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Cyberpunk, the Postglobal and the Posthuman

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Tag: Hybridization

Becoming One with the Cheetah

06 December 2024 Lavell A.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

To be completely honest, I probably would not engage in DNA splicing with animals if given the option, but if the technology did exist to merge human traits with those of an animal, I would choose to become one with a cheetah. Cheetahs are already very well-known for being super fast (the fastest land animal on the planet), but they have even more going for them than that.  They are extremely athletic and agile, while also having some of the fastest reflexes in the animal kingdom.  

If I was given the abilities of a cheetah, I would be able to do so much.  Most notably, being able to travel long distances effortlessly in such a short amount of time would be heavily beneficial.  Most likely, I wouldn鈥檛 have to use a car to get around ever because they can move to speeds of 65 mph (leads to not having to pay for gas a lot and there are no limitations of speed for humans traveling on foot so no tickets).  Also, if given the cheetah鈥檚 ability of extreme focus it would really help me out in my daily life as I have a supreme case of ADHD which tends to hinder me a lot.  Anyways, these abilities would be monumental to daily life and that鈥檚 not even talking about the potential to use your powers in professional athletic settings.

While adding on these cheetah-like traits, I would want only one limitation.  I wouldn鈥檛 want my physical appearance to render that of a cheetah upon the merge.  I don鈥檛 like the idea of sticking out so much that everyone could take a gander at why I鈥檝e become so superhuman-like, and I feel cheetah prints, a tail, and a change in eye shape and color would be a dead giveaway.  Also, while thinking about this, I would like to keep the actual human mind part of me.  By that I mean I don鈥檛 want to exactly think like a cheetah, I am only looking for physical upgrades (don鈥檛 need my mind altered (maybe an adjustment to mentality though)). With this balance I feel I would have the best of both worlds, while being what could only be described as superhuman.  If there was any level of humanity that I would give up it would have to be my personality though.

Hybrid or Byebrid

27 November 2024 Josiah A.
Reading Time: 3 minutes

I think hybridization is interesting. The concept of hybridization is not relatively new but it’s intriguing on a number of levels. Without having to look it up hybridization is the process or end result of combining two different things together, those two different things particularly being two wildly different living things. Now what comes with hybridization you know? It’s something I don’t think many people really think about. For example, if you allow me to stretch your imagination a bit the act of having a child could be considered hybridization to a certain extent. genetic material fusing to create something entirely new. The genetic material being combined comes from two different people and thus whatever already existing mutation from either parent could pass onto the child or an entirely new mutation could form. It’s a very interesting thing to think about, no? I think we should keep that in mind as we continue.

If I could be hybridized with one animal, I would choose a black bear. I could choose a smart animal like a dolphin or common raven or crow but that’s a little boring to me. I don’t want super advanced intelligence by mere supplication of genes. it’s much more fun to learn. I like bears as animals and black bears are considered the nicest, in general they are mostly distrustful of humans but can get rather comfortable if there is a reliable source of food in a human community. They are also not naturally aggressive; they are very passive animals. This means that I would acquire any anger issues or territorial mindset indicative of more aggressive species. I think becoming a hybrid with a bear would be fun but having in increase in the food i would need to eat would suck, however, hibernating would be quite nice admittedly.

The hardest question is to what extent being hybridized with a black bear would extend. The more I become a hybrid the more bear-like I would become. This means that I would also be more susceptible to not only human diseases but bear diseases as well. This would include parasites, bacteria, viruses, mange, pantless bear syndrome, and many more. if I had to choose i would like a decent fifty-fifty. However, I don’t exactly know how this would manifest outwardly. The sort of idealistic reality to want is something closer to how anime or some cartoons portray hybrids, basically still human put with animal features and minor animal tendencies from time to time. Something perhaps akin to beast boy from teen titans but realistically most would think of anime like perhaps Raphtalia from Shield hero. I on the other hand do lean more towards typical anime. So, I imagine Raphtalia with a more “realistic” portrayal. So, I’d imagine I would have bear ears and human ears, longer claws, black bear fur that mixes into my normal hair texture not only within my hair itself but also patches of black bear fur on my forearms and legs…lower legs, near the foot but not on it. and a black bear tail.

I don’t think I’d be okay with trading a lot of my humanity. I think that’d be awful. I’m fine with animalistic tendencies, like other ticks or tendencies that humans have naturally it would be something that could be controlled with enough training. recognizing the signs of when they pop up, and we all know the rest. The reason I don’t want trade a lot of my humanity despite the concepts we’ve gone over is because, my humanity is what makes me, me. This year has taught me that humanity and “humanity” is different and while both are important once can easily be negotiated away very easily and that’s the scariest part about being human. Honestly if hybridization was a real thing we could do I imagine it would become quite controversial. This means more discrimination to deal with and possibly more dying due to people being scared of something and refusing to see the person in front of them. Scary thought to think about but humans are like that. People can be convinced of anything at the end of the day, I think hybridization would be like gene splicing or something similar too it. while animals would be in danger, most would simply capture a lot, take some blood from the healthy or at least healthier ones and then hopefully release them back to the wild. Thought process aside, I wouldn’t be willing to give up a ton of my humanity, maybe a little but the exchange is controllable animal tendencies.

