhat: , hehe, no worries, I'll have the CTD Asset List updated in a few days :naughty: , I'll do my best to keep it updated as the CTs come and go ^_^
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Yup--seems like we all have a lot of ground to cover. So, judging from RustedSoul's post, it seems like the Gray autopsy is still up for suggestions/modifications, right? I don't see any adversities in merging some of your ideas with the near final version, myself. The more extensive and interesting, the better, right?
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[quote name='The Master Maniac' date='Sep 20 2004, 09:45 AM']The more extensive and interesting, the better, right?
[right][post="95152"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

spot on the nose m8. The original idea behind what was being classed as completed, was basic concept and structure with the only final work being tweaking and proofreading. However, based on Dipsticks reports there will be more "tweaking" needed than anticipated.

At this point, the Active tasks for xnet ctd work is more of a homing becon. All ctd members are asked to focus a group like attack on ct's to really nail out texts in question. By doing so, we hope to have the best possible ct using as many minds as obtainable. This should also help lighten the end work, like searching for contradictions ect.
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So we basically crunch down on the established with as many different opinions as possible? Hmm, makes sense to me. We all have to remember that game players all have many different thoughts and views, and vary from skeptical and complacent quite wildly. Whether our approaches are "bought" or not depends on how creative, yet feasible, they are, just as much as the mindset of the person reading them.

I suppose this means we have a good bit left to do. ;)
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A though...
the theory that a creature reproduces purely through cloning can be assumed if there is a complete lack of sexual/reproductive organs of any kind. Why carry around extra equipment when you're not going to use it in the first place? And if a species has no signs of reproductive organs, vestigle or otherwise, there can be only two explanations:
a ) They clone themselves
b ) They are all drones and have a "Queen" like the Aliens from the movie Aliens

For that matter, it might be amusing if we, for once, go against the idea that the aliens clone themselves, and say that the greys are apparently have a "Queen" out there somewhere... Edited by tzuchan
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Just because they clone themselves doesn't necessarily mean there's a "queen" anywhere. In fact, a species okay with the moral implications of replicating each other wouldn't stand for such a thing, I'd imagine. Notice that the genetic alterations have made physical changes to the species over the years. They might even do it to satisfy their own morbid eccentricities...
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urp...
it was supposed to be "a )" and "b )"...
the second just got automatically converted into a smily...
however, those are the two possiblities that spring to mind when we have a species woth no reproductive abilities at all. I think the second is more likely if for nothing else but the fact that we have queenbees
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unfortunately, unless we have very advance genetics ourselves, evidence of genetic cloning and/or tampering might be hard for us to notice.

The detection of genetic cloning is possible if and only if we have large enough a sample and we run all the samples through a comparison and find that they are all at least 99.99% similar(or perhaps perfectly identical...) This strikes me as something no scientist will think of doing by himself...
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I don't know--I don't see any reason why we'd remove the bit about the Grays' genetic anomalies, as it's nothing a little bit of tinkering wouldn't uncover. Besides, it's popular UFO lore that the "grays" are genetically-altered; in X-Com lore, it's their most popular trait. It'll take some working to figure out the best way to implement this, however. Any suggestions?
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During the game, We are supposed to meet Grey Soldiers/Generals/Engineers, right?
We could then say that the Greys clone their military-related individuals in order to have the same capabilities.

We should also think about another issue: Greys are physically identical, but what about their cognitive/spiritual state???

We could also say that just after being cloned, they are brainwashed, either by other Greys, or by Direct Brain Alternation from machines (Like in "Terror From The Deep")

With 99.9%-100% identical soldiers, you know what they will be capable to do, thus you can make better tactics


What do you think? :huh?:
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Hmm, I imagine that a cloned being would be very much like whatever it was cloned from, in respects to physical and mental capabilities, that is. However, it appears that Grays aren't just simple clones--they've been tampering with their genetic structure for untold eons, tirelessly struggling to "better" their race. In fact, they may be something completely different from the race they once were.

