TM

BIO -TECH The Next Step in Human Evolution

By David Pulver
Additional Material and Research Assistance by
Stan Berry, Steve Dickie, Benjamin Diedrich, Karl Diedrich,
Peter Donald, Scott Farrow, Laurel Halbany, Elizabeth McCoy,
John Nowak, Peggy Pulver, Timothy Pulver, and Sean Punch

Edited by Sean Punch

Illustrated by Dan Smith

GURPS System Design by Steve Jackson

Gene Seabolt, Chief Operations Officer
Sean Punch, GURPS Line Editor
Page Layout and Typography by Olen Everett Cone
Cover and Interior Production by Carol M. Burrell
Print Buying by Monica Stephens
Art Direction by Carol M. Burrell

Playtesters: Ed Bradley, Ray Cochener, James R. Dunson, Scott Farrow, John L. Freiler, Mark Halsall,
Paul D. Henrichsen, Bob Huss, Scott A. Hutchens, Daniel Jasman, Jr., Hunter Johnson, Don Juneau, Jonathan Lang,
M. A. Lloyd, Elizabeth McCoy, Phil Masters, Aaron Medwin, Chris Murray, John Nowak, Nana Yaw Ofori,
Ian Osmond, Chris Owen, Timothy Pulver, Gary W. Roe, Curtis Shenton and Bolie Williams IV

GURPS and the all-seeing pyramid are registered trademarks of Steve Jackson Games Incorporated. Pyramid and Illuminati Online and the names of all
products published by Steve Jackson Games Incorporated are registered trademarks or trademarks of Steve Jackson Games Incorporated, or used under license.
GURPS Bio-Tech is copyright © 1997 by Steve Jackson Games Incorporated. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

ISBN 1-55634-336-1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

STEVE JACKSON GAMES

 Liver and Kidney Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Exotic Industrial Bacteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Felicia-Series Bioroid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Terraforming Microorganisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Morphological Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Germ Warfare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

CONTENTS Heavy Worlder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Helot-Series Upgrade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Musculo-Skeletal Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Ishtar-Series Upgrade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Nervous System Modifications
(Reflex Boosting) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Anti-Material Bacteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Purchasing Microorganisms . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Fighting Disease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
GENGINEERED PLANTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
GENGINEERED INSECTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Paranormal Abilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Insect Bioweapons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
About GURPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Respiratory Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 DESIGNING PLANTS, MICRO-
Lepus-Series Parahuman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 ORGANISMS AND INSECTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
1. BIOTECHNOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Light Worlder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 ENGINEERED ANIMALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Basic Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Sensory Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Creating Biomodified Animals . . . . . . . . . 99
Biotech Tech Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Orion-Series Upgrade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 BIOGADGETS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Spacer Modification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Bioships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Gengineering Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Sexual and Reproductive Modifications . . . . . 47
Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Sentient Buildings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Camazotz-Series Parahuman . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Gene Cloning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Other Living Structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Chronos-Series Bioroid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Eve, Eukaryotes and Organelles . . . . . . . . . 8
Germline Gengineering of Plants and Animals . . 9
Transformations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Xeno-Anatomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
5. IMMORTALITY INCORPORATED . . . . 112
Gene Therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Cryonics and Suspended Animation . . . . 113
Gilgamesh-Series Parahuman . . . . . . . . . . 50
Genetic Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Cryonic Preservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Junk DNA and Gengineering . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Gengineered Disadvantages . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Pandora-Series Parahuman . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Age and Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Genetic Reconstruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Cryonic Revival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Mental Disadvantages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Viruses and Bacteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 More About Cryonics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Spartan-Series Bioroid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Biomimetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Physical Disadvantages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Suspended Animation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Biotronics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Braintaping Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Other Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Memory Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Heredity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Taboo Traits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) . . . . . . 13 Braintaping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Tek Rat Parahuman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Cloning of Multicellular Organisms . . . . . 14 Braintaping Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Racial Point Cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Braintapes and Realism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
The Human Genome Project . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Void-Dancer-Series Parahuman . . . . . . . . 56 Alternative Braintaping Technologies . . . . 117
Examples of Biomimetic Products . . . . . . . 16
Life’s Price Tag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Game Effects of Braintaping . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Reproductive Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Established Variant Races . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Persona-Napping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Monoclonal Antibodies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Custom Designs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Multiple People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
In Vitro Fertilization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Genetic Engineering and Aliens . . . . . . . . . 58 Braintaping Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Biotech Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Beyond the Probable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Deep Learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Campaign Effects of Braintaping . . . . . . . 119
Lab Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Braintaping-Related Technology . . . . . . . . . . 121
Lifebanks and Genome Libraries . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Memory Uploads to Gengineered Clones . . . . 121
Other Biomedical Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Copy-Protection Nano . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Hellkitchen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Memory Integration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Chrysalis Machine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 6. CHARACTERS AND CORPORATIONS . . 124
2. HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING . . . . 24 BIOTECH CHARACTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Gengineering at Conception . . . . . . . . . . . 25 3. BIOMODS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Character Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Eugenic Germline Gengineering . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Biotech and Cyberpunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Defining “Human” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 ELECTIVE SURGERY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Using GURPS Bio-Tech with
Sex Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Bodysculpting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Cyberworld . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Germline Gengineering for Species Transplants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Experimental Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Modification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Medical Transplants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Post-Human Clothing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Sex and Genetic Engineering . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Xenotransplants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Cleanup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Linked Advantages and Disadvantages . . . . 26 Biomod Organ Transplants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 The Organ Trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Objectives of Human Gengineering . . . . . . . . . 27 Limb Replacement Transplants . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Black Market Organ Prices . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Eugeneering and Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Polykeratin Grafts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Acquiring Biomods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Hidden Dangers – Overspecialization and Sensa-Skin Grafts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Advantages and Disadvantages . . . . . . . . 130
Evolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Neurosurgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Universal Donors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Human Eugenics: Breeding Programs . . . . 28 Tissue Engineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
DESIGNING VARIANT HUMAN CHEMICAL ENHANCEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Biotech Jobs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
TEMPLATES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 GENETIC SURGERY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 About Our Commentators . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Gengineered Attribute Modifiers . . . . . . . 30 Proteus Nanovirus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 BIOTECH BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Why Make Ubermenschen? . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Growing Nanovirus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Gengineered Advantages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Types of Proteus Virus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 APPENDIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Brain Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Metamorphosis Virus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Biotech Advantages, Enhancements and
Nature vs. Nurture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 The Transformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Cardiovascular Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Sample Metamorphosis New and Modified Advantages . . . . . . . . 136
Miniature Humans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Transformations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Cosmetic Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 New Enhancement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Gastrointestinal Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Proteus Virus Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 New Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Glandular Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 NANO-SYMBIOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Alpha-Series Upgrade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
GLOSSARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
4. MAN’S BEST FRIENDS . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Immune System Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Eros-Series Bioroid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 GENGINEERED MICROBES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Lifespan and Self-Repair Modifications . . . . . 38 Microbes at Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
2 CONTENTS
 About GURPS

INTRODUCTION
Steve Jackson Games is committed to full
support of the GURPS system. Our address
is SJ Games, Box 18957, Austin, TX
78760. Please include a self-addressed,
stamped envelope (SASE) any time you
write us! Resources now available include:
Pyramid (www.sjgames.com/pyramid).
Our online magazine includes new rules
Genetic engineering and other biotechnology are about to change the world and articles for GURPS. It also covers all
in ways we can only begin to guess at. the hobby’s top games – AD&D, Traveller,
Can we resist the temptation to tinker with our genes when the potential World of Darkness, Call of Cthulhu,
Shadowrun and many more – and other SJ
rewards include immortality? Will exotic wonder drugs soon be produced in Games releases like In Nomine, INWO,
cows and goats? Will genetically-enhanced plagues threaten to wipe us out, or Car Wars, Toon, Ogre Miniatures and
will bio-nanotech let us conquer disease and transform ourselves into post- more. And Pyramid subscribers also have
human superbeings? Just how do genetic engineering, cloning and braintaping access to playtest files online, to see (and
work, anyhow? comment on) new books before they’re
released.
GURPS Bio-Tech answers these and other questions by looking at current New supplements and adventures.
and future technologies from a science-fiction perspective. In this book, we’ll GURPS continues to grow, and we’ll be
take a detailed look at many of the biotechnologies that other GURPS books happy to let you know what’s new. A cur-
have taken for granted and see how they stack up against the latest developments rent catalog is available for an SASE. Or
in the real world. The answers may surprise you . . . check out our Web site (below).
Errata. Everyone makes mistakes, includ-
ing us – but we do our best to fix our errors.
Up-to-date errata sheets for all GURPS
releases, including this book, are always
available from SJ Games; be sure to include
an SASE with your request. Or download
them from the Web – see below.
Q&A. We do our best to answer any game
question accompanied by an SASE.
Gamer input. We value your comments.
We will consider them, not only for new
products, but also when we update this
book on later printings!
Internet. Visit us on the World Wide Web
at www.sjgames.com for an online catalog,
Using This Book errata and updates, and hundreds of pages
of information. We also have conferences
Biotechnology breeds its own jargon. While most unfamiliar technical terms on Compuserve and America Online.
are explained as they are introduced, definitions can also be found in the Glossary, GURPS has its own Usenet group, too:
p. 139. If you run into an obscure term, check the glossary. rec.games.frp.gurps.
This book introduces few new advantages or disadvantages, but does add a GURPSnet. Much of the online discussion
of GURPS happens on this e-mail list. To
wide range of new enhancements and limitations. These are explained in the join, send mail to [email protected] with
Appendix, p. 135. “subscribe GURPSnet-L” in the body, or
Finally, fictional quotes introduce many sections of this book. Capsule biogra- point your World Wide Web browser to:
phies of our “commentators” appears in Chapter 6, in the sidebars on pp. 132-34. www.io.com/GURPSnet/www.