Dolphuman: The Hybridization

27 November 2024 Kendall B.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

I would want to be hybridized with a dolphin because they are extremely intelligent and they can communicate using echolocation. I think that being smart in this world is important and can take you further than almost anything else in this world which is partially why I would choose to be hybridized with a dolphin. Secondly, I would want the quality of being able to use echolocation because that means I would be able to communicate with confidentiality. Something else that is cool that comes with being hybridized with a dolphin is that they can breathe underwater. That attribute would be such an experience to have because humans can鈥檛 naturally survive underwater for long periods of time. If this attribute is not mutually exclusive from gills then I would actually like to just miss out on getting to have the chance to breathe underwater because I would not want to give up the way my body looks for something unnatural like that. They are also genuinely sweet animals who will turn dangerous if need be to protect their own. I feel like I have some similarities with their characteristics which sums up why I would choose a dolphin. However, I wouldn鈥檛 want the physical attributes that come with hybridization. I definitely wouldn鈥檛 be willing to give up the way I look for hybridization. On the other hand, I would definitely give up my human intelligence for hybridization. Overall, I wouldn鈥檛 want to be hybridized at all because I would lose my pure humanity. There are things that come with that form of biotechnology and I鈥檓 confident that I don鈥檛 want to be that person to figure out what those things are. The changes and side effects are unpredictable so I wouldn鈥檛 want to risk my life for that. Humanity is better left untouched and unmodified; the natural, biological way.

The Horse and Me

27 November 2024 Jenna L.
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Horses running in the open

When asked what animal I would hybridize with if given the chance, If I’m being honest no animal came to mind. I would prefer to stay human! However, If I had to absolutely choose with no ifs, ands, or buts, I’d choose to blend the strength, stamina, and agility of a horse with my already human qualities. Horses embody strength and power, plus I think they are just majestic to look at! 

First of all, horses are beautiful creatures that are also extremely intelligent. Research has shown that horses have high levels of cognitive intelligence, including problem-solving, memory, and learning abilities. Even though I would keep my own human intellect, I wouldn’t hybridize with an animal that didn’t have any sort of high thinking ability! To add onto this, merging with a horse would enhance my physical abilities too. The ability to have speed, strength and stamina like a horse would come in handy in everyday life for me. Did you know that on average a domestic horse will normally achieve a running speed of around 30 miles per hour (mph). However, this doesn’t mean that this is their full speed, and with proper stamina training it鈥檚 possible for horses to obtain running speeds of 40 mph or more! How amazing is that?!聽 Just thinking about the amount of gas money I would save makes this hybridization a definite win for me!聽

In terms of extent, I wouldn鈥檛 fully give up my humanity to hybridize with a horse. I鈥檇 just take the physical abilities that come with it such as speed and endurance鈥攚hile keeping my human intellect and emotional depth. I wouldn鈥檛 want to lose my capacity for thought, creativity, or empathy; instead, I鈥檇 opt just for the physical qualities that a horse has. I also wouldn鈥檛 mind having some of their beautiful coats and flowing mane for hair as well as their strong leg muscles(albeit in a more human form). Overall,聽my hybridization would be a harmonious balance between power and sensitivity, a perfect mix of human and animal.聽

Part Human, Part Orca

27 November 2024 Kennedi G.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

If given the opportunity to hybridize with any animal, I would choose to be hybridized with an orca. The allure of life in the water is a significant part of this choice. I鈥檝e always been drawn to the ocean and its vast, mysterious depths. Orcas, or killer whales, are perfectly adapted to their aquatic environment, with remarkable speed and agility in the water. Being part orca would grant me the ability to navigate the ocean鈥檚 depths effortlessly, explore underwater worlds, and experience life beneath the waves in a way that humans never could.

One of the most exciting aspects of this hybridization would be the opportunity to explore the unknown regions of the ocean. So much of the ocean remains a mystery to humans, with deep trenches, hidden ecosystems, and ancient creatures that have yet to be fully understood. As a hybrid orca, I could venture into those unexplored territories and uncover secrets that lie far beyond the reach of human divers and technology.

Orcas are known for their intelligence and complex social structures, which closely mirror some aspects of human society. They communicate with one another using unique vocalizations, live in close-knit pods, and demonstrate a range of personality traits that feel surprisingly familiar. This makes the idea of hybridization with an orca even more appealing; my human traits would blend with their social and communicative abilities, making the transition feel less alien and more like a natural extension of who I am.

