In Character Conference Science Seminar  – Evolutionary Exobiology – 10406.27  1400 EST Terran

Speaker: Captain Eric Woo, CO - USS Huron

Subject: Evolutionary Exobiology, or Why Are Bolians Blue?
 
Synopsis: The Alpha Quadrant is full of an incredibly wide and varied collection of species, each wholly distinct culturally and physically. The Klingons are recognized by their familiar forehead ridge protrusions, Betazoids by their telepathic abilities, Ferengi by their large ears and yes, Bolians by their blue skin tone. But the question at hand is, why do the Klingons have such distinctive ridges? Why are Betazoids telepathic? Why do Ferengi have such obscenely large ears? And, yes, Why Are Bolians Blue? In this exciting seminar, we will seek to answer these questions from an evolutionary and cultural perspective. A background in science is not required - so pop on by and let's have some fun!

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Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
:: takes a look around :: XO: Ah, good afternoon, commander.

XO_LtCmdr_Janan says:
::looks around the room then smiles as Woo greets her:: CO: Good afternoon Sir.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
:: tosses a padd to the commander :: Janan: Here, have a set of post-seminar notes. :: he returns to the back to continue rummaging for holoemitters::

XO_LtCmdr_Janan says:
::looks surprised as she only just catches the padd:: Woo: Thank you ::looks down at the Padd::

CMO_LtJg_Atreides says:
When does it start?

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
:: pushes out a holoemitter... slowly, and plugs it in :: All: Welcome, welcome, folks. I'm just setting up here - we're due to begin in, oh, 8 to 10 minutes. ::smiles::

XO_LtCmdr_Janan says:
::looks up from her padd long enough to acknowledge Woo and smile greeting the Atreides::

CMO_LtJg_Atreides says:
::waves::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: In the meantime... :: activates the holoemitter :: ... feel free to enjoy some beverage and refreshments I've set up in the back.

CMO_LtJg_Atreides says:
::Gets a glass of brandy::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
:: brings out a stack of padds :: Turok: Ah, good afternoon, ensign. Good to see you again. :;winks::

Ens_Turok says:
Woo: Good afternoon sir. ::Taking a seat in the front row::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Well! How is everyone today?

Ens_Turok says:
Woo: Unbelievable sir!

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
Turok: Oh, really? A good day? ::smiles, and sees K'Beth entering:: K'Beth: Ah, captain, so glad you could join us today.

LtCmdr_Sokolov says:
::Walks in and takes a seat somewhere in the back::

Capt_K`Beth says:
::smiles:: Woo: My pleasure, Captain.  I had heard about these seminars and was eager to attend. ::takes a seat in the back::

Ens_Turok says:
Woo: Yes sir. Just attended a great lecture on command.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Well, it looks like we're just about ready to begin. ::grins::

XO_LtCmdr_Janan says:
::is seated in the middle, smiles towards Turok and K'Beth then nods to Woo::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: My name is Eric Woo, I'm the CO of the USS Huron, and I will be presenting today's seminar on evolutionary exobiology. In this one -hour lecture, we will conduct a whirlwind tour of some of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants' most well-known and recognizable species.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
:: smiles, and he presses a button, displaying the words "EVOLUTIONARY EXOBIOLOGY" floating above his head, flashing bright neon colours:: Now, who here has ever studied evolution? Or who can tell us what evolution is?

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
:: looks around the room ::

Ens_Turok says:
Woo: I believe it is the process of a species adapting over time to a given situation.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Oh, good heavens! Evolution is, quite simply, one of the most important concepts of biology, and everyone should have a basic understanding of it... :: looks up at Ens. Turok :: Turok: Yes, that is one definition. Quite simply, evolution is Descent With Modification. Now... any discussion on evolutionary exobiology surely must begin with...

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: ... an understanding of evolutionary principles, so here goes!

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: It is a word that is often misunderstood, this... Evolution.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: But Ens. Turok explained it well, and simply. Now... one of the biggest misconceptions about evolution... is that evolution is going somewhere.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Everyone speaks of... a pinnacle of evolution, some great species at the top of the pyramid.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Well! Let me say this for the record... evolution has NO beginning, NO end, there are no pinnacles of evolution - no superior species, all species come and go. Evolution is NOT a progress, or improvement over time - Evolution just IS!