About the Author Page References

David L. Pulver is a free- See GURPS Compendium I, p. 181, for a
lance writer and game designer full list of abbreviations for GURPS titles.
Any page reference that begins with a B refers
based in Kingston, Ontario. to GURPS Basic Set, Third Edition Revised;
He is the author or co- e.g., p. B144 refers to page 144 of Basic Set.
author of over 20 books, CI refers to GURPS Compendium I,
including a novel and various CII refers to Compendium II, CW to
roleplaying supplements, such Cyberworld, CY to Cyberpunk, FF to
Fantasy Folk, Second Edition, P refers to
as GURPS Reign of Steel and Psionics, RO to Robots, S to Space, Second
Psionics, and Bubblegum Edition, SU to Supers, Second Edition, UT
Crisis: Before and After (for to Ultra-Tech, Second Edition Revised,
R. Talsorian Games). David’s UTT to Ultra-Tech 2 and VE to Vehicles,
interests include science fic- Second Edition.

INTRODUCTION 3
1 BIOTECHNOLOGY
 Tika Dawnstar frowned – she needed money. Her scholarship covered her
tuition in the University of Mars’ genetic engineering program, but cost of living at
Nix Olympica was awful, thanks to the terraforming taxes. She needed a winter job,
Biotech Tech Levels
TL1-3 (pre-1450). Farming leads to a
one that would pay for the cutting-edge neurovirus with which she hoped to practical understanding of basic heredi-
upgrade her brain in time to ace the upcoming term’s exam. ty; plants and animals bred for desired
Plugging into her biocomputer, she scanned the “Help Wanted” column on traits. Microbes exploited to make
GeneWeb. Assistant on a project to develop a pollution-eating, cryogenic bacteria bread, wine and cheese.
to clean up a vatspill on Titan? Bleah. Design new porkapple plants? Yuck. She was TL4 (1450-1700). Development of
the optical microscope makes cells visi-
a vegetarian, anyway. She scrolled down the page, then stopped. High Arcadia was ble for the first time.
an orbital habitat – an adventure theme park based on Greek mythology. They TL5 (1701-1900). Mendel develops
wanted a freelancer with grad-level expertise to design one of the creatures that laws of heredity. Nature of cells and
would populate the park: a lamia, with a snake’s body and a human head. Tika’s reproduction understood. Germ theory
eyes widened . . . The lamia was to be fully sapient! of disease developed, along with early
Wasn’t that illegal? Tika called up a law database and cross-checked: Nope. It vaccines. Darwin postulates evolution.
Galton theorizes eugenics.
was bioethically questionable, but High Arcadia was an autonomous extra-national TL6 (1901-1950). Mutation of plants
entity, not a signatory to the Genetic Regulatory Protocols; she could work with and microorganisms using chemicals
human DNA. Tika hugged herself – this would be fun! and radiation. Biochemistry comes into
She considered the problem. A snake/human cell fusion, so she’d have to its own. Penicillin and other antibiotics
smooth out the biochemical differences between species . . . and probably get lots of developed. Electron microscope allows
false starts and aborted embryos before she got it right, even if she rented time on viruses to be seen. Experiments in
eugenics.
the university’s vatbrain megacomputer. But she could do it with the facilities they TL7 (1951-2000). DNA, chromo-
were promising, and the advance would pay for her new brain! Humming to herself, somes and genes discovered, related to
Tika began composing her application letter to the Arcadia Entertainment Group. heredity. Genome mapping begins.
Recombinant DNA and transgenics
allow simple gengineering. Organ trans-
Biological manipulation is nothing new. Humans have been influencing the plants, genetic testing, and experimental
gene therapy and cloning.
genetics of plants and animals for thousands of years through selective breeding. TL8. Human genome is mapped and
For example, most sheep once had long legs. That’s better for the sheep, since they sequenced, along with the genomes of
can run away from predators, but not so good for a farmer, who finds it harder to many other terrestrial animals. Complex
control and shear a nimble animal. So shepherds bred the sheep with shorter legs genetic modifications become possible.
together. The result? After many generations, the “improved” sheep are all short- Cloning perfected. Artificial wombs
legged, and farmers need specially-bred sheep dogs to keep the predators away. (“growth tanks”).
TL9. Mature gengineering. Limited
The trouble with selective breeding is that it takes generations to produce results. genetic control over mental traits.
Consequently, much of what we know about genetics comes from studying organisms Development of bio-nanotechnology
that have relatively short lifespans, such as fast-growing plants, fruit flies or bacteria. permits braintaping and the use of
Today, dramatic breakthroughs in molecular biology have led to genetic engi- nanoviruses in germline gengineering.
neering, a technology that allows the work of centuries to be done in months or TL10. Gengineering of complex
mental traits, such as intelligence.
years. In the 21st century, gengineering may create modified animal species, or
Routine genetic reconstruction of
even an “improved” breed of human. But who determines what is an “improve- ancient DNA traces.
ment” – the sheep or the shepherd? TL11. Living machines. Sensa-skin.
Nanoviruses and gengineering can alter
the fine structure of an adult mind.
TL12. Complex nanoviruses, includ-
ing contagious ones, make radical trans-
formations possible in humans and ani-
mals.
TL13+. Near-total control over bio-
logical processes through mature nan-

Basic Principles
All terrestrial life is made up of cells: one cell in the case of simple organisms
otechnology. Chrysalis machine.
The time frame after TL7 is simply
speculation. Also, while the GURPS
Basic Set suggests that TL8 may repre-
like bacteria or protozoa, and about 800 billion in a human. A cell consists of a mem- sent 2001-2050, it’s possible that
brane which encapsulates a watery soup of subcellular bodies. Among the most biotechnology will outpace this – in
important of these are skinny strands called chromosomes. Bacteria (the simplest life fact, if the wildest prophets of molecu-
forms) have a single chromosome (and several, smaller ring-shaped bodies called lar nanotechnology prove to be on tar-
get, we might even see a TL increase in
plasmids). In more complex forms of life, multiple chromosomes are housed inside a the field of biotechnology each genera-
nucleus in the center of the cell; e.g., each human cell contains 23 pairs of chromo- tion, or even each decade! Thus, instead
somes. Every cell in a particular organism, except the reproductive cells, has the same of being “far, far future,” TL13 biotech
number and type of chromosomes. Collectively, the chromosomes form an instruction may be 2100 or even 2050!
manual that contains all the information an organism needs to grow and reproduce. Continued on next page . . .

BIOTECHNOLOGY 5
 Chromosomes are made of
deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA. This
Biotech Tech Levels is a long, complex molecule with a
(Continued) tightly-coiled “double helix” shape,
resembling a twisted ladder. The
“rails” are formed from deoxyribose
This assumption has been incorpo- sugar and phosphate molecules,
rated into some of the vignettes in later while each “rung” on the ladder is
chapters, which explains why several of
composed of two compounds, called
the personalities “live through” multiple
tech levels.
bases, locked together to form a pair
– either the molecules adenine and
guanine (an AG pair), or cytosine
Tech Level Variations and thymine (a CT pair).
It’s perfectly possible to have a soci- If chromosomes are an instruction manual, then these base pairs (approximately
ety in which certain developments in 3 billion in a human!) can be thought of as the “letters” in the “genetic code” that it
technology, such as biotech, are more is written in. To continue the analogy, particular arrangements AG or CT base pairs
or less advanced than other types of form words, and a single coherent sentence is a gene. Each gene (there are as many
technology. In fact, this is strongly rec- as 100,000 in a human) contains a specific instruction that tells the cell how to man-
ommended for certain campaign set- ufacture the chemicals needed for life.
tings.
A gene sends out instructions to the cell by making a copy of the genetic code
For instance, the average cyberpunk
world background (as described in using messenger RNA (ribonucleic acid). Messenger RNA carries a gene’s instruc-
GURPS Cyberpunk) may be TL8 over- tions to big, lumpy molecules that float around the chromosome, known as ribo-
all, but medicine, biotech and cybernet- somes, which are the cell’s biological factories. They read the genetic message writ-
ics are usually at TL10 or TL11 – ten in the RNA as an instruction to start or stop manufacturing a particular protein
sometimes even higher. A “nanopunk” (see below) from available chemicals.
world may be TL8-9 in the physical Proteins are complex molecules (made of amino acids) used in cellular chemi-
sciences but TL12-13 in biotech and cal reactions. Some proteins make up the structure of cells. Others, called enzymes,
nanotech. act as catalysts to induce molecules to form new combinations, or break complex
Likewise, some alien species or molecules (such as food) down into smaller components. What differentiates one
exotic human cultures may follow a dif- species or individual from another are the different proteins that their cells produce,
ferent path, leading to TL9+ in biotech
and the order in which they produce them. These metabolic processes – digesting
but a much lower tech level in other
areas. This is especially likely for aquat- chemicals from food and making more DNA, RNA and enzymes so that cells can
ic species, or those evolving in gas giant replicate – are what characterizes life on the cellular level.
atmospheres. Cells replicate by splitting in two. When this happens, each of the chromosomes
GMs should also feel free to adjust within them also divides down the middle, so that both new cells have a copy of
the tech level at which different each chromosome. These half-chromosomes then reconstitute themselves from the
biotech inventions appear. If you think loose chemicals in the cell. In this way, each cell remains an exact duplicate of the
braintaping should be TL12 rather than original. In the case of asexual, single-celled organisms like bacteria, this ensures
TL9, there’s no real reason why it that each one is identical.
can’t be . . . Multicellular creatures that reproduce sexually are an exception to this. Each
parent’s reproductive cells carry only half the normal number of chromosomes.
When they unite (in a human, when an egg is fertilized by sperm), they form a sin-
gle, complete cell with the full number of chromosomes. Half of the chromosomes
(and their genes) come from one parent, half from the other. After this, the joined
cell replicates normally.
As a multicellular organism grows, genes are activated to cause individual cells
to specialize. Some become nerve cells, others become skin cells and yet others
form different organs, et cetera – all in accordance with the instructions carried in
their genes. In humans, a fertilized egg (zygote) develops first into a blastocyst, then
an embryo, and finally a fetus that is eventually capable of surviving outside the
womb as a baby.