In terms of how far I would want the hybridization to extend, I would want it to include the physical traits necessary for survival in the ocean, such as enhanced lung capacity, a streamlined body, and the ability to endure the pressures of deep-sea environments. However, I would still want to retain some aspects of my humanity; such as the ability to communicate verbally and to move between life on land and in the water. The idea of being able to dive into the ocean鈥檚 depths and then return to life on land would offer the best of both worlds.

When it comes to sacrificing my humanity, I would be willing to give up some physical characteristics in exchange for the orca鈥檚 strengths, but I wouldn鈥檛 want to lose my human consciousness or my ability to connect with other humans. Ultimately, the appeal of hybridization with an orca lies in the possibility of exploring a world beyond human limits while still retaining a sense of self.

The Hybridization of Human and Animal

27 November 2024 Katie H.
Reading Time: 2 minutes
“PAPAGEITAUCHER FRATERCULA ARCTICA 02” BY RICHARD BARTZ IS LICENSED UNDER CC BY-SA 3.0.

If humans were able to be hybridized with one animal, what animal would you choose and why? I would choose a puffin. I thought about this question quite a bit and considered more common animals like tigers, eagles, whales, and starfish. However, I think puffins would be my top choice. Puffins can fly, swim, and walk on land efficiently. Humans can also swim and walk on land, but puffins can fly and may have a better swimming ability. Puffins are able to dive as deep as 200 feet underwater with their webbed feet, can hold their breaths for about 1 minute, and their feathers are waterproof (Henderson, 2021; Puffin FAQs, 2015). Puffins are able to fly up to about ~40-50 mph and up to 30 feet (Henderson, 2021; Puffin FAQs, 2015).

THIS IMAGE WAS CREATED USING CHATGPT ON 22 OCT 2024. https://chatgpt.com/share/6717bf4b-db64-800c-b658-2d6306023101

How far should the hybridization between you and your chosen animal to go, and how much humanity are you willing to sacrifice? I do not think there is an easy answer to this question. It would be nice if the hybridization only extended to the point that humans are able to obtain the puffin’s abilities to swim and fly. I would still want to look human but with the ability to fly and swim. Ultimately, I think I will have to sacrifice typical human features in order to obtain the puffin’s ability to swim and fly. I think the hybrid would look somewhat similar to the image on the left (minus the beak on the right side of the face). I do not think much humanity should be sacrificed in this hybridization. Since puffins have a shorter life span, only about ~20 years, I do think humans would have to sacrifice some years of their typical lifespan (Henderson, 2021). More puffin than humanity would be lost in this hybridization. The size and most of the typical physical features of puffins are lost. I also think the diet and lifestyle of this hybridization should lean more towards humanity rather than puffin.

References:

Henderson, J. (2021, April 16). Puffin Facts & Information Guide – Aurora Expeditions. Aurora Expeditions. https://www.aurora-expeditions.com/blog/puffin-information-guide/

Puffin FAQs. (2015, November 19). Hog Island Audubon Camp. https://hogisland.audubon.org/puffin-faqs-0

The Elephuman Experience

27 November 2024 Sydney V.
Reading Time: 2 minutes
THIS IMAGE WAS CREATED USING CHATGPT ON 24 OCT 2024. https://chatgpt.com/c/671b0ef0-2118-8012-bb7e-303017c83035

If I had the opportunity to hybridize with any animal, I would choose an elephant. Elephants are known for their intelligence and compassion which are two qualities that could enhance my current self. By merging my current intelligence with that of an elephant, I will have enhanced memory and problem-solving skills. This would allow me to not only be able to use my memory skills for school and in my future career as a physician, but I would also be able to solve real-world problems more easily. Elephants are also known for their emotional intelligence and connections with their families. This would translate to my increased empathy and compassion in my daily interactions with people and would encourage me to serve my community more to help those in need. This would also help me build stronger, long lasting relationships that are rooted in love and acceptance. Less importantly to me, I would have increased sensory perception of the world. I would be constantly aware of my surroundings and any impending dangers. The hybridization would be limited to the cognitive and emotional aspects. I would maintain my physical human form and the other qualities I have that make me me. I would be able to keep my individuality while also enhancing my intelligence and emotional IQ. I would be willing to give up the individualism I demonstrate sometimes. I would be able to prioritize collaboration over self-benefit. I believe this would not cause me to lose myself, but I would have a stronger focus on others over myself. My hybridization with an elephant would enhance my personal qualities and turn my focus to empathy and community. It would also deepen my respect for organisms outside of myself. This truly would allow me to have the best of both worlds and become a better human to my community.

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