I am making an alien race and need help with their biology

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the biological characteristics of a fictional alien race, specifically focusing on the color of their blood, which is described as rose-gold. Participants explore potential scientific explanations for this unique trait, considering evolutionary, chemical, and biological factors.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks a scientific rationale for the alien race's rose-gold blood, which is derived from a dinosaur bird-like ancestor.
  • Another suggests that the blood's color could be attributed to its chemistry without needing complex explanations.
  • Some participants argue that a deeper understanding of chemistry and biology would enhance the world-building process.
  • There are suggestions that the blood could be similar to human blood but with variations in composition, such as the presence of different molecules or mutations.
  • Discussions include the idea that the perceived color of blood could be influenced by factors such as the chemical makeup of the alien's skin or the properties of light.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the necessity of detailed biological explanations, emphasizing the importance of storytelling over technical details.
  • There are differing opinions on whether a well-defined biological background is essential for a compelling narrative.
  • One participant raises the question of whether the blood has a metallic sheen or simply a pinkish-brown hue.
  • Another points out the diversity of blood colors in earthly animals and suggests that this could inform the fictional biology.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of opinions on the importance of biological accuracy versus narrative quality. While some advocate for a detailed scientific approach, others prioritize the storytelling aspect, leading to an unresolved debate on the balance between the two.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the potential lack of consensus on the biological mechanisms that could produce the desired blood color and the varying interpretations of what constitutes an effective world-building approach.

  • #31
my blood is gold... rh null
 
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  • #32
They like to eat fall leaves to give their vanes that look. They think it looks cool, like tattoos. Currently, the golden-yellow of fall aspen is fashionable.
Don't ask me how I know. ;-)
 
  • #33
ChanYeol said:
I would like a reason why their blood is Cooper/ Rose gold color.
They evolve from a dinosaur bird like creature but in their current timeline they are human looking. One of their most strange characteristic is they got cooper looking veins and their blood is rose-gold color. Which gave the ancient Greeks the idea they were gods. But i would like to have a scientific reason for their blood being that color. thank you.
Some real creatures have a very different colour blood from ours: https://mocomi.com/what-colour-is-blood/
Notice that you only have to tweak the organic molecule a little to get completely different colours. You can be pretty vague as we definitely don't know the whole range of possible molecules.

You can change the metal too. The kid's article above mentions a creature that uses copper. But there must be dozens to choose from - practically any transition metal, for starters: cobalt, chromium, manganese, copper. And maybe uranium or vanadium. It all depends whether you need to stick to the idea of blood as primarily a way of transporting oxygen or tie your own hands by insisting that they evolved from a terrestrial dinosaur.

The further you go away from human biochemistry, the more options you have. And the less likely it is that anyone will be able to contradict you.

You can probably even get a metallic sheen too. Materials like graphite or molybdenum greases can be thinned out with oil to get beautiful streaming effects. And as for colours, you're not limited to what chemistry allows, despite the above. Butterflies - and many other organisms - produce colour through interference effects. The blood cells could do both of these if they were modified a bit. Or maybe the blood contains a different kind of cell altogether. The main thing would be to make it reasonable for such a thing to evolve.
 

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