Gengineering Techniques
Genetic engineering, or “gengineering,” is the practice of manipulating genes to
produce desired changes in an organism. The foundations of gengineering were laid
in 1950s, when Watson, Crick, Franklin and Wilkins described the structure of
DNA. Watson and Crick identified it with the basic blueprint of life (1953), and
determined that all terrestrial life forms seemed to share a universal genetic code.

6 BIOTECHNOLOGY
 In the 1970s, it was discovered that proteins called restriction enzymes (derived
from certain bacteria) could act like molecular knives, slicing DNA molecules at
predetermined points, while another enzyme, ligase, could function like a molecular
glue to rejoin these pieces. Since all life on Earth has the same genetic code, the
genes are, in a gross but wonderful sense, a box of interchangeable parts. Using
restriction enzymes and ligase, scientists found they could chop fragments out of
one organism’s DNA and splice them into another, resulting in “recombinant
DNA.” Thus the discipline of genetic engineering was born.
At first, only simple bacteria could be gengineered, but by the 1980s, scientists
had learned how to “cut and paste” genes into more complex plants and animals.
Since DNA is a universal code, genes from one species can be added to another,
producing transgenic life forms that possess traits from multiple species.
By the 1990s, many transgenic life forms, from simple bacteria to higher mam-
mals like mice and pigs, had been developed and even patented, for both research
and commercial purposes. Ethical considerations have so far prevented the creation
of transgenic humans, but human genes have been inserted into other organisms.
Genetic engineering has also been performed on humans to fix genetic defects (such
as immune deficiency or cystic fibrosis), using a process known as gene therapy.
So how does gengineering work?
Sophisticated chromosome-mapping techniques (see Human Genome Project,
p. 14) are used to determine which genes do what. The desired genes can then be
cut out of cells (using restriction enzymes) and placed into bacteria, where they are
copied as the bacteria reproduce. Since the 1980s, however, the favored method has
been a technique known as the polymerase chain reaction, or PCR; see p. 13. A
Prokaryotes
genetic engineer can create a computer model of the genetic sequences he wants, and Eukaryotes
then mix together the basic building blocks to assemble DNA molecules in the lab.
By copying the sequences of existing genes, genetic engineers can produce genes At the cellular level, a yeast is more
that they know will be functional. Alternatively, they can analyze proteins and use closely related to a human than either
that information to devise genes that will produce those proteins. are to a bacterium. Terrestrial life is
divided into two main categories:
Strands of DNA don’t do any good just sitting in a test tube, though. If the prokaryotic organisms (like bacteria)
DNA is to be added to a different species, it must be further modified so that it will and eukaryotic organisms (like fungi,
actually do something (“express itself”) when inserted into the host organism’s plants and animals). The cells of
cells. To do this, genetic engineers must construct a partially artificial gene that eukaryotic and prokaryotic life forms
obeys the regulatory mechanisms of the host species. Altered DNA also needs a have certain fundamental differences.
way to enter the cells of the organism it is to modify. Some of the methods used by For example, eukaryotic cells possess a
gengineers to accomplish this are: clearly-defined nucleus, as well as pos-
sessing introns (see Junk DNA and
Gengineering, p. 10) and organelles
(see Eve, Eukaryotes and Organelles, p.
8).
While the two major branches of life
on Earth are the prokaryotic bacteria
and the eukaryotes, a third division has
recently come to light. These are bacte-
ria-like microorganisms that have been
named archaea (meaning “ancient” in
Microinjection: A favored method is to inject genetic material into target cell Greek), because they have been around
nuclei, either with a tiny needle or by using a “gene gun” which uses compressed on Earth for billions of years. When
gas to fire very tiny pellets (often gold dust) coated with genetic material. first discovered 20 years ago, these
Microinjection is the preferred method when genes need only be delivered to a sin- “archaebacteria” were thought to be a
gle cell (such as a bacterium or egg cell) in a lab dish. very ancient type of bacteria with odd
Bacterial Plasmids: Plasmids are small rings of DNA found in bacteria outside properties; e.g., some archaea species
have a methane-secreting metabolism
their chromosomes. Some types of soil bacteria, such as Agrobacterium tumefa- and live in high-temperature thermal
ciens, have the habit of inserting pieces of their plasmids into plants, transferring vents. However, recent research sug-
some of their DNA to the plant’s chromosomes, resulting in tumors. Scientists have gests that they are quite different on a
been able to modify these plasmids into vehicles for the transport of recombinant genetic level – two-thirds of the genes
genes, and they are useful tools for gengineering many plant species. However, this of archaea do not resemble those of any
method is ineffective on animals and some plants. other living creature, suggesting a
Retroviruses: In their natural state, retroviruses (“RNA viruses”), such as HIV, divergence from bacteria at least three
billion years ago.
enter a living cell and take over its metabolism. They inject their RNA into the cell,
taking over its cellular machinery and forcing it to make copies of the virus. Genetic

BIOTECHNOLOGY 7
 engineers have turned this ability to their advantage. They modify the retrovirus so
Eve, Eukaryotes that instead of hijacking the cell to make viruses, it deposits the new gene. One pit-
fall of this method is that viruses are hard to selectively target – this procedure often
and Organelles produces many failures for each success, and there is a very slight but real danger
that the virus will deposit genes in the wrong place, or damage existing genes,
One of the major differences resulting in unintended defects or even cancer. However, retroviruses have the
between bacteria (prokaryotes) and advantage that they can be used to deliver genes to many cells at once, which makes
more advanced organisms (eukaryotes) them useful for gene therapy (see p. 9). In the future, “smarter” tailored viruses with
is that the latter possess miniature,
organ-like parts called “organelles.”
greater discrimination may be developed.
Organelles are located outside the Artificial Chromosomes: The problem of knowing where to put recombinant
cell’s nucleus, and perform specialized genes may be solved in some cases by creating completely synthetic chromosomes.
tasks, much like our body’s organs. For This has been done in the lab (as of 1997) and may prove to be a useful tool. A new
example, the mitochondria are bundles chromosome will be very obvious to any genetic test, though!
of rod-like organelles where vital, ener- Nanoviruses: At present, retroviruses and microinjection are the most common
gy-releasing chemical reactions take ways of inserting genetic material. However, 21st-century gengineering may use
place. These energy factories consume
oxygen to break down sugars and acids,
more exotic techniques. One possibility is the nanovirus, a protein-based “organic
then capture the resulting energy for the robot” capable of performing sophisticated molecular and cellular engineering.
cell’s use. Other types of organelles Nanoviruses may be radically gengineered retroviruses or white blood cells, or com-
include plastids (organelles where pho- pletely artificial constructs. They pass harmlessly through cell membranes and take
tosynthesis takes place in plants) and over cellular machinery using their own artificial enzymes, then alter or insert genetic
undulipodia (whip-like bodies found in material or other chemicals. They communicate with each other using specialized
the tails of sperm). enzymes, and even cooperate, coordinating their operations. Nanoviruses are power-
Organelles resemble tiny bacteria –
in fact, they possess minute amounts of
ful tools, and are the basis of many ultra-tech gengineering projects, taking over
their own DNA and RNA. In effect, from clumsier tailored viruses in tasks such as germline gengineering.
they have their own tiny genomes. A
growing body of recent evidence sug- So what can you do with recombinant DNA? Some possibilities are . . .
gests that in the distant past, organelles
were originally free bacteria, but were
engulfed by other bacteria and incorpo-
rated into them as symbiotes. Our
Gene Cloning
Genetic engineering techniques can be used to isolate the particular gene that pro-
genetic code seems to show that it was
this evolutionary leap that transformed
duces a given protein. That gene can then be inserted into a fast-reproducing bacterium,
prokaryotes into the more complex creating a transgenic species. What good is that? We’ll demonstrate with an example:
eukaryotic species, enabling them to The protein insulin is vital for treating diabetes. It’s produced naturally in the
evolve into plants and animals. human pancreas, but harvesting it from humans is not practical. Before gene
Organelles – specifically, the mito- cloning, insulin was harvested from other animal species, but this required expen-
chondria – have helped scientists study sive purification and sometimes had side effects. What was needed was a way to
the way species have evolved. When an mass-produce pure human insulin in large quantities. This was accomplished by
organism reproduces sexually, the sperm
and egg unite to combine the mother’s
using recombinant DNA techniques to splice the gene that makes human insulin into
and father’s genetic information. a bacterium. If the genetic engineering is properly performed, the bacterium will
accept the foreign gene. The human gene will then “express itself” by telling the
Continued on next page . . .
bacterium to manufacture the desired protein.
Bacteria can reproduce every half hour or so if they are sup-
plied with the proper nutrients and their temperature is carefully
regulated. Each time they reproduce, they double their popula-
tion; in a day, there might be a few million of them. When a
large enough biomass of bacteria exists, the mass can be
processed to extract the protein. A little more finesse in the
genetic engineering may even produce a bacteria that excretes
the protein itself. If a large enough vat is used, tons of commer-
cially-useful proteins can be produced.
This process has been used successfully since the 1980s.
While late-TL7 gene cloning techniques of this sort focus on
compounds that are medically useful (such as insulin or growth
hormones), TL8+ techniques may widen this to include numerous
proteins with exotic industrial applications. As genetic engineer-
ing labs become more widespread, it’s possible to imagine gene
cloning being used to produce substances such as illegal drugs.
In addition to naturally-occurring, medically-useful proteins,
gengineering has spurred the design of new ones with novel

8 BIOTECHNOLOGY
characteristics, such as tailored enzymes designed to perform specific chemical reac-
tions more efficiently than conventional catalysts. In the 1990s, only a few dozen
enzymes were used for industrial purposes, such as detergents or food sweeteners,
but enzyme engineering will be a major industry in the 21st century. Many future
products, from superior plastics to new foods and wonder drugs, may use genetically
modified (“genemod”) enzymes in their manufacture, and such enzymes may even
be the first step toward building nanomachines.