From a certain standpoint, I'd have to say that any kind of clone would be simply be an exact "replica" of the being from which it was created--however, it depends on how it was aged. Say, the clone starts as a child; it would have similar traits and whatnot, but it won't have learned anything on its own yet. If it's a simple "carbon copy," you'd probably get a being almost exactly identical to the original. Such are the trevails of cloning. Unsettling, to an extent, no? Anyway, it's all a question of how the design people cook up the "character" of their race. Perhaps Grays are mentally and physically conditioned, or reconstructed upon "birth?" Perhaps they're schooled in different fields to determine what they're best at? Important questions those may be, it appears they've not been decided upon yet...
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  • 3 weeks later...
Grey Autopsy

The Grey body[color="RED"]structure[/color] is relatively simple, possessing almost all organ systems and tissue types seen in higher tetrapods today. Most of these systems, however, seem to have atrophied, save for the incredibly advanced brain.

The integument of the Grey body is similar to that of amphibians, possessing large amounts of mucous-secreting glands which keep their skin moist in air, enabling them to use their skin as a respiratory membrane. The skin between the fingers forms a web-like structure, [color="red"]points to the fact[/color] that these creatures are at least semi-aquatic [color="red"] in origin. [/color]

The [color="red"]muscular[/color] and skeletal structure present in the Greys are homologous to that of Humans, with an axial skeleton supporting the central nervous system, muscles, and limbs. The skull is massive compared to that of Humans, supported by a strong spinal column and thick neck muscles. Most of the other muscles in the [color="red"]creature’s[/color] body, however, seem to have atrophied at varying degrees, proof of either a sudden, irreversible change in habitat or genetic manipulation.

The mouth is toothless, and no structures for mastication exist. The esophagus is also vestigial and possesses very little muscle, making it [color="red"]impossible[/color] to ingest food orally. As well, the rest of the digestive system has been greatly reduced and no digestive glands could be found, hinting at the artificial means by which these creatures acquire nutrition. Elimination of solid and liquid waste is also impossible due to the absence of anal and urogenital passages, as well as the vestigial state of the kidneys. The characteristics of the excretory and digestive systems of the Greys leads to the conclusion [color="red"]that[/color] these creatures are dependent on processed nutrients supplied externally, probably through machines that inject digested food into their bloodstream.

The respiratory organs appear to be well-developed, with the presence of pharyngeal passages leading to two sac-like lungs like that of amphibians, further supporting arguments that the Greys [color="red"]were[/color] originally amphibious, probably [color="red"]inhabited[/color] wetlands or marshes. Vocal structures are absent, leaving the method of communication between these creatures to speculation.

There are no signs of reproductive organs on this creature, but the shape and structure of pelvic girdle suggest adaptation to birthing young. This suggests that the Greys at one time were a virile species capable of reproduction, leaving their sterility a possible product of genetic tampering. [color="red"]From this information, our Research Division has concluded that the Greys reproduce either in a way which resembles the one of the bees belonging to the hymenoptera family, with a queen creature which lays the eggs from which these creatures are sprung, or no natural reproductive process exists and these Aliens are forced to reproduce artificially by means of cloning. Our analysis of the Greys’ genetic structure points to the latter, since all of the creatures we have studied have a 99.99% genetic similarity. Without the evidence of a Grey Queen, our Research Division leans toward the theory of cloning.[/color]

Perhaps the most interesting part of the [color="red"]Alien’s[/color] anatomy is their brain. This large structure is comprised of enough brain cells to constitute at least two Human brains, hinting at the incredible [color="red"]cerebral[/color] capacity of these creatures. Further dissection of the brain reveals a disproportionately large frontal lobe, the seat of communicative skills. This, and the absence of vocal structures, has led some of our scientists theorize that the Greys communicate through some sort of telepathic link, but the veracity of this claim is yet to be proven...
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The Grey body structure is relatively simple, possessing almost all organ systems and tissue types seen in higher tetrapods today. Most of these systems, however, seem to have atrophied, save for the incredibly advanced brain.

The integument of the Grey body is similar to that of amphibians, possessing large amounts of mucous-secreting glands which keep their skin moist in air, enabling them to use their skin as a respiratory membrane. The skin between the fingers forms a web-like structure, points to the fact that these creatures are at least semi-aquatic in origin.

