cloning technology, but not with clones

[rinku]

50k isn't too high a barrier per gestation for regular kids with light genetic screening and no geneering as such. Especially since it sidesteps age related fertility issues; parents can continue their careers until they're financially comfortable enough to start the family, maybe in their 40's, then thaw out the embryos or zygotes and pop them in the tank.

I expect there might be a thing on some worlds where they have a tradition of the kids being born all at once, or at shorter intervals than normal pregnancy allows. Others might go with three or four kids at 10 year intervals, so you have one reaching adulthood before the next one arrives.

 

[Condottiere]

Predictable breeding pattern.

Possibly, programmed.

And, of course, the Cleons.

 

[J. L. Brown]

Natural born human child.

6 years old.

Can his aging be accelerated using the Bio-Reaction Chamber?

If yes, can he be creche-trained?

I think creche-training is allowed even without accelerated aging. A 12x rapid-growth clone matures (presumably to an apparent age of 18 years) in 18 months, the last twelve months of that can be spent in creche-training; and up to a total of 16 years of creche-training can be done.

As to artificially aging a natural-born child, I would say no (or allow it only after the players invest stories developing such a thing). The Robot Handbook Update (page 97) implies that the rapid-growth requires special modifications to the clone while it is still an embryo:

If a clone is intended to endure for closer to a natural lifespan, starting at TL10, the clone can be grown at 12x acceleration. This accelerated process requires 18 months or 1.5 years to grow a clone to age 18 but during that time period, the clone can maintain consciousness and learn basic skills. This process requires alterations to the clone’s genetic sequence and initialisation for the first six months of its ‘life’ in an enhanced bioreaction chamber, from which it will emerge as a child.

 

[hopsnbaer]

Random question.

Natural born human child.

6 years old.

Can his aging be accelerated using the Bio-Reaction Chamber?

If yes, can he be creche-trained?

Kind of on the Morally Reprehensible side, isn't it?

 

[Sigtrygg]

As to artificially aging a natural-born child, I would say no (or allow it only after the players invest stories developing such a thing). The Robot Handbook Update (page 97) implies that the rapid-growth requires special modifications to the clone while it is still an embryo:

If you can modify a cloned embryo why can't you modify a natural embryo? Any gene engineering performed on a clone embryo surely works on a natural embryo?

If we can genetically modify children to cure genetic defects then why not modify them to accept rapid growth?

This is why scientists need to study ethics courses...

 

[Condottiere]

There would be a lot of business for after market improvement, especially for the natural borns.

 

[J. L. Brown]

If you can modify a cloned embryo why can't you modify a natural embryo? Any gene engineering performed on a clone embryo surely works on a natural embryo?

If we can genetically modify children to sure genetic defects then why not modify them to accept rapid growth?

This is why scientists need to study ethics courses...

I was responding to the OP which asked about starting with a six year old child who had been natural-born. The quoted text I provided illustrated part of the underlying tech assumptions -- there are modifications to the embryo which are necessary to allow rapid-growth.

If someone wishes to start with a natural embryo, then presumably those modifications will still be necessary -- but at that point the term 'natural' might not be appropriate.

 

[MasterGwydion]

I am curious how stuff like this fits into the Charted Space setting. In some places it could be outlawed. In others made freely available to every inhabitant. In still others, made expensive enough that only the wealthy can afford it. Obviously, increasing STR DEX and END will increase the sophonts maximum and average lifespans.

 

[Sigtrygg]

not if you build in accelerated aging after a certain age is reached...

or a genetic kill switch

As to fitting it in, the Imperium has 11,000 worlds, it will be happening if the referee so chooses. As will nobility using cloned body parts and organs to extend their lives, or cybernetics, or personality/memory transferred to a cloned body...

 

[J. L. Brown]

As will nobility using cloned body parts and organs to extend their lives, or cybernetics, or personality/memory transferred to a cloned body...

Or Brain Transplants into cloned bodies, which becomes available at TL 11.

 

[Condottiere]

Or, make the head a self sustaining organ, and screw it on similarly prepared torsos.

 

[J. L. Brown]

Or, make the head a self sustaining organ, and screw it on similarly prepared torsos.

Good point! Use a 'Detachable' option for a full-body cyborg; bonus points for grav-propulsion for the head. Might be tricky (under the current rules) for an actual organic head, but make a 'brain-in-a-box', then add senses and 'natural looking', presto!

Just re-read the stuff about brain-in-a-box on page 93; not good -- minimum of TL-12 & a periodic sanity check. But the brain can go into a size-2 robot body, which is about right for a human head.

 

[rinku]

Yeah, back to accelerating a 6 year old... that doesn't feel right to me. They've had 6 years of natural growth and development, not 6 months of accelerated. I'm pretty sure that would be enough of a point of difference to say it would be problematic.

Not outright saying it's impossible, but I'd foresee major psychological issues.

 

[Anstett]

There is an excellent book using clones in a 'closed room murder mystery' by Mur Lafferty called Six Wakes. The world building there on the why for clones, laws that are built around their existence, etc.

Six Wakes - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org