Germline Gengineering of Plants and Animals

This is what most people think of as genetic engineering. Using the techniques
described above, genes are inserted into the reproductive germ cells of a plant or
animal, such as fertilized eggs. Modifications to the single, fertilized germ cell will
be passed on to all successive cells in the organism, as the egg cell grows and
divides. Moreover, if the process is performed correctly, the altered genes will be
put in the right places and be accepted by the cells’ regulatory mechanisms. This
will cause the cells to produce different proteins, which will lead to the organism
developing in a different way than it otherwise would. The result? A permanent
change in the species, and one that can be passed on to successive generations.
Germline gengineering can create enhanced or modified organisms. These include
transgenic plants and animals with numerous commercial, medical or even military
uses (see Chapter 4) and altered humans or other intelligent species (see Chapter 2).
Eve, Eukaryotes
Gene Therapy and Organelles
When working with germ cells, a single change will spread throughout the (Continued)
entire organism. However, after a germ cell has grown from a seed or an egg into a
However, the sperm only carries a
mature organism, performing genetic engineering is much trickier, because instead
nucleus – it doesn’t transmit any of the
of working with only one cell, the gengineer must work with billions, each of which father’s mitochondria, which are outside
has now been locked into a specialized role. the nucleus. This means that mitochon-
While it is very difficult to add genes that alter the way an organism has already drial DNA is passed on only through the
grown, genetic engineering can be used to correct hereditary defects like cystic mother. By measuring the rates of
fibrosis or hemophilia, which are generally caused by malfunctioning genes in spe- genetic mutation over generations –
cific parts of the body. The process known as gene therapy uses retroviruses or other which, in the simple genome of mito-
chondria, are remarkably regular – it is
methods to replace defective genes with functioning ones in specific cells. In the
possible to get estimates as to how old a
future, with the availability of more advanced tools like nanoviruses, such “genetic particular species is, and at what point it
surgery” may become a means of not only healing but also augmenting or trans- diverged from other, related species.
forming living beings – see Genetic Surgery (p. 75) and Proteus Viruses (p. 77). In 1987, a team of scientists used
this “mitochondrial clock” to develop

Genetic Testing the “Eve” theory. Study of different

human populations allowed them to cal-
culate an average mutation rate for
Everyone’s DNA is unique (with the exception of clones and identical twins); a
human mitochondria, and they used that
genetic record is contained within every cell. A person’s DNA will also be similar to conclude that the ancestor of all sur-
to his blood relatives’, and so can be used to help determine one’s ancestry. viving mitochondrial DNA types exist-
At present, it’s possible to perform genetic tests on blood or tissue samples. In ed around 200,000 years ago, in Africa.
the future, as the human genome is mapped and sequenced, the accuracy of these This doesn’t imply there was only one
tests and the amount of information they will provide will continue to increase. human female – only that, of several
Genetic testing has a wide variety of applications. These include: thousand early humans, only one partic-
ular African genetic line has survived.
For more on the “Eve” theory and its
Trait Analysis: By matching a person’s DNA sample against what is known of relevance to human evolution, see
their species’ genome, hereditary traits can be determined, including sex, race, hair GURPS Dinosaurs, p. 94.
and eye color, hereditary diseases, et cetera. By mid-to-late TL8, even more detail The “Eve” theory is still quite con-
may be available, as the Human Genome Project (p. 14) turns up the genes that troversial, and there are questions about
influence specific mental and physical traits – or even psi or super powers, in set- the accuracy of the statistics used in the
tings where those have genetic causes! In general, if an advantage or disadvantage calculations. Nevertheless, as our
is inborn rather than otherwise acquired, it may be detected by trait analysis. knowledge of genetics improves, this
kind of genetic analysis may prove to be
Identification: A quick genetic test can be used for on-the-spot identity a valuable tool in measuring the way
checks, comparing a blood (requires only a pinprick) or saliva sample with infor- species evolve.
mation that is contained on an ID card or in a database. This may be common in

BIOTECHNOLOGY 9
 high-security areas. However, considerations of privacy may lead to laws that limit
the widespread use of genetic identification.
DNA Forensics: Analysis of trace DNA samples – such as remains, or bodily
fluids left on a crime scene or victim – can be matched with genetic records in a
database. This can identify who was involved. If no match comes up in the databas-
es, suspects can be tested. Trait analysis can also be performed, and may provide
clues as to the identity of the perpetrator or unidentified victims. At mid-to-late
TL8, genome information can even be used to create a rough computer simulation
of what the subject might look like (in the absence of cosmetic surgery) assuming
various ages and environmental influences, such as diet.
Genetic Targeting: At high TLs, DNA information may be used to create target-
seeking diseases (p. 89) or nanoviruses (p. 84) that can home in on specific individuals.

Testing Procedures
Genetic testing at TL7 must be performed in a laboratory. Forensics skill and a
day or more of work may be required to properly gather samples. Genetics skill and
at least three hours will be needed to compare the DNA of one suspect with another;
commercial labs usually take about six weeks to report. Trait analysis requires at
least a day’s work. Critical failure can result in the contamination and misidentifica-
tion of samples. If samples are very small (e.g., only a tiny trace of blood), apply a
-4 penalty. A rush job (3-4 hours) is made at a -2 penalty; there is no modifier for
taking a full day, while taking a full week gives +2.
At TL8, a portable genetic scanner can take samples in a few seconds (prick a
finger, for instance), analyze them and upload the data to a computer for an instant
cross-check against a database. A pocket scanner is $500 and one pound at TL8; roll
Junk DNA vs. Electronics Operation (Sensors)+2 or Forensics+2 to use it. An expert system pro-
gram capable of performing on-the-fly genetic trait analysis (at skill 10, takes about
and Gengineering ten minutes per attempt) is Complexity 3 and $50,000 at TL8. Each +1 to skill dou-
bles cost and increases Complexity by one. All weights and prices are halved one TL
later, and halved again two or more TLs later. People like police officers will usually
Genes that make proteins used by
the body only account for about 2% of be able to connect their personal computers to computers running multi-million dollar,
the genetic material on the chromo- high-Complexity programs in major facilities (e.g., FBI crime labs) for rapid analysis.
somes of most species. Much of the rest At TL9+, bioscanners (p. UT19) can perform genetic scans. As well, forensic
are regulators for control sequences microbots – or nanomachines, at higher TLs – can be introduced into a crime scene to
which tell the genes when to turn on or locate nearly all traces of blood, tissue and other evidence in a few hours. These can
off. In eukaryotic organisms (such as uncover traces dating back weeks or months. A package of forensic microbots or
humans) there are also introns – long,
nanobots is $2,000. See p. UTT83 for more information on forensic nanomachines.
seemingly meaningless “junk DNA”
sequences with no apparent function.
Eukaryotic cells possess mechanisms to
ignore the intron sequences when mak-
Genetic Testing and Privacy Issues
ing proteins. Whose genetic records end up in a genetic database, and who are they accessi-
How did these “worthless” introns ble to? This is a major legal question for the 21st century.
get into the genetic code? One theory is Currently, most genetic testing is done by hospitals, at the request of patients
that they represent changes introduced who want to see whether they have any hereditary defects, usually because there is a
by ancient viral hitchhikers, or are sim- history of such problems in the family and they are considering having children.
ply the genetic debris of evolutionary Some genetic testing is also performed under legal auspices, generally for
dead ends. It’s also possible that they
forensic purposes – especially in rape cases, and to determine parentage in custody
act as “genetic speed bumps” to slow
down and regulate the rate at which cer- or paternity suits. At present, genetic testing usually requires a search warrant, or
tain proteins are manufactured. Maybe may be administered on a voluntary basis to prove one’s own innocence.
they act as genetic “spare parts,” usable For the moment, only people who have undergone these tests end up in law-
in future mutations. In a cinematic cam- enforcement genetic databases. In the 1990s, the FBI had DNA profiles on over
paign, introns may have a more sinister 100,000 people, mostly prisoners. Meanwhile, the U.S. Army is genetically testing
purpose – they could contain latent its personnel and developing portable scanners. The announced purpose is to make
genetic sequences that await the proper
it easier to identify the remains of dead soldiers.
control signal to activate. Perhaps they
would express themselves as super- The question of whether employers can test workers or job candidates is controver-
powers! sial. For example, current genetic tests can determine susceptibility to some hereditary
Continued on next page . . . diseases. If testing showed that someone had a greater-than-usual risk of developing
medical problems (even late in life), then they might be perceived as a potential burden
on corporate health care plans. There is also the risk of lost productivity if they get sick.
10 BIOTECHNOLOGY
As a result, they might not be hired, and might even lose existing jobs or health
insurance. Similarly, insurance companies may wish to test applicants. As testing
gathers more data on genes that influence human behavior, discrimination could be
Junk DNA
extended toward people with hereditary tendencies toward “undesirable” mental and Gengineering
traits.
Other issues related to genetic testing include the screening of the unborn: If an (Continued)
embryo or fetus tests positive for a birth defect – or just isn’t up to par – should it be If genetically-engineered critters are
aborted? Or should genetic surgery be attempted? Then there’s the question of manufactured from scratch (TL9+), the
whether a person would want to know that he has a higher risk of coming down designer may decide not to include
with a disease – or that his genes say he has less potential for intelligence or mental introns, to make his task simpler and the
stability than is the norm. Finally, there are worries about the security of genetic results easier to predict. This means that
information. If a cautious couple get tested to ensure they won’t pass on hereditary gengineered organisms may have high-
conditions to their children, can they be sure that their genetic data won’t also find ly-compact genomes. This would be a
good way to tell if a blood sample is
its way to insurance companies or employers? from an evolved organism or a manu-
Just how widespread genetic testing becomes may vary from country to coun- factured one. Of course, without all that
try, and in a GURPS Space campaign, from planet to planet. In many countries “junk” to work with, there will be very
today, there is political support for laws to limit testing in order to protect genetic little chance of novel traits developing
privacy. In a “dark future” like GURPS Cyberworld, though, these may be repealed spontaneously.
to serve the interests of megacorporations and repressive governments. One “far out” use for introns would
be to code non-genetic information into
an organism’s cells. For example, trade-
marks, serial numbers, secret messages
or other data could be “written” into an
organism using coded arrangements of
introns! And what if ancient astronauts
coded an interstellar “treasure map” into
our introns?