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: The final point that I wished to mention, before we begin examining our subjects, is this: There can be only two general sorts of adaptations - one where a benefit is conferred to the species' viability, that is, enables them to survive better, and another type is one that confers a benefit to sexual selection, i.e. a quality that is...

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: ... attractive to one's potential mates. ONLY these two - everything falls under these two.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
:: laughs :: All: I should be ashamed for trying to present evolution so simply and quickly. But this is all we need to know in order to begin. Now... :: laughs :: Are there any questions?

Ens_Turok says:
::Nodding::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
:: looks around :: No questions? ::smiles::

Cadet_Tox says:
::nods::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
:: grins :: Very well. Then let us begin! :: he presses a button, and they appear in a secluded forest... suddenly, a group of raging Andorians come rushing towards them, weapons in hand ::

Cadet_Tox says:
:: glances about then looks at his Data Padd while wondering if combat so soon after his implantation is good for the slug::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
:: he presses another button, and the scene pauses, the group of Andorians metres away, frozen in time :: All: The first subject I wish to approach are the Andorians. Would someone like to tell us a little bit about the Andorians' physical appearance?

Cadet_Tox says:
::raises his hand::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
Tox: Yes, cadet. ::smiles::

XO_LtCmdr_Janan says:
::looks up noting the two most obvious Andorian physical traits::

Cadet_Tox says:
::stands up:: Andorians. They are recognized by the blue pigmentation of skin, the White fibrous  hair, and the pair of antennae atop their skull

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
Tox: Very good, cadet. Yes, these are often the most notable traits. The first I want to approach are these antennae of theirs. Today, those antennae are used for some additional sensory information, but today, it appears that the antennae are very limited in power, merely vestiges left behind. What would be the benefit of such an adaptation?

Cadet_Tox says:
::sits down::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Perhaps what I am wondering about is, the Andorians have become fully humanoid; few other species have this sort of sensory organ. Why would the antennae evolve in tandem with the other senses?

Cadet_Tox says:
::look a bit then raises his hand::

Ens_Turok says:
Woo: Sir in the past they may have used either as a device for hunting or defense against predators. There would be much less of a need for them now.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
Turok: Perhaps so... indeed, most species today do exhibit vestigial organs of some sort, organs that were once useful but now serve redundant purposes or no purpose at all. Tox: Yes, cadet.

Ens_Turok says:
Woo: They may also be seen by the female of the species to denote sexual prowess. The bigger the antennae the better the genes.

Cadet_Tox says:
All:Sir? what senses do the antennae utilize? sight, sound or smell as i have read conflicting reports on the physiology recently.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
Turok: Yes! Yes, an excellent suggestion... perhaps the function of the antennae have changed over time to reflect attractiveness. Tox: I don't believe there is a very good... comparison between this sense, and any of the senses we are familiar with. Call it... a heightened sense of intuition.

Cadet_Tox says:
:;nods and makes a notation on his padd

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Now let us move on to another trait - the Andorian blue complexion. Incidentally, the same complexion as Bolians, which I discussed in one of my earlier seminars. ::winks::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: What would be the purpose of such a unique complexion? Sokolov: Commander? Any thoughts? ::smiles::

Ens_Turok says:
::Smiling that he could impress the captain::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Well, let's think for a moment. Skin colour is most often directly affected by solar radiation... but it can also be reflected by environmental stimuli.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: For example, on planet Earth, you have people who are dark-skinned, who live closer to the tropics, as well as people who are incredibly fair-skinned, living in Scandinavia. Now, in the Tropics, it is beneficial to have darker skin because it reduces the amount of ultraviolet radiation that is absorbed.

XO_LtCmdr_Janan says:
::looks interested and nods as Woo speaks::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: However, in Scandinavia, it can get pretty cold year-round, and so over millions of years, the genus Australopithecus and Homo have relied on additional layers of clothing - generally covering up more. As a result, less of their body is revealed to the sun; and this is a problem as well! Because ultraviolet radiation is required to produce...

