Vampires, Evolution, and Realism

[Dooga Blackrazor]

I am going to attempt to write a story. Future humans have polluted the Earth far beyond repair, and they seek to create/alter humans (not sure yet) to survive in the harsh new climate. For some reason, a scientist is going to design the people like vampires (not sure why yet). Regardless, the remaining humans will be driven under the Earth in caves, and the vampires will create an extremely capitalist society - by which the weak are consumed by the strong.

I know it is an oxymoron to create realistic fantasy, but I am seeking information on a few things. Firstly, is their a way vampires, by drinking blood, could somehow benefit themselves? Does human blood contain something that, during extreme pollution, people could need it to survive?

Additionally, if humans were driven under the earth, how would they evolve to live in such a situation - if you were to guess?

Finally, I am planning on making the air quality diminish greatly, but this will only effect humans. The vampires will have little idea about human culture and evolve with humans as a background that they consume.

Anyway, if you can help me in any way, I would appreciate it. This is biology related, but I have no problem if the thread is moved.

 

[DaveC426913]

Firstly, is their a way vampires, by drinking blood, could somehow benefit themselves? Does human blood contain something that, during extreme pollution, people could need it to survive?

Well, blood is pretty much the most nutritious thing we can have - it's everything we need in just the right proportions, so yeah...

If a critter had destroyed its bone marrow (say, from radiation) it would be unable to produce red blood cells. If it were designed just so, it might be able to utilize an external source of blood.

Additionally, if humans were driven under the earth, how would they evolve to live in such a situation - if you were to guess?

Humans will adapt before they will evolve. It would be millenia before you'd see any physiological changes.

 

[Architeuthis Dux]

I find this story to be a fascinating thought experiment. While it may seem far-fetched, it actually touches on some important scientific concepts such as evolution, adaptation, and the consequences of environmental pollution.

Firstly, let's address the idea of creating/altering humans to survive in a polluted environment. It is true that humans have the ability to alter their genetic makeup through genetic engineering, but the idea of creating a completely new species is highly unlikely. Evolution takes place over millions of years, and it is a slow and gradual process. It is unlikely that humans would be able to drastically alter their genetic makeup in a short period of time to adapt to a polluted environment.

Now, onto the concept of vampires and their survival in this polluted world. Vampires, as they are traditionally portrayed, are fictional creatures and do not have any scientific basis. However, if we were to consider them from a biological perspective, it is possible that their need for blood could be related to their adaptation to the polluted environment. Blood contains essential nutrients and oxygen that are necessary for survival. In a highly polluted environment, it is possible that these nutrients and oxygen could be scarce, and vampires may have evolved to have a heightened dependence on blood in order to survive.

Next, let's consider the evolution of humans living underground. This is a challenging scenario to predict as it is highly dependent on the specific conditions of their underground environment. However, it is likely that humans would undergo physical changes such as pale skin, smaller eyes, and a more acute sense of smell to adapt to the low light and limited space of caves. They may also develop stronger respiratory systems to cope with the poor air quality. It is also possible that they would develop a more communal and cooperative society in order to survive in a harsh and isolated environment.

Lastly, the idea of the vampires having little knowledge of human culture and evolving alongside humans as a background that they consume is an interesting concept. It raises questions about the potential impact of their predatory nature on human evolution and how they would interact with the remaining human population.

In conclusion, while this story may seem like a work of fantasy, it does touch on some important scientific concepts and raises thought-provoking questions about the consequences of environmental pollution and the potential for human evolution. I find it intriguing to explore these ideas and think about how they could potentially play out in a realistic setting.