Genetic Reconstruction Viruses and Bacteria

This is a technique in which traces of genetic information – even minute DNA A bacterium is a single-celled,
fragments – are recovered and pieced together with the help of technologies such as microscopic prokaryote, of which there
are countless different species. Bacteria
the polymerase chain reaction (p. 13). Computer synthesis and extrapolation from
are the simplest forms of life, capable of
the genomes of known similar organisms, if any, can be used fill in the gaps left by rapid reproduction by dividing to form
damaged or missing DNA. Eventually, enough genetic material may be available that more bacteria.
an entire genome can be reconstructed. It can then be studied in the lab, or possibly A virus is much smaller – too small
even spliced into a reproductive cell from a similar species (if one exists) and carried to be seen under the average optical
to term, either within an artificial womb or a suitable surrogate mother. microscope – and consists of a clump of
Genetic reconstruction is a powerful research tool for determining the nature of genetic material (DNA or RNA)
sheathed in protein. By some defini-
vanished species. More dramatically, it may be used to reclaim species that have
tions, it’s not alive at all. Viruses grow
recently become extinct. At higher TLs, long-dead species, such as mammoths, only in living cells, whereas certain
dinosaurs or even a vanished race of aliens, could be reconstructed from fragmen- strains of bacteria can survive almost
tary evidence, provided that such evidence could survive. anywhere. A virus lacks the molecular
DNA has been recovered from specimens of humans, plants and animals many machinery to reproduce itself, such as
thousands of years old that have been mummified, frozen in glaciers or preserved in the ribosomes that cells possess.
peat bogs. The chance of finding DNA traces from creatures millions of years old, Instead, a virus seeks out living cells,
slips into them and hijacks the cells’
such as dinosaurs, is more remote. Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park portrays a sce-
machinery into working for it.
nario where dinosaur DNA is found in amber, preserved inside the stomach of an A retrovirus is a virus whose genetic
ancient mosquito that had sipped dinosaur blood before becoming caught in tree material consists of RNA. This type of
sap. However, even if such a find were made, it would be nearly impossible to virus can be relatively easily modified
assemble the trace DNA fragments that would be recovered into an actual genome, into a tool useful in gengineering. For
at least with present technology. instance, genetic engineers can create
If actual tissue and bone samples are available, the process is far simpler – modified “transfer” viruses that can
carry new genes (or gene regulators)
rather than bringing back dinosaurs, we may want to start with more recently
into cells in order to alter them.
extinct animals. Forensic investigators could also use this technique to make a A nanovirus (p. 77) isn’t a real virus
genetic map of a decades-old corpse, then check it against their files. If they had no – it’s a bio-nanotech construct that
records of a person with that genetic pattern, they could call up a holographic com- sometimes behaves like a virus. It might
puter simulation to determine his original appearance . . . or even clone the body! have a virus in its ancestry, but its rela-
(A reconstructed clone would have the mind of a newborn, although there is noth- tionship is about as a close as that of a
ing to prevent a braintape being played into one; see p. 116.) wooden ship to a tree.

BIOTECHNOLOGY 11
 If a scientific lab is hired to perform a genetic reconstruction, the process will
Heredity usually take from two to six weeks (depending on the difficulty) and cost $5,000 per
week.
If a scientist wants to attempt a reconstruction, the GM first determines if there
In the nineteenth century, a monk
named Gregor Mendel studied pea
is enough genetic material to make it possible. Reconstruction requires a genetics
plants. He postulated that each inherited lab, a Genetic Replication computer program (Complexity 6, $40,000) and a suc-
trait (like whether a plant is short or cessful Genetics roll. Suggested modifiers: -10 for DNA traces, -5 for actual tissue,
tall) is determined by a specific factor, 0 for a complete corpse; -15 at TL7, -10 at TL8, -5 at TL9, or 0 at TL10+. Roll each
which we now call a gene. An organism week; success indicates the process succeeded and a clone can now be made. A fail-
has two copies of each trait’s gene. In ure requires further work (one week times the number the roll was failed by). A crit-
reproduction, each parent passes half of ical failure indicates a mistake; an attempt to grow a clone will produce a flawed
its genes (determined semi-randomly)
to its offspring. The other half come
copy, a dead, non-viable one, or (possibly) a monster – GM’s option.
from the other parent.
For example, flower color in plants
is a genetic trait. If one plant has red
flowers and the other has white, will the
Biomimetics
Biomimetics is the branch of materials engineering that deals with the develop-
flowers of their offspring be pink? No!
This is because those genes don’t blend ment of synthetic designs modeled on biological materials. Natural materials often
together. Instead, the offspring of a have extremely complex molecular structures. Rather than copying these directly,
cross between white and red parents biomimetics seeks to improve on nature by using them as templates for synthetic
would also be either red or white. molecular designs.
Which gene is obeyed depends on Designing synthetic versions of natural polymers – like snail shells, wood or
whether that gene’s trait is a “recessive” insect chitin – could lead to stronger and tougher materials. As well, since many
or “dominant” one. If red flowers were
dominant over white for a particular
biomaterials can sense and respond to their surroundings, a major goal of biomimet-
plant, then the hybrid offspring would ic technology is to develop “smart” materials capable of altering texture, color or
be red. shape, sensing and repairing stress and damage, or even growing. Primary applica-
However, that isn’t the end of the tions include armor, cybernetics, sensors, textiles and waterproof, weatherproof,
story. While the hybrid plant looks red “chameleon” or “stealth” coatings.
(this is called its phenotype) its actual Many of the TL8+ items in GURPS Ultra-Tech already employ biomimetic
genes covering color (or genotype) are a materials. The most obvious is bioplastic (see p. UT17), but more subtle applica-
mix of one for redness and one for
whiteness. Suppose it is cross-pollinated
tions also exist. For example, some archaebacteria (see Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes,
with another red hybrid that has one red p. 7) live at very high temperatures in ocean thermal vents. Their heat-stable mole-
and one white gene. The luck of the cules could be adapted for many industrial and pharmaceutical processes, ranging
draw may lead to their offspring having from detergent additives to ablative armor (p. UT73). A more widespread biomimet-
two red genes (thus being red), a red ic technology is “bioglue” – a range of a biodegradable, waterproof adhesives based
and a white gene (also red), or two on the naturally-secreted, protein-based glue used by limpet mollusks. Bioglue can
white genes (white!). Thus, two plants be found in many TL8+ surgical kits, replacing conventional surgical sutures, since
with red flowers can produce one with
white flowers.
it does not need to be removed; it is also the adhesive base for plastiskin patches (p.
UT94). Besides its medical uses, bioglue is used to assemble many TL8+ composite
Continued on next page . . . materials and in ultra-sticky tangler strands (p. UT51).

Biotronics
This technology uses organic, protein-based systems rather than inorganic mol-
ecules for information storage and processing. Some biotronic technologies on the
RR + WW horizon are . . .

Biosensors (TL7/8)
A biosensor is an electronic device that consists of a ordinary computer chip
RW + RW coated with a layer of biological molecules that selectively bond with a specific,
known compound. When this occurs, the chip sends a signal that these molecules
are in the area. Depending on the design, a biosensor can be used as a contact sensor
to identify specific chemicals or biological substances, or as a ranged sensor to
detect airborne molecules such as toxic gases or explosive vapors.
RR R W R W WW The main limitation of biosensors is that they don’t detect “unknown” com-
pounds. However, they can be easily updated by plugging in a new biosensor chip.
At TL8+, more sophisticated biosensors may work as “electronic noses” with blood-
hound-like odor detection capability. For an example of a biosensor, see the chem-
scanner (p. UT19).

12 BIOTECHNOLOGY
Optical Biochips (TL8) Heredity
Bacteriorhodopsin is a natural protein derived from bacteria. When illuminated, it
absorbs light and undergoes predictable and rapid chemical changes. (Continued)
Bacteriorhodopsin may be stabilized into two-dimensional lattice structures that func- Recessive traits can skip generations,
which is why you sometimes see chil-
tion as optical switching systems on a much smaller scale and with higher information
dren who don’t resemble their parents.
density than silicon-based electronics. Biochips using bacteriorhodopsin lattices or In humans, many rare traits, including
similar protein-based information technologies may provide the integrated computing most inherited genetic defects, tend to
power necessary for many TL8-10 gadgets, such as minidisks, computer chips, optical be recessive.
data storage, holographic technology, “rollable” video displays and datacloth (p. In practice, heredity is actually a lot
UTT32), miniaturized HUDs, cyberwear (especially bionic eyes), microbot brains (p. more complex than the “ideal”
RO67) and “smart” textiles such as varicloth (p. UT27), chameleon suits (p. UT85) Mendelian model – there are mixed-
dominant, cross-dominant and non-
and intruder suits (p. UT86). They are also a vital precursor to nanotech.
Mendelian traits that break the rules