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: ... Vitamin D, which is vital in the prevention of rickets. As a consequence, people in Scandinavia are extremely white in order to compensate for additional layers of coverage.

Cadet_Tox says:
::nods to himself as he recalls his medical physiology courses.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: But back to the Andorians. Perhaps the most obvious and simple explanation as to why Andorians have blue complexions - and this varies depending on the area - would be to reflect Ultraviolet radiation. Perhaps their skin is biochemically tuned to reflect most ultraviolet radiation because of some environmental disaster, much like...

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: ... the withering of the Ozone layer in Earth's 20th and 21st centuries. Or... perhaps it is an environmental issue. Perhaps at one time, blue complexion served as a form of camouflage.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Any thoughts?

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
:: smiles :: I can hardly believe it! No questions or thoughts? ::smiles::

Ens_Turok says:
::waiting for someone to speak::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Very well, then. Let us move on to the next species. ::smiles::

Cadet_Tox says:
::furrows his bow:: ALL: Would not the chemical composition of the primary hemo-organic structures of the cells not also be a reason for the blue pigmentation?

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
:; stops::

Ens_Turok says:
::Impressed by the cadets question::

Cadet_Tox says:
All:For Example, iron hemo is both blue or red depending upon the oxygenation of it's chemical chaining commonly found in the Terran lifeforms?

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
Tox: Yes, indeed, that is a very real possibility. However, it is interesting to note that the Andorian skin texture - unlike the Bolian complexion - is not *entirely* blue.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
Tox: Without actually cutting into an Andorian, you do see that the Andorian blood is red. However, you do have species like the Vulcans, who do not use iron-based hemoglobin but rather, copper-based, and you do see that their complexion is slightly tinted.

Cadet_Tox says:
::nods: Would not this processes of bio chemistry allude to the slighter pigmentations?

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: I must stress, that evolution is very rarely simple blocks put together like this - there must be hundreds of reasons why any particular trait developed in that particular way.

Cadet_Tox says:
:: wanes a faint smile and settles down to let the lecture continue::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
Tox: As a result, your suggestion could be extremely valid - it would certainly serve to speed up the evolutionary process, wouldn't it, the more factors are involved, in order to force some sort of adaptation.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Now! If there are really no more questions this time - I've spent far longer on the Andorians than I wanted to. ::smiles::

Cadet_Tox says:
::thinks for a moment then nods in agreement to the factoring of evolutionary stresses.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Next, I want to present a bit of a... conundrum to you folks.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
:: he presses a button, and the Andorians disappear, to be replaced by an image of a Starfleet officer - an Android - and an EMH Mark 1::

Cadet_Tox says:
::arches a brow at the display::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Here are two... Starfleet officers. Cmdr. Data on the left... and an EMH Mark 1 on the right. We've all heard of the exploits of Cmdr. Data, and this particular EMH Mark 1 copy, specifically the copy on Voyager.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
:: whispers :: All: Don't worry - it's not really him, just an image.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Both these subjects showed signs of... a desire to improve themselves. It's important to note that these two individuals are extremely unique - it could be said they are species of one.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Do these two subjects show signs of possible evolution? :: winks ::

Cadet_Tox says:
::swallows realizing that his engineering studies are a bit less intense than others.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Now, I must say something at this point. Evolution NEVER occurs in individuals, ONLY species. But these two examples are... special, aren't they. ::smiles::

Ens_Turok says:
Woo: Sir, maybe of higher learning and growth, but not evolution.

Cadet_Tox says:
::glances at Turok then raises his hand::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
Turok: Now, I suggest the following. This EMH... was granted the power to control his own program, to make changes to his own program. That is far more control than any organic individual - organic individuals can be placed in an environment, but they will die because they cannot survive in such an environment. The EMH, in fact, *can*, by changing.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
Tox: Yes, Cadet.

Ens_Turok says:
Woo: A computer is a computer, you can add to the programming, but to physically change it would be manipulation and not evolution.

Cadet_Tox says:
Woo: In the case of these two Technological originated individuals... would not Adaption or upgrades be a more fitting term rather than evolution?

