NESLife 4

[Lord_Iggy]

Chemical Breakthrough

The main cause of the success of the early Spiculi was in the evolution of Spiculin. Derived from primitive cytoskeletal elements, Spiculin is a repeating chain of small organic molecules called a polymer. As a result of hydrogen bonding along the length of the chain, the filament naturally folds itself into a helix- a coil. Similar intermolecular attractions bind small chains of Spiculin together to form long filaments. However, more than simply providing internal structure for the cells, Spiculin displays an extremely useful behaviour. Given a small amount of energy input, the weakest bonds- those holding the polymer complex in a helical state- are broken, causing the structure to rapidly straighten, expanding to several times its original length. Without further energy investment, the polymers begin to retract once more, reverting the filament to its compact state. This unique development enables the extremely rapid extension characteristic of species in the family of the Spiculus.

Spiculin stands in contrast to some rough equivalents on earth, such as the interaction of Actin and Myosin which operates our muscles. However, while these two chemicals operate in a manner similar to legs walking along a fixed track, Spiculin could be more accurately described as a spring, which can be released in a huge, rapid extension. The major functional difference between the two is that while Actin and Myosin work together to contract, Spiculin serves to extend.

What huge impacts this fundamental difference in biochemical building blocks will have in the long term remains to be seen, but for now, the lightning-quick movements of Spiculus and its relatives serve as some of the fastest things you'll see in this primordial world.

 

[Anonymoose]

Woot somewhat biology! I'm subscribing with great interest.

 

[Thlayli]

Omega, you shouldn't assume that the cells of this planet have the same organelles, though I suppose we're defaulting to a nucleic acid basis.

 

[Abaddon]

Archaeoblobus->Archaeofun

A very very simple cell. These have developed a small, "sharp" tube which injects into decaying cells and allows the absorption of its nutrients. these tubes have been known to stab into other Archaeofun creating a much bigger mass all sharing the detritus.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I offer to keep the evolutionary tree charted. If we start now rather than try to do it 30+ updates in the load won't be so harsh!

 

[Lord_Iggy]

I kept track of it in the last game, but if someone else would like to do it, then you could feel free to do that.

Abaddon, that one already sounds a lot like my group, Spiculus- they too have sharpened tips which stab into cells to facilitate their digestion. For diversity's sake, you might want to aim for something different, or our two groups will likely be thrown together into a single one.

 

[erez87]

Archaeoblobus -> Archaeo Monogamous
Additions: Different members of this species while not going as far as attaching to each still work together to feed on other life forms. When any other life forms enters an area with the Monogamous they will begin attaching to the prey and send chemical signals to other Monogamous that cause them to slowly move towards the prey eventually in many cases the prey is covered by many Monogamous which slowly eat through him.

(In short adding communal behavior in a way and a slow chemically directed movement)

 

[BananaLee]

Archaeoblobus -> Archaeonommus (BananaLee)
Additions: Similar to the Riggedavoteium, the Archaeonommus cell membranes can detect other cells touching it. When this happens, it triggers ultra-fast meiosis creating several other cells which effectively engulf the unfortunate touching cell. However, the amount of energy required for this "predatory" movement is such that the other new cells die off quickly. What's more, if the engulfed cell is too small, the main Archaeonomus cell might die off too.
Subtractions: none at this time.

 

[LDiCesare]

Archaeoblobus -> Archaealga (LDiCesare)
Additions: while remaining as single cells, a simple form of photosynthesising bacteria has become incorporated into the cells in a symbiotic relationship. Archaealga tend to float near the surface of the sea in order to access sunlight, where they would cluster and create wide carpets of independent cells
Subtractions: none at this time.

 

[Haseri]

I'll wait until after the first update.

This post is for subscribing.

 

[Angst]

Well, I didn't want to do this, but you're kinda forcing me by being Daft. Also, I'm curious to see if I'll find this intriguing anyways. I had an idea for a thingie. I'm just sad I can't play my crazy love elves.

Archaeoblobus -> Kakokudos (lord_joakim)

Additions: The development to Kakokudos is mainly done through contracting and compressing the cell body, making a more dense and hard membrane, albeit much smaller. As such, the Kakokudos is a small, hard nub of a single cell. Energy is collected by absorbing tiny minerals and fuels directly through small fumes in its shell.

Subtractions: What is there to subtract, anyways - technically, the size of my cell's body, I guess that would count as a subtraction.

 

[Abaddon]

I kept track of it in the last game, but if someone else would like to do it, then you could feel free to do that.

Abaddon, that one already sounds a lot like my group, Spiculus- they too have sharpened tips which stab into cells to facilitate their digestion. For diversity's sake, you might want to aim for something different, or our two groups will likely be thrown together into a single one.

Hmm, true, I think your evolution is asking a lot more than mine. A spike that can actually react to its surroundings requires a hell of a lot. Mine simply has a hollow tube which is sharp at its end.

I can't really change since I already have spent the day imagining the next dozen or so evolutions.. so if dafty merges it so be it.. there is only so much you can do when evolving the same single cell!

 

[Vertinari118]

Which is exactly why I'm sitting it out for the first few updates.

 

[Omega124]

Omega, you shouldn't assume that the cells of this planet have the same organelles, though I suppose we're defaulting to a nucleic acid basis.

Maybe you're right. However, again, it's a joke species. If it somehow survives like the Platypus does, more power to me.

 

[Lord_Iggy]

The Platypus isn't a joke species- it's superbly well adapted for its environment!

 

[Terrance888]

Archaeoblobus-> Cunkotor
Addition: These cells metabolize chemicals in the seas as their main source of energy. The reactions create energy as well as some solids. They use this solid to build up cell walls as well as niches to hold excess chemicals. When they die, these walls stay behind, leaving a built up, organic rock that younger generations migrate in, take the saved chemicals, and continue metabolizing. Often these shells grow to visible size, and are also often coated with other forms of life for protection, and when near the surface, a guaranteed source of light on a secure surface.

 

[Omega124]

The Platypus isn't a joke species- it's superbly well adapted for its environment!

It looks like a joke, and has a bunch of traits not normally seen in Mammals, such as being venomous and laying eggs. If Earth was formed through a NESlife, I bet it would had been made by a troll.

 

[Luckymoose]

It looks like a joke, and has a bunch of traits not normally seen in Mammals, such as being venomous and laying eggs. If Earth was formed through a NESlife, I bet it would had been made by a troll.

Life is a joke by your definition.

 

[Lord_Iggy]

Not really, the Platypus would have been something someone evolved from a still-surviving ancestral mammal, which survived by being on an isolated continent where other players evolutions couldn't get to it and outcompete it.

 

[Angst]

Actually, I agree with Omega here. I don't think that it's a 'joke species' per se and that one should actively seek to make one either - but I would assume that given Earth was a NESer created environment, some people would twitch as the platypus. It's not that it's unrealistic - it's real after all - it's just a really weird creature.

However, knowing you people, I think most of the players would think the weird creature would be more amusing and interesting than anything else. This is just a huge thought experiment, after all.

 

[Lord_Iggy]

I don't think that anyone's ever twitched at weird things in previous NESlife iterations, so you're probably right on that second count l_j.