Vatbrain Biocomputers (late TL8) described above. Some traits are also
“sex-linked” – that is, they are located on
sex chromosomes, and are transmitted
A vatbrain, or “meat matrix,” is a computer whose processing capabilities have
differently between males and females.
been enhanced with organic nerve tissue. Due to their ability to mimic human neur- In many science fiction novels that
al systems, vatbrains are highly efficient. The down side is that the life-support deal with psi abilities (notably Frank
facilities for their organic central processing units are heavy, requiring precise envi- Herbert’s Dune and Marion Zimmer
ronmental controls and nutrient feed systems. Some experimental models may be Bradley’s Darkover series), recessive
too delicate for commercial use, but spin-offs of biochip systems and cyberbrain and sex-linked traits are often used to
technology may remedy this. explain why certain psi powers are rare,
Vatbrains are constructed using the computer rules found on pp. CII12-15. or why women or men are more likely
to manifest them.
They must have the neural-net option. In addition, weight and volume are multi-
plied by 1.5 and cost is multiplied by 5. They have +1 Complexity.
A vatbrain of Complexity 7+ can spontaneously “awaken” and become sen-
tient. Roll 3d each year. On a 6 or less, the computer awakens; see p. UT31 or p.
Polymerase Chain
RO57 for the effects. A good example of a sentient vatbrain is Memnon-12 (p.
CW92-93), a TL8 macroframe with the neural-net and vatbrain biocomputer
Reaction (PCR) (TL7)
One of the basic tools in any genetics
options that has put extra character points into IQ and skills. lab since the late 1980s is the polymerase
chain reaction (PCR) machine. This can
DNA Computers (TL9) rapidly replicate (“amplify”) DNA from
very small amounts of source material in
This technology makes use of the amazing information density of DNA. By a matter of hours, creating thousands of
modifying its strands to form a half-dozen or so branches, “computing cells” can be copies of DNA fragments from single
linked together into a complex “bio-net” matrix. Data is then stored as electrons in cells. Besides its use in genetic engineer-
metallic atoms bonded to each cell. A DNA memory unit the size of a sugarcube ing, PCR allows genetic testing from as
could store terabytes of data, while cell-sized DNA computers could control micro- little material as a hair follicle or a tiny
bots or nanomachines such as the nanoviruses used in gengineering and nanosurgery. drop of blood (see Genetic Testing, p. 9),
permits the automation of gene sequenc-
Will DNA computers be the wave of the ing (hastening efforts like the Human
future, or will they be replaced by advanced Genome Project, p. 14) and allows
optical storage or inorganic nanocomputers? genetic reconstruction (p. 11), enabling
It would be reasonable to assume that TL9+ researchers to isolate and replicate
computers are DNA computers – and just as ancient DNA samples.
reasonable to assume that they use other One weakness of PCR is that it is so
techniques – so it’s up to the GM. However, sensitive, technicians must use great
care to ensure that whatever DNA they
if DNA computers do fulfill their promise, it are amplifying actually comes from a
would be quite realistic to increase the data particular sample, rather than contami-
storage of both “disks” and mass storage by nants – say, a skin flake from the
a factor of 1,000 – that is, read “gigabytes” researcher.
(gigs) as “terabytes.” Continued on next page . . .

BIOTECHNOLOGY 13
 Polymerase Chain Cloning of Multicellular Organisms
Reaction (PCR) (TL7) Unlike bacteria, species that reproduce sexually receive chromosomes from both
parents, and each child is different. Cloning is a way around this. It is a bioengineer-
(Continued) ing technique that is used to produce multiple, genetically-identical offspring.
All late TL7+ genetics labs include Cloning is easy with plants – it’s done by making a cutting and planting it.
PCR machines or their ultra-tech equiv- Farmers and gardeners create clones all the time. It’s not so easy with animals, but it
alents. On their own, PCR machines is possible.
may cost from $3,000 to $125,000, Much of the current research into cloning is driven by its commercial potential.
depending on their speed and capabili- For example, a prize cow or a superior strain of wheat can be reproduced exactly.
ties.
Combined with gengineering, cloning allows genetically-engineered species to be
The Human mass produced, even if the gengineering was so extensive that they could no
longer interbreed with normal specimens. The uses of human cloning are dis-
Genome Project cussed on pp. 16–17.
Embryo Division (TL7): Another way to produce identical copies is to split an
The complete set of instructions for
making a particular organism is called
embryo at the 2-, 4-, 8- or possibly 16-cell stage to produce artificial twins, quadru-
its genome. It exists in the nucleus of plets, et cetera. While this isn’t true cloning, it is considerably easier to do. It has
every cell, and acts as the blueprint for been done with humans, but has little practical use.
all cellular structures and operations.
The Human Genome Project is an
international endeavor to discover the
50,000 to 100,000 human genes (the
human genome) and determine the com-
plete sequence of the three billion DNA
subunits (base pairs) that make them up.
The full project was underway by 1990.
The project was intended to be finished
around 2010, but recent advances in
automated gene sequencing and parallel
computing may result in early comple-
tion, between 2001 and 2005.
Currently, about 4% of the total
genome has been mapped. However, a
major preliminary part of the project
has been the development of technolo-
gies for rapid DNA mapping and
sequencing, and it is expected that as
these mature, the pace will pick up
Cloning from Embryonic Cells (TL7)
exponentially – which it seems to be Cloning technology was first explored in the mid-1960s with frogs and fish,
doing. It will be much easier to map the whose egg cells are very simple in design. These early clones were made by trans-
genomes of other animals. In fact, par- planting the nucleus (containing the chromosomes and genes) of an embryonic ani-
allel projects to do just that are already mal cell into an egg cell whose genetic material had been removed. With electrical
being carried out. stimulation, the modified egg then developed normally into an embryo, a fetus and
Conservative predictions involving
no new technologies suggest that the finally a baby, genetically identical to the nucleus donor.
completion (or even partial completion) However, while scientists could make clones, there seemed to be a catch – a
of the project will bring the ability to process known as cell differentiation. As an embryo develops into a fetus, certain
cure many or all genetic diseases via genes in each particular cell activate, depending on the cell’s role in the developing
gene therapy (p. 9). It will also allow organism. The cells become much more specialized; for instance, they turn into skin
very precise genetic testing, which may cells, heart cells, brain cells and so on. The unused genes “switch off,” and the now-
have considerable social impact (see specialized cells lose the ability to replicate in the fashion that cloning requires,
Genetic Testing and Privacy Issues, p.
10). Human genome mapping will also because the genes required to make a complete animal are no longer functioning.
make “DNA fingerprinting” much sim- The only way to avoid this problem seemed to be to take a cell from the early
pler and more precise, with major appli- embryo (a stem cell), before it had differentiated.
cations in forensics in particular and During 1980s and 1990s, cloning experiments were applied to mammals.
identification technology in general. Human embryos were first cloned in 1993, but they were not allowed to develop
In the long term, genome mapping is into fetuses. Researchers figured out how to make multiple clones by culturing sev-
a necessary precondition for advanced eral cells from the same embryonic cell, but this had limited usefulness. You could
genetic engineering. It is the key to
understanding the structure, organiza- clone animals like livestock, but because you’d have to start with the embryo, there
tion and function of DNA in chromo- was no way of knowing whether the animal would be worth cloning. As for cloning
somes. humans, you’d have to make the decision to clone before someone was born! There
Continued on next page . . . seemed to be no way to clone an adult, a child or even a fetus.

14 BIOTECHNOLOGY
Cloning from Post-Embryonic Cells (Late TL7) The Human Genome Project
This is adult cloning. Take a DNA sample from anywhere (skin, breast, blood,
et cetera), load it into an egg whose DNA has been removed, and grow it into a
(Continued)
baby who is a perfect genetic copy of the original cell donor. It seemed like an
impossible dream – but in 1997, Scottish scientists led by Ian Wilmut proved that
Genetic Differences
How similar are the genes of
the impossible wasn’t: Dolly, a female sheep cloned from adult cells, was born! humans and other animals? All mam-
How is this accomplished? mals have about the same number of
First, cells (in the case of Dolly, udder cells) are removed from an adult animal genes, about 50,000 to 100,000. Within
and allowed to replicate in nutrient dishes. Then, the nutrients are scaled back dra- the DNA sequence – the arrangements
matically, and the starving but still-living cells become quiescent. This crucial addi- of nucleotides – ape and human genes
differ by less than 10%. For non-pri-
tional step of making the cells inactive is enough to allow their genes to receive sig- mate mammals, like cats or mice, the
nals to start making an embryo, given the correct environment. difference is about 20-30% overall.
This environment is provided by an egg taken from a female of the same Physical differences are the result of
species (who can also be the cell donor). Using techniques similar to embryonic very subtle changes in the nucleotide
cloning, the nucleus of the unfertilized egg is scooped out, removing the genetic sequences that make up the genes.
material but leaving the rest intact. An electrical spark is used to fuse the quiescent These in turn produce somewhat differ-
donor cells with this egg, “awakening” the cell. The egg and nucleus then begin to ent proteins which interact with each
other, producing the cellular differences
form embryonic cells; about a week later, they’re ready to be implanted into a surro- that add up to spell “human,” “mouse”
gate mother. The offspring that results is a clone of the original cell donor, with no or “cat.”
relation to the egg donor or the surrogate mother.
While cloning of adult organisms is now a reality, there are still some real and
potential problems with the technology:
Inefficiency: The methods used to produce adult clones at late TL7 are very dif-
ficult and labor intensive. In Dolly’s case, out of 277 attempts to fuse adult cells
with eggs, only 13 pregnancies resulted, and only one was born alive. Nevertheless,
it seems likely that the odds will improve if further research and development are
financed. In GURPS, we assume that further research into cloning and artificial
wombs at TL8 will improve the success rate and reduce the cost.
Side-Effects: Adult cloning appears to produce an healthy organism, but it may
take years to be certain. For example, there has been speculation that the cells of a
cloned organism – taken from an adult – might “wear out” faster, resulting in pre-
mature aging. GURPS assumes this won’t be the case – or if it is, that it will be
overcome by more research. If the GM wants to use this concept, it could be simu-
lated by giving clones disadvantages such as Short Lifespan or even Self-Destruct
(p. CI104). If so, the age of maturity won’t be any lower, but afterward, aging will
occur more rapidly.
Sheep vs. Humans: Sheep embryos have some differences from human embryos
in their early development that may make them easier to clone. The method used to
clone sheep is expected to work on animals like cows, but it remains to be seen how
difficult it will be to clone a human using these techniques.

Clones and Uniqueness

Genetically, a clone is much the same as an identical twin. A newborn clone
will be a baby, without any of the original person’s memories or skills. Various
forms of ultra-technology may change this – see forced-growth tanks (p. 19) and
braintaping (p. 116).
All other factors being equal, a clone will have an identical physique and
appearance to the original. A clone is physically the same as the original at the same
stage in its life. Thus, a 9-year-old clone will look just like the original did at age 9.
While a clone will not have the original’s memories, it will share any genetic influ-
ences on body and mind. In game terms, this means it will have any advantages and
disadvantages that the GM rules are genetically inherited, and should have similar
attributes to those of the original at the same age.
However, everything is not always equal. Diet, exercise and environment can
have a dramatic affect on characteristics, from looks and build to behavior and intel-
ligence. These changes can begin even before the clone is born. For example, if the
clone is carried by a healthy surrogate mother, but the original was born to a mother

BIOTECHNOLOGY 15
 who was malnourished during her pregnancy, the clone may well grow up to be both
Examples of taller and healthier!
If forced-growth tanks (p. 19) are available, they may be able to regulate the
Biomimetic Products fetal environment to ensure that a clone is identical in appearance to the original,
assuming this is desired. Without this technology, ensuring that a clone is complete-
ly identical requires ensuring that the clone’s nurture and environment – from womb
Two examples of biomimetic prod-
onward – simulate the original’s. In some cases, this may require exhaustive
ucts of use to adventurers:
research into the original’s childhood.