The muscular and skeletal structure present in the Greys are homologous to that of Humans, with an axial skeleton supporting the central nervous system, muscles, and limbs. The skull is massive compared to that of Humans, supported by a strong spinal column and thick neck muscles. Most of the other muscles in the creature’s body, however, seem to have atrophied at varying degrees, proof of either a sudden, irreversible change in habitat or genetic manipulation.

The mouth is toothless, and no structures for mastication exist. The esophagus is also vestigial and possesses very little muscle, making it impossible to ingest food orally. As well, the rest of the digestive system has been greatly reduced and no digestive glands could be found, hinting at the artificial means by which these creatures acquire nutrition. Elimination of solid and liquid waste is also impossible due to the absence of anal and urogenital passages, as well as the vestigial state of the kidneys. The characteristics of the excretory and digestive systems of the Greys leads to the conclusion that these creatures are dependent on processed nutrients supplied externally, probably through machines that inject digested food into their bloodstream.

The respiratory organs appear to be well-developed, with the presence of pharyngeal passages leading to two sac-like lungs like that of amphibians, further supporting arguments that the Greys were originally amphibious, probably inhabited wetlands or marshes. Vocal structures are absent, leaving the method of communication between these creatures to speculation.

There are no signs of reproductive organs on this creature, but the shape and structure of pelvic girdle suggest adaptation to birthing young. This suggests that the Greys at one time were a virile species capable of reproduction, leaving their sterility a possible product of genetic tampering. From this information, our Research Division has concluded that the Greys reproduce either in a way which resembles the one of the bees belonging to the hymenoptera family, with a queen creature which lays the eggs from which these creatures are sprung, or no natural reproductive process exists and these Aliens are forced to reproduce artificially by means of cloning. Our analysis of the Greys’ genetic structure points to the latter, since all of the creatures we have studied have a 99.99% genetic similarity.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the Alien’s anatomy is their brain. This large structure is comprised of enough brain cells to constitute at least two Human brains, hinting at the incredible cerebral capacity of these creatures. Further dissection of the brain reveals a disproportionately large frontal lobe, the seat of communicative skills. This, and the absence of vocal structures, has led some of our scientists theorize that the Greys communicate through some sort of telepathic link, but the veracity of this claim is yet to be proven...

------------------------------------------------
6th paragraph, final sentence.

[quote]Without the evidence of a Grey Queen, our Research Division leans toward the theory of cloning.[/quote]

Removed as it feels somewhat superfluous following the previous sentence.

Ok, This is ready for completed, but I would like a few more opinions. Does anybody feel we should tone down the current phrasing, or question aquatic origins? Edited by RustedSoul
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[quote]Does anybody feel we should tone down the current phrasing, or question aquatic origins?[/quote]

I liked it. No "negative mood-influence". In my humble opinion, semi-aquatic origin fits best. On one hand, we have the "Ufo defense" Grays. On the other, we have the TFDT ones. Semi-aquatic is a balanced state between those two aliens we are used to -_-
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[quote name='RustedSoul' date='Oct 17 2004, 08:59 AM']As well, the rest of the digestive system has been greatly reduced and no [color="red"]digestive glands[/color] could be found, hinting at the artificial means by which these creatures acquire nutrition.
[right][post="98182"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

I feel that the use of digestive glands is wrong. As far as I know all body parts use in the digestion of food are [b]organs[/b], not glands.
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gland1 ( P ) Pronunciation Key (glnd)
n.

A cell, a group of cells, or an organ that produces a secretion for use elsewhere in the body or in a body cavity or for elimination from the body.

Any of various organs, such as lymph nodes, that resemble true glands but perform a nonsecretory function.

This taken from www.dictionary.com

So the glands would secrete the digestive juices whereas the organs would be the vessels and mechanical means of digestion.
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Digestive glands.

[url="http://www.scientia.org/cadonline/Biology/digestive/glands.ASP"]http://www.scientia.org/cadonline/Biology/...tive/glands.ASP[/url] Edited by RustedSoul
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  • 2 months later...
GREY AUTOPSY
X-Net://Pegasus.net/Alien/Autopsies/Grey

The Grey body structure is relatively simple, possessing almost all organ systems and tissue types seen in higher tetrapods today. Most of these systems, however, seem to have atrophied, save for the incredibly advanced brain.

