Morphing non-animals

[anijen21]

the problem with that, though, is that even our taxonomic system is not perfect. There are all sorts of gray areas with how we've classified all the organisms on our planet, and the likelihood that some alien technology would rigorously apply to those somewhat fluctuating standards is really low. So sure, I'm more than willing to bet there's some plant or fungus or near-lifeless invertebrate that the Animorphs could morph.

It's an interesting discussion, for sure. I wish we'd heard more about how the technology was developed.

But hey, shameless plug, I DID A LITTLE THINKING ABOUT IT IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN ONE RANDOM INTERPRETATION:

The Birth of Morphing

[estrid]

but unicellular and multicellular should still be drasticaly different on the andalite homeworld as on earth. and the way DNA functions is different. Also, i forgot to mention earlier, most bacterial DNA is a cirlcle while that of animals is the doble helix. I am sure that would affect how the DNA was absorbed, and thus ensuring that only DNA of unicellulars could be absorbed

[anijen21]

you're right. I'm just saying the line is fuzzy, you know? And besides, acknowledging how differentiated life on Earth can be is one thing, but ASSUMING that Andalite DNA and Hork-Bajir DNA is all built the exact same way as Human DNA--or at least, more similar to human DNA that Earth bacterial DNA is to Human DNA--is a bit of a stretch. So they have Adenine, Cytosine, Thymine, and Guanine in outer space, too? The evolutionary patterns of different planets are that similar? I mean, idk.

I figure, if it works with aliens, it's got to work with pretty much everything.

[goom]

I figure, if it works with aliens, it's got to work with pretty much everything.

*tries to picture jake morphing into the ellimist*

[estrid]

lol true jen. they may be different on other planets. but either the andalites designed the cube so it could recognize a variety of different base pairs besides just the A C T G of earth life, or every animal they encountered has those 4 pairs, but they arrange differently to form the different organisms. man it woulda been itneresting to see Ax (or better yet estrid since she was the science person) explain this

[Fwahm]

I'm willing to bet that Jake could indeed morph the Ellimist.

However, he'd just become a Ketran, with none of the powers that the Ellimist has, since they aren't linked to his DNA.

[anijen21]

idk, whenever the Ellimist revealed himself to the Animorphs, it was just as his *form* or whatever. Just a deception so they could relate to his higher-level omnipotence. I don't think, when he talked to them, he actually made a physical body like he did with the Andalite cavemen in the Ellimist Chronicles. Sort of like how Q was a person--he walked, talked, took up space--but I really don't think he was comprised of flesh and blood when he confronted the *Intrepid crew of the Enterprise D*

[Darth Revan]

Yeah, he'd have to find the Ellimist before Ascension.

[Phoenix004]

the animorphs were given the ability to morph any ANIMAL. bacteria are not animals. they are not even in the same kingdom. they are unicellular organisms, while even the most basic animal (the sea sponge) is multi cellular. if the morphing technology was designed to allow the person to aquire the DNA from any animal, it probably ment it could only read the DNA of multicellular orgamisms. im sure there was something in the technology that could only read DNA coming from animals

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. I mean we pretty much know for a fact that they can't morph plants (which I believe have DNA) so the morphing technology must have a method of knowing if the thing they're trying to acquire is an animal. Or perhaps there's something unique about animals that means the acquiring process only works on them and not other living things like plants.

just as anijen said:
(speaking of which, is the animal's mind and new instincts always the last thing to change? i'd like to see a half-morphed animorph struggling for control with a new morph.)

you can't control something (like a bacteria) with such a different/lacking mind.

I won't even try to guess how it works, but it seems clear that the creature's instincts are always the last thing to appear when morphing. As for not being able to morph anything with a mind, it was heavily implied that Ants had no real minds of their own and they morphed them fine (besides the horrific psychological trauma).

Brains might not be a necessary requirement either, as Rachel morphed a starfish and they don't have brains, at least not in the conventional sense. They do have a nervous system though, which acts almost like a distributed brain. It's possible that having a nervous system is required for the acquiring process, since plants don't have a nervous system. I believe that bacteria also lack a nervous system, which means it might be impossible to acquire one.

[estrid]

The nervous system is a good point. all animals have SOME kind of nervous system, even if its so ridiculously basic all it does is control breathing and what not. so that would be a good way of factoring out non-animals from animal DNA. if there is no inkling of a nervous system, then it isn't an animal, and there4 u cant acquire its DNA

[Darth Revan]

There, I believe we got it sorted. High fives, all around.

[anijen21]

GREAT JOB EVERYONE

[Phoenix004]

Wow, did we just (possibly) solve the mystery of how animals can be acquired but plants can't? Awesome! 

[estrid]

yes, everything resolve all u needed was some input from a bio major

[Phoenix004]

And a guy who got a C in Science!