Arachnoweave Armor (TL8) Clones and Identification

Armor created using an exotic bio- Clones (and identical twins) may look alike, but fingerprints, palm prints, freckle
mimetic synthetic based on spider-silk
proteins. Strong yet supple, “arach- patterns and retina prints will not match, at least not without surgical modification.
noweave” armor is manufactured in Also, organelles (see p. 8) like mitochondria exist outside the nucleus and thus
black, gray or green for military or come from the egg donor, not the genetic donor. Thus, unless the egg cell and the
combat applications. It is also sold in mature cell nucleus are donated by the same person (who’d have to be female), the
various bright silk patterns for sports- clone won’t be exactly identical – there will be slight differences in the tiny genome
wear: of the mitochondria.

Light Arachnoweave PD 1, DR 4
(PD 0, DR 2 vs. impaling); $400, 0.5 lb.
Cloning Costs and Times
for vest; $500, 1 lb. for full suit. Today (late TL7), cloning is still experimental – some estimates place the cost
Medium Arachnoweave PD 2, DR 8 of making an embryonic clone at about $50,000–$150,000, while a post-embryonic
(PD 1, DR 2 vs. impaling); $600, 1 lb. clone (like Dolly) might cost $750,000. If cloning is commercialized, prices should
for vest; $800, 2.5 lbs. for full suit. drop dramatically. Suggested prices and times for cloning mammals are:
Heavy Arachnoweave PD 2, DR 12
(PD 1, DR 2 vs. impaling); $800, 1.5
lbs. for vest; $1,000, 4 lbs. for full suit. Post-Embryonic Cloning: At early TL8, a biotech facility will take 1d weeks
(allowing for failures) to clone a tissue sample, at a cost of $10,000 per week. This
As with Kevlar and monocrys, any 6
drops to a flat $1,000 and one week by late TL8, halved at TL9 and again at TL10.
rolled does one point of crushing dam- The result is a cloned embryo, which must be either implanted into a surrogate
age, even if the attack does not pene- mother or grown in an artificial womb, such as a growth tank or forced-growth tank.
trate armor. See Reproductive Technology (p. 17) for these procedures.
Embryonic Cloning: Divide the cost by five if cloning embryonic rather than
Biosensors – fetal, child or adult cells.

Chemsniffer (TL8) Assuming human cloning is legal, prices and times for cloning animals and
humans will be similar. At TL8+, many hospitals and biotech labs will be willing to
A hand-held biosensor system.
Devices of this sort are often used by bank a customer’s cell samples in a secure freezer for later use. This costs $100 a
customs officials or police to detect month.
contraband, such as drugs or explosives, While other GURPS books have coupled cloning technology with the idea of
by analyzing traces in the air. It’s typi- rapid growth (making an adult in six weeks, for instance), cloning and the forced
cally equipped with a range of biosen- growth of early embryos into adults are not the same technology by any means. At
sor chips for 100 standard chemical present, we know how to clone from adult cells, but the result is a baby – and the
compounds. Use Electronics Operation
(Security Systems) to operate it; the
technology for both artificial wombs and the rapid growth of embryos is likewise in
device has a five-yard range. If contra- its infancy.
band is completely sealed in airtight
containers, the sniffer will be ineffec-
tive; however, careless loading may
Cross-Sex Clones (TL8)
have left residues on the outsides of the Chromosome manipulation may be used to change the sex of a clone, while
containers. A chemsniffer costs $700 keeping it more-or-less identical otherwise. At mid-TL8, this takes about a week of
and weighs 2 lbs. It operates for 6 effort and costs $20,000 for a male-to-female change or $70,000 and an extra two
months on a B cell. weeks for a female-to-male change (this requires the creation of an artificial Y chro-
mosome, which is tricky).

16 BIOTECHNOLOGY
 Monoclonal
Antibodies (TL7)
These are a good example of a “bio-
product” produced by gengineering.
Ordinary antibodies are manufactured
by specialized “B-cells” in the lymph
nodes (including the spleen) and the
Clones as Spare Parts blood. They are a vital part of the
body’s immune system, seeking out and
One difficulty with transplants (p. 65) is the problem of tissue rejection. If attaching themselves to intruders such
human clones can be grown, they could be used as a source of medical transplants as microbes, viruses or foreign proteins.
for the original, with no chance of rejection. (This also applies when transplanting This alerts the rest of the immune sys-
parts from the original to his clone, as in a brain transplant.) tem (white blood cells, for instance) to
One clone can provide a complete set of organs. These can be left in the clone attack.
There are millions of different kinds
(with it gradually going over to life support as more bits are removed) or removed of antibodies. Each is specialized to
and preserved separately. The most radical procedure would be to transplant your detect one particular type of unwanted
adult brain into a younger clone body, or better still, use mind transfer technology organism. Antibodies are carried along
(see Braintaping, p. 116) to upload your memories from an aging body into that of in the bloodstream, ignoring everything
young clone of yourself! else until they run into their targets.
In some societies, the ethical issues of growing humans for spare parts may pre- They recognize them because each mol-
vent this technology from being developed. In others, it may be enough to simply ecule has its own particular, unique
physical contour. Each antibody is
keep a person’s clone comatose, or lobotomize it, so that its mind never develops. shaped to match puzzle-fashion with its
Even so, the cost of making a clone and maintaining it on life support is high – target molecule, so that when they acci-
see Cloning Costs and Times, above, for the cloning operation itself, and Growth dentally run into one another, they will
and Forced-Growth Tank Fees (p. 20) for the cost of actually growing or maintain- lock together.
ing a clone. Thus, this technology may be something that only the rich can afford, Recently it has proved possible to
unless society itself gets wealthier. This could lead to a two-tiered medical system, clone specific antibodies outside the
where the wealthy use cloned organs (or high-end bionic parts) and the poor use human body, using genetically-modi-
fied cancer cells (“hybridomas”). What
each other as tissue donors. good are these “monoclonal antibod-
ies”? Not much on their own. However,
Vat-Grown Organs and Parts they can be further modified for various
special tasks . . .
While growing a clone as a source of spare parts may be too ghoulish for soci-
ety to contemplate, there is an alternative. Advances in tissue engineering may
make it possible to grow organs from cell cultures in vats or on biodegradable scaf- Monoclonal Antibody
folds, without the need to clone an entire human. Initial developments in tissue
engineering should enable kidneys, livers, ears, noses and possibly genitals to be
Applications
vat-grown by early TL8, taking about four weeks. However, independently growing Diagnosis: Vat-grown monoclonal
antibodies can have fluorescent or
other organs and body parts (like hearts, lungs, eyes and limbs) is more complex,
radioactive molecules bonded to them
and may require “whole body clones” until late TL8. This means that an organ when they are created. When added to
shortage may still exist. For more details (prices, et cetera) on organ replacement, blood, they will find the specific pro-
see Medical Transplants (p. 65) and The Organ Trade (p. 129). tein, virus, et cetera, that they are
designed to target, and bond with it. A

Reproductive Technology
So the bioengineer has performed germline gengineering, or has just finished
blood sample can then be taken and a
filtration process used to wash away any
antibodies that aren’t attached to some-
thing. If any light or radiation is still
cloning. What next?
emitted after the wash, it means that the
If his subject is a microbe, plant, or egg-laying amphibian, fish, reptile or bird, antibodies have found whatever they
it’s pretty easy. All he needs is a petri dish, some soil, a pond or an incubator like were sent to find. This process is being
those used for chickens. However, higher animals that bear live young have special used today, and promises rapid but
requirements. If that genemod egg sitting in a test tube is to grow past the stage of accurate medical diagnosis. At TL8+,
an early embryo, into a fetus or beyond, then it’s going to need the right environ- wide-spectrum tests using monoclonal
ment – a womb. antibodies are standard in clinics, diag-
There are two major choices here. First, the egg can be implanted into a living nostic beds, automeds and hospitals.
being – a surrogate mother (maybe the original mother, if the egg came from her
before modification). Second, it can be brought to term in an artificial womb. Continued on next page . . .