XO_LtCmdr_Janan says:
::nods in agreement with Tox::

Cadet_Tox says:
::looks genuinely puzzled over the term usage::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
:: smiles :: Tox: And yet, it is adaptation and modification that is the product of evolution at work. :: smiles :: Turok: Yes, manipulation... what if it were a group of androids, and a group of EMH? What if a particular... adaptation was so popular that everyone decided to implement it?

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
:: bows to the captain who just entered, and turns his eyes back to the audience ::

Ens_Turok says:
Woo: An interesting concept indeed, sir.

Capt_MacLeod says:
::nods at the Captain and finds a seat::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Only recently has the issue of android and hologram rights been at the forefront of things. I suspect that soon after, we will have to change our definition of evolution... as we always must do in biology. ::winks::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Any questions before we continue?

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Alright. ::smiles:: Now I will open up the floor to you. Does anyone have a particular subject they would like to discuss?

XO_LtCmdr_Janan says:
:;shakes her head thoughtful now over the issue of evolution, can it be applied to a species with only one member::

Cadet_Tox says:
::smiles::Woo: Is it biology or engineering in the case of a technological origins?

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
Tox: Can it be both? ::smiles:: At what point are these individuals no longer pieces of technology and are actual organisms? Or... well, the equivalent of organisms?

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: If no one has any ideas of the next subject we approach, then I will select one for you. ::winks; he presses a button, and an Orion male and female appear, side by side, at the front of the room::

Cadet_Tox says:
:;frowns a bit::where do we draw the line is the question that society must define as well as the individual. organism i would wager.

Cadet_Tox says:
:: looks at the new display with interest.::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
:: laughs as the male eyes turn to the Orion slave woman ::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Now, the Orion species are a very unique species - of all alpha quadrant sentient species, this one shows the most sexual dimorphism of all.

Cadet_Tox says:
:: checks his padd's notes::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: As you can see, the male is much more... conservative, shall I say, and is characterized by a very distinctive yellow hue. The female, on the other hand, is much less inhibited, and exhibits an extremely prominent green hue.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Many pre-sentient species, who cannot depend on attractive qualities such as intelligence, or thought, etc., depend on physical characteristics such as this. Sexual selection... is an EXTREMELY powerful evolutionary force. In fact, it often results in adaptations the quickest in a population, within several generations.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: The Orion society is... not exactly very civilized, by our definitions. In terms of gender equality, they are almost as bad as, say, the Ferengi.

Cadet_Tox says:
::makes a few notes on his padd::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: But suppose... there was a time when males and females appeared similar... but through some mutation, a small population exhibits a slightly more... colourful hue, which the opposite gender pounces on as being attractive...

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Over an immense period of time, this sexual dimorphism would have been strongly emphasized... it is very strange, because you often don't see this level of sexual dimorphism in sentient species, save for body mass.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Thoughts? Questions?

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
Hmm. :: smiles :: Well, it appears we're almost out of time. So...

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
... In conclusion, evolution can be an extremely powerful tool in explaining biology. As the human geneticist, Theodosius Dobzhansky remarked, "Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution."

Ens_Turok says:
::Applauding::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
"I hope that this seminar has clarified any misconceptions you may have had about evolution (or sparked new, confused questions!), and I hope you leave with new questions about the great variety and diversity that is our galaxy. Thanks. ::smiles::

Ens_Turok says:
Woo: Thank you again sir for a very informative lecture.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Oh! And be sure to grab a padd of post-seminar notes, for you to take home. :;winks::

Cadet_Tox says:
::nods and claps::Woo: Very informative and thought provoking.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
I'll be sticking around to answer any additional questions you may have.

XO_LtCmdr_Janan says:
::nods with a smile:: Woo: Very interesting thank you, I'll have a lot of research to look through now.

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
Turok/Tox: Thanks. ::winks::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
Janan: Then you should enjoy the notes on that padd there. ::smiles::

Host CO_Capt_Woo says:
All: Transcripts for this seminar will be made available shortly for anyone who is interested.

Capt_MacLeod says:
::stands up and claps::  Very elucidative, Captain! Now, I must leave.  With your excuse.  ::congratulates Captain Woo again and leaves::

Ens_Turok says:
::Heads out the door for another lecture::

Cadet_Tox says:
:: nods and goes to collect his copy of provided notes