How Might an Alien Species Use Codeine in Their Biochemistry?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the speculative biochemistry of an alien species that might utilize codeine, particularly in the context of a fictional narrative involving a human colony on a new planet. Participants explore the implications of codeine's presence in local life forms and its potential effects on human colonists, including the idea of toxicity and metabolic functions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes that the alien life could share a common ancestry with Earth life, allowing for similar amino acids that humans could consume, but with high concentrations of codeine posing a risk of overdose for most humans.
  • Another participant questions the feasibility of basing an alien metabolism on codeine, suggesting that it would be challenging and that assumptions about the alien life forms' biology need to be clarified.
  • There is a suggestion that codeine could serve a role similar to energy storage in alien biochemistry, akin to glycogen or starch in Earth organisms, although this is presented as a speculative idea.
  • A participant emphasizes that the alien species would likely not have kidneys, raising questions about their metabolic processes and lifespan.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the viability of using codeine in alien biochemistry, with no consensus on how it might function or the implications for the alien species' physiology.

Contextual Notes

Assumptions about the alien species' biology, such as the absence of kidneys and the potential for short lifespans, remain unresolved and are subject to further exploration.

Who May Find This Useful

Writers and creators interested in speculative biology, science fiction narratives, and the implications of alien life forms on human health and nutrition.

Ettina
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OK, in my story with a human colony ship headed to a new planet, I'm thinking of making the life on that planet originate from a comet carrying life with a shared ancestry to Earth life. Which means that they'll be a bit less alien than they otherwise could have been. They will share a lot of our amino acids, so people could eat them and actually gain nutrients.

However, I want a problem that makes the food dangerous to eat for all but a minority of the population. Since I'm immune to codeine, the idea I had was to have everything have high concentrations of codeine, so most people can only eat local life in moderation or risk overdose.

So my question is, how might an alien species (plantlike or animallike) use codeine in their biochemistry? What purpose would it serve, and what would be the likely concentration?
 
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Ettina said:
So my question is, how might an alien species (plantlike or animallike) use codeine in their biochemistry? What purpose would it serve, and what would be the likely concentration?
They definitely shouldn't have kidneys. And if, they won't have them for long.
##LD_{50} = 400\,mg\,kg^{-1} (rats), 60\,mg\,kg^{-1} (mice) ##

To speculate on a hypothetical metabolism is rather difficult. What are your assumptions? As an alien life, you may invent whatever you like. If they are built similar to us, their lifespan would certainly be pretty short (kidney failure).
 
You would have problems 'basing' a metabolism on codiene. Our metabolism is based on photosynthesis to trap sun's energy. From there proteins, carbohydrates, and fats are generated in living cells using biochemistry - driven by the chemical energy that came from photosynthesis.

So you could say our biochemistry is based on the three primary building blocks of life. You could make codiene something that is used to store energy sort of like glycogen or starch do for us, if you want. Sort of like an oddball carbohydrate. Does that get at what you mean? I'm ignoring water to make it simpler.
 
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fresh_42 said:
They definitely shouldn't have kidneys. And if, they won't have them for long.

Hey Ettina, do you have kidneys?
 

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