The integument of the Grey body is similar to that of amphibians, possessing large amounts of mucous-secreting glands which keep their skin moist in air, enabling them to use their skin as a respiratory membrane. The skin between the fingers forms a small web-like structure, points to the fact that these creatures are at least semi-aquatic in origin.

The muscular and skeletal structure present in the Greys is homologous to that of Humans, with an axial skeleton supporting the central nervous system, muscles, and limbs. The skull is massive compared to that of Humans, supported by a strong spinal column and thick neck muscles. Most of the other muscles in the creature’s body, however, seem to have atrophied at varying degrees, proof of either a sudden, irreversible change in habitat or genetic manipulation.

The mouth is toothless, and no structures for mastication exist. The esophagus is also vestigial and possesses very little muscle, making it impossible to ingest food orally. As well, the rest of the digestive system has been greatly reduced and no digestive glands could be found, hinting at the artificial means by which these creatures acquire nutrition. Elimination of solid and liquid waste is also impossible due to the absence of anal and urogenital passages, as well as the vestigial state of the kidneys. The characteristics of the excretory and digestive systems of the Greys leads to the conclusion that these creatures are dependent on processed nutrients supplied externally, probably through machines that inject digested food into their bloodstream.

The respiratory organs appear to be well-developed, with the presence of pharyngeal passages leading to two sac-like lungs like that of amphibians, further supporting arguments that the Greys were originally amphibious, probably inhabited wetlands or marshes. Vocal structures are absent, leaving the method of communication between these creatures to speculation.

There are no signs of reproductive organs on this creature, but the shape and structure of pelvic girdle suggest adaptation to birthing young. This suggests that the Greys at one time were a virile species capable of reproduction, leaving their sterility a possible product of genetic tampering. From this information, our Research Division has concluded that the Greys reproduce either in a way which resembles the one of the bees belonging to the hymenoptera family, with a queen creature which lays the eggs from which these creatures are sprung, or no natural reproductive process exists and these Aliens are forced to reproduce artificially by means of cloning. Our analysis of the Greys’ genetic structure points to the latter, since all of the creatures we have studied have a 99.99% genetic similarity.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the Alien’s anatomy is their brain. This large structure is comprised of enough brain cells to constitute at least two Human brains, hinting at the incredible cerebral capacity of these creatures. Further dissection of the brain reveals a disproportionately large frontal lobe, the seat of communicative skills. This, and the absence of vocal structures, has led some of our scientists theorize that the Greys communicate through some sort of telepathic link, but the veracity of this claim is yet to be proven.

“Who is on the operating table now, you stupid little Grey???” –Dr. Yokosata, Research Division.
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  • 2 months later...
The usual stuff: [color="red"]Red text[/color] indicates additions, [color="orange"]orange text[/color] indicates deletions, and [color="blue"][i]blue text[/i][/color] indicates comments or suggestions.

Added [brackets], capitalizations of the word "Alien", and British spellings replaced by American ones are not denoted.

[color="green"]Proofreading Round 1[/color]


GREY AUTOPSY
X-Net://Pegasus.net/Alien/Autopsies/Grey

The Grey body structure is relatively simple, possessing almost all organ systems and tissue types seen in higher tetrapods today. Most of these systems, however, seem to have atrophied, save for the incredibly advanced brain.

The integument of the Grey body [color="orange"]is similar to that of amphibians[/color] [color="red"]appears almost amphibious in nature[/color], possessing large amounts of mucous-secreting glands [color="orange"]which[/color] [color="red"]that[/color] keep their skin moist [color="orange"]in air,[/color] [color="red"]and enables[/color] [color="orange"]enabling[/color] them to use their skin as a [color="red"]primitive[/color] respiratory membrane [color="blue"][i]in aquatic environments?[/i][/color]. [color="blue"][i]Maybe add a line here mentioning the Greys themselves are relatively vulnerable to combat damage, but the armor they wear (?) affords limited protection from most forms weaponry (more accurate information needed about Grey armor).[/i][/color] The skin between the fingers forms [color="orange"]a[/color] small web-like structure[color="red"]s[/color][color="orange"], points to the fact[/color] [color="red"]suggesting[/color] that these creatures [color="orange"]are[/color] [color="red"]were once[/color] at least semi-aquatic [color="orange"]in origin[/color].

The muscular and skeletal structure present in the Greys is homologous to that of [color="red"]h[/color]umans, with an axial skeleton supporting the central nervous system, muscles, and limbs. The skull is massive compared to that of [color="red"]h[/color]umans, supported by a strong spinal column and [color="orange"]thick neck muscles[/color] [color="red"]a thin, but muscular neck[/color]. [color="blue"][i]Changed to be consistent with the AWD model.[/i][/color] Most of the other muscles in the creature’s body, however, seem to have atrophied [color="orange"]at[/color] [color="red"]to[/color] varying degrees, proof of either a sudden, irreversible [color="red"]habitat[/color] change [color="orange"]in habitat[/color] or genetic manipulation.

The mouth is toothless, and no structures for mastication exist. The esophagus is also vestigial and possesses very little muscle, making it impossible [color="red"]for Greys[/color] to ingest food orally. [color="orange"]As well, t[/color][color="red"]T[/color]he [color="orange"]rest[/color] [color="red"]remainder[/color] of the digestive system [color="orange"]has been[/color] [color="red"]is extremely rudimentary,[/color] [color="orange"]greatly reduced[/color] and no digestive glands [color="orange"]could be[/color] [color="red"]were[/color] found, hinting at the artificial means by which these creatures acquire nutrition. Elimination of solid and liquid waste [color="red"]through means other than regurgitation or skin secretion appears[/color] [color="orange"]is also[/color] impossible due to the absence of anal and urogenital passages[color="orange"], as well as[/color] [color="red"]and[/color] the vestigial state of the kidneys. The [color="orange"]characteristics[/color] [color="red"]limited functionality[/color] of the [color="red"]Grey[/color] excretory and digestive systems [color="orange"]of the Greys leads to the conclusion[/color] [color="red"]would suggest[/color] that these creatures are dependent on [color="red"]highly[/color] processed nutrients [color="orange"]supplied externally[/color], probably [color="red"]through injection directly[/color] [color="orange"]through machines that inject digested food[/color] into their bloodstream.

The respiratory organs appear to be well-developed, [color="orange"]with[/color] [color="red"]and[/color] the presence of pharyngeal passages leading to two sac-like lungs [color="orange"]like that of[/color] [color="red"]similar to those found in[/color] amphibians[color="orange"],[/color] further [color="orange"]supporting[/color] [color="red"]supports[/color] arguments that [color="orange"]the[/color] Greys were [color="orange"]originally[/color] [color="red"]once[/color] amphibious, [color="red"]and[/color] probably inhabited wetlands or marshes. Vocal structures are absent, leaving the method of communication between these creatures to speculation.

There are no signs of reproductive organs on this creature, but the shape and structure of pelvic girdle suggest adaptation to birthing young. This suggests that the Greys at one time were a virile species capable of reproduction, leaving [color="red"]the reasons for[/color] their sterility [color="red"]as[/color] a possible product of genetic tampering. From this information, our Research Division has concluded that the Greys reproduce [color="red"]in one of two ways, in a manner[/color] [color="orange"]either in a way[/color] [color="red"]resembling that of[/color] [color="orange"]resembles the one of the[/color] bees belonging to the [color="red"]H[/color]ymenoptera family, with a[color="red"] few egg-laying[/color] queen creature[color="red"]s being the source of the entire Grey race[/color] [color="orange"]which lays the eggs from which these creatures are sprung[/color], or [color="red"]solely through artificial means such as cloning[/color] [color="orange"]no natural reproductive process exists and these Aliens are forced to reproduce artificially by means of cloning[/color]. [color="red"]Due to the 99.99% genetic similarity found in our analyses of various Grey specimens, the latter method is much more likely[/color]. [color="orange"]Our analysis of the Greys’ genetic structure points to the latter, since all of the creatures we have studied have a 99.99% genetic similarity.[/color]

Perhaps the most [color="orange"]interesting part[/color] [color="red"]fascinating aspect[/color] of [color="orange"]the Alien’s[/color] [color="red"]Grey[/color] anatomy is their brain [color="red"]structure[/color]. This [color="orange"]large structure[/color] [color="red"]substantial organ possesses more than twice the number neurons and glial cells found in human[/color] [color="orange"]is comprised of enough brain cells to constitute at least two Human[/color] brains, hinting at the incredible cerebral capacity of these creatures. Further dissection of the brain [color="orange"]reveals a[/color] [color="red"]revealed[/color] disproportionately large frontal lobe[color="red"]s[/color], the seat of communicative skills. This [color="red"]finding[/color], [color="orange"]and[/color] [color="red"]combined with[/color] the absence of vocal structures, has led some of our scientists theorize that [color="orange"]the[/color] Greys communicate through some sort of [color="orange"]telepathic link[/color] [color="red"]telepathy[/color], but the veracity of this claim [color="orange"]is[/color] [color="red"]has[/color] yet to be proven.

“[color="orange"]Who is[/color] [color="red"]Who's[/color] on the operating table now, you stupid little Grey???” –Dr. [color="red"]Ryouji[/color] Yokosata, Research Division. Edited by Astyanax
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  • 3 weeks later...
Guest Azrael
GREY AUTOPSY
X-Net://Pegasus.net/Alien/Autopsies/Grey

The Grey body structure is relatively simple, possessing almost all organ systems and tissue types seen in higher tetrapods today. Most of these systems, however, seem to have atrophied, save for the incredibly advanced brain.

The integument of the Grey body appears almost amphibious in nature, possessing large amounts of mucous-secreting glands that keep their skin moist, enabling them to use their skin as a respiratory membrane. The skin between the fingers forms a small web-like structure, suggesting that these creatures are at least semi-aquatic in origin.

The muscular and skeletal structure present in the Greys is homologous to that of humans, with an axial skeleton supporting the central nervous system, muscles, and limbs. The skull is massive compared to that of humans, supported by a strong spinal column and a thin, but muscular neck. Most of the other muscles in the creature’s body, however, seem to have atrophied to varying degrees, proof of either a sudden, irreversible habitat change or genetic manipulation.

The mouth is toothless, and no structures for mastication exist. The esophagus is also vestigial and possesses very little muscle, making it impossible for Greys to ingest food orally. The remainder of the digestive system is extremely rudimentary, and no digestive glands were found, hinting at the artificial means by which these creatures acquire nutrition. Elimination of solid and liquid waste through means other than regurgitation or skin secretion appears impossible due to the absence of anal and urogenital passages, as well as the vestigial state of the kidneys. The characteristics of the Grey excretory and digestive systems leads to the conclusion that these creatures are dependent on highly processed nutrients supplied externally, probably through injection directly into their bloodstream.

The respiratory organs appear to be well-developed, and the presence of pharyngeal passages leading to two sac-like lungs similar to those found in amphibians further supports arguments that Greys were once amphibious, and probably inhabited wetlands or marshes. Vocal structures are absent, leaving the method of communication between these creatures to speculation.

There are no signs of reproductive organs on this creature, but the shape and structure of pelvic girdle suggest adaptation to birthing young. This suggests that the Greys at one time were a virile species capable of reproduction, leaving the reasons for their sterility as a possible product of genetic tampering. From this information, our Research Division has concluded that the Greys reproduce in one of two ways, in a manner resembling that of bees belonging to the Hymenoptera family, with an egg-laying queen creature being the source of the entire Grey species, or solely through artificial means such as cloning. Due to the 99.99% genetic similarity found in our analyses of various Grey specimens, the latter method is much more likely.

Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of these Aliens’ anatomy is their brain structure. This large structure possesses more than twice the number neurons and glial cells found in a single human brain, hinting at the incredible cerebral capacity of these creatures. Further dissection of the brain revealed a disproportionately large frontal lobe, the seat of communicative skills. This finding, combined with the absence of vocal structures, has led some of our scientists theorize that Greys communicate through some sort of telepathic link, but the veracity of this claim has yet to be proven.

“Who's on the operating table now, you stupid little Grey???” –Dr. Ryouji Yokosata, Research Division.
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