BIOTECHNOLOGY 17
 Monoclonal Surrogate Motherhood (TL7)
A fertilized egg or early embryo can be transferred to a human host mother to
Antibodies (TL7) grow to term within her. This has the advantage of not requiring a bulky, ultra-tech
(Continued) growth tank (see below). Some people believe it might also be better for the mental
or physical health of the child. The disadvantage is that surrogate motherhood, espe-
Target-Seeking Drugs: Treatments cially for pay, is often considered unethical and illegal, and hence can be expensive.
such as chemotherapy release toxic In areas where the practice is legal, a host mother can be hired for about
chemicals, intended to kill cancers, into $20,000 plus payment of medical bills. Usually, a potential mother has to undergo a
the body. Unfortunately, they also poi- medical exam to certify she is healthy, and sign a contract agreeing to refrain from
son the body, and selecting a dosage certain activities (e.g., substance abuse, dangerous sports) that might put the devel-
that will kill cancer but not the host is oping child at risk. In some areas, professional associations of surrogates may exist.
very difficult. By bonding drugs to If surrogate motherhood is illegal, the fee could be much higher. Cheaper host
monoclonal antibodies, far more toxic
chemical scan be used in much smaller mothers could be hired in impoverished regions, such as slums or Third World
amounts, because the antibodies deliver nations. However, many employers might balk at this, partly due to fears that a des-
the chemical directly to the target cells. perate and impoverished mother might be more likely to suffer from ill health or
This is like the difference between “car- substance abuse, and partly due to genetic snobbery.
pet bombing” and a “smart” bomb: the There is some chance that the mother will become attached to the child and try
first may kill a lot of innocent victims to keep it, or change her mind and decide to terminate the pregnancy. This risk is
without doing the job, while the second increased where surrogate motherhood is considered illegal, since there is little the
takes out the target with minimal collat-
eral damage. Aside from smart-bomb- employer can do in such circumstances without admitting guilt. In any such disputed
ing cancers, monoclonal antibodies can circumstance, the exact legal status of surrogate motherhood, and the nature of the
be used as the targeting system for other transaction involved, will usually influence the decisions of the court in determining
drugs, guiding various chemicals direct- whether the rights of the host mother, the employer or the developing fetus take
ly toward specific proteins. Many of the precedence.
“wonder drugs” described in GURPS Assume that a pregnancy at TL7+ goes as planned if the mother successfully
Cyberpunk, Space and Ultra-Tech use makes a (HT+TL) roll. If the mother’s roll fails, roll against the Physician skill of
monoclonal antibodies.
Other Uses: Vat-grown monoclonal the attending health care provider, at -5 if the mother had a critical failure. If this
antibodies essentially permit the bio- roll succeeds, the baby and mother are fine, although the baby may be born late or
chemical equivalent of finding a needle premature. If this roll fails, separate Surgery rolls should be made to save baby’s
in a haystack. This makes them useful and mother’s life. Use the normal Surgery rules (p. B56), with a -5 modifier if the
for a wide variety of industrial and med- Physician roll was a critical failure. Failure on the baby’s roll will kill it; failure on
ical processes, such as refining exotic the mother’s roll does 2d damage to her (4d damage on a critical failure), and may
proteins, creating “diagnostic bed” sen- cause sterility (see p. CI84) if she fails a HT roll. The surgical team can opt to put
sor systems, and consumer products,
such as . . . either mother or baby at greater risk in order to save the other; if so, add a bonus of
Continued on next page . . .
up to +3 to the Surgery roll of the favored patient in exchange for a matching penalty
to the other’s Surgery roll.
If the mother is carrying a genetically-modified baby that is of
unusually large size or has a partially non-human biochemistry (espe-
cially the Unusual Biochemistry disadvantage, p. CI106), a penalty of -1
to -8 can be applied to HT and Physician rolls.
If the mother was exposed to a mutagenic source (radiation, chemicals,
et cetera), addictive drugs or excessive amounts of alcohol during her preg-
nancy, roll vs. her HT. A failure means that the baby suffers from a -1 or -2
to ST, IQ or HT, an Addiction, or other physical or mental disadvantages
(GM’s option). Critical failure means that it suffers these problems and is
born Terminally Ill (p. CI84). Success means it survived and is healthy.
Critical success might mean a favorable mutation, if the GM wishes.
Adventure Seed – Rosemary’s Bioroid: A surrogate mother is expect-
ing a baby. A few weeks before giving birth, she changes her mind and
decides to keep the child, fleeing to a region where surrogate mother-
hood is illegal. What she doesn’t know is that she’s carrying a combat
bioroid instead of a human infant – part of a corporate (or even criminal)
“black program.”

Growth Tank (TL8)

Sometimes called an “artificial womb,” the growth tank is a basic
tool of ultra-tech engineering. Programs to develop artificial wombs are

18 BIOTECHNOLOGY
underway in the 1990s; they should be available in the early 21st century. The main
impetus driving this technology is not so much the desire to do away with the womb
as the need to create incubators that will enable very premature babies to survive.
Monoclonal
Currently, babies born less than six months after conception have little chance of sur- Antibodies (TL7)
vival, because their lungs aren’t ready to breathe air. Artificial wombs that use oxy-
genated fluids such as perfluorocarbons can enable much younger infants to survive,
(Continued)
and may lead to actual growth tanks in early- to mid-TL8.
An artificial womb contains the necessary facilities for growing a multicellular Disposable Test Kit (TL8)
animal (like a human) from gametes to healthy adulthood without their leaving the A cigarette-sized plastic vial. The
tank, eliminating the need for surrogate mothers. Growth tanks may be used to user pricks his finger on the included
grow clones, genetic constructs or unmodified human embryos. This is no faster needle, lets a drop of blood fall in,
than natural growth – growing a human from germ cells to a baby would require shakes and squeezes to break the mem-
brane. If the vial glows a particular
about nine months; growing them to adulthood would require 18 years. color, he tests positive. No skill is
Growth tanks may be enclosed, but are often transparent so that observers can required to use it, but each kit tests for
see the developing organism. They are big enough to allow the organism within to one specific thing. Kits are available
grow to adulthood. that test for various common and not-
An organism developing in a growth tank has the same degree of awareness as a so-common diseases, from AIDS and
baby in its womb. Individuals kept in the tank past the fetal stage and into childhood other sexually transmitted diseases, to
will be conscious, but will not develop mentally in the absence of stimuli. Electrodes various types of influenza, to cancer.
Others can be designed to detect preg-
attached to muscle groups can keep them stimulated in the tank, the body twitching nancy, malnutrition or the use of a spe-
constantly in an unconscious exercise program that maintains muscle tone. cific drugs. Military-issue kits may test
It is safe to remove a creature from the tank before its intended “birth” date, for various biochemical weapons. A
provided it has developed past the fetal stage. If the organism has been in there for genetics lab is needed to design new
less time, it will not be able to survive outside the tank without medical care (and test kits – and of course, kits will only
prompt transfer to another growth tank or surrogate mother). be available for testing known diseases,
Destroying a growth tank (e.g., smashing it) and severing the artificial umbili- drugs, et cetera. 2 oz., $5. LC 6.
Civilian test kits may be available from
cal cords will free the organism. This will kill it if it has not developed enough to be vending machines.
born, but is probably not significantly more traumatic than a normal birth otherwise. At TL9+, monoclonal antibodies are
A growth tank designed for a human-sized organism is 250 lbs., 50 cf and supplemented by tailored nanomachines
$200,000. It runs on building or vehicle power (0.1 kW). Cost (only) is halved at that perform similar tasks with even
TL9 and again at TL10. At TL12, advances in biotechnology allow the creation of more precision.
much smaller and cheaper portable growth tanks that are only 100 lbs., 20 cf and
$5,000. These can run for a year on a D cell. All growth tanks require a Complexity
4+ computer to monitor life support. In Vitro
Normal growth tanks can be used to grow any single organism of up to human
size (two hexes when standing). For larger growth tanks (e.g., for horses or
Fertilization (TL7)
dinosaurs), multiply the weight, volume, cost and power requirement by the size in In vitro (“in glass”) fertilization
hexes an adult will occupy. allows pregnancy without sex. A
female’s eggs are fertilized with sperm
Forced-Growth Tank (Late TL8) in a laboratory dish, and the resulting
embryo is implanted into her uterus,
Also known as a “zoom womb,” this is a growth tank equipped to tremendously into that of a surrogate mother or – at
accelerate the development of the organism within it without doing it any harm. TL8+ – into an artificial womb such as
At present, forced-growth tanks are very much science fiction; no one knows a growth tank or forced-growth tank.
how to make them. However, without forced-growth tanks, many of the dramatic Today, in vitro fertilization (IVF) is
possibilities of cloning are rendered moot due to the time it takes a human being to a relatively common but somewhat
develop to adulthood. With a forced-growth tank, it is possible to take a cell sample tricky and expensive procedure. In
humans, each attempt costs about
from someone, make a clone and force-grow it to maturity, or even the same age as $5,000 at TL7. Divide the cost by 5 at
the cell donor, effectively allowing the creation of clone doubles. It’s also possible TL8, and by 10 at TL9+. There is only
to mass produce armies of cloned or genetically-altered people. about a 1-in-6 chance of success per
A forced-growth tank is identical to a growth tank, with the exception that the attempt at TL7 (each attempt takes at
organism within it develops much more rapidly. A forced-growth tank takes a mini- least 4d weeks); at TL8+, this chance
mum of three weeks to mature a human from a cell into a baby that can survive out- increases to 5-in-6.
side the womb. If not removed from the tank, the growth can then be accelerated to One advantage of IVF is that it
makes it possible to perform very early
the even more rapid pace of just over one physiological year per day until the genetic testing. If genetic problems are
organism reaches age 25. suspected (e.g., the mother or father was
The force-growth process can be deactivated, allowing the person to grow in a exposed to mutagenic chemicals or had
normal fashion, exactly as within a growth tank. Once it is stopped, it cannot be a history of genetic defects), IVF may
restarted without killing the organism. Alternatively, the organism can be “stabilized” be preferable for this reason alone.

BIOTECHNOLOGY 19
 using an artificial hibernation process to keep it unconscious and at the desired
physiological age for as long as it remains in the tank.
Deep Learning (TL9) While someone is being force-grown, he is unconscious. A person newly awak-
ened from a forced-growth tank is a blank slate, with no memories or skills.
This future (TL9+) technology is
often used in conjunction with forced- A forced-growth tank designed for a human-sized organism is 250 lbs., 50 cf
growth tanks. Deep learning is an inten- and $1,000,000. It runs on building or vehicle power (0.1 kW). Cost (only) halves at
sive process that works on a “blank” TL9 and again at TL10. At TL12, advances in biotechnology allow the creation of
brain (one with no prior experiences much smaller and cheaper portable forced-growth tanks that are only 100 lbs., 20 cf
outside an artificial womb), making and $10,000. For larger tanks, multiply the weight, volume, cost and power require-
extensive use of technologies such ment by the size in hexes an adult will occupy.
a s sleep-teaching tapes, learning- Note: Forced-growth tanks are referred to in most other GURPS books as
enhancing drugs, virtual-reality sessions
and (at TL10+) neural-interface “clone tanks.” The tanks actually have nothing to do with cloning per se; they are
“dreamgames” to program someone simply the means by which a clone can be rapidly grown to a useful age.
with a synthetic set of skills and knowl-
edge.
Six weeks of deep-learning “social-
Growth and Forced-Growth Tank Fees
ization” can give someone basic life An institution that provides growth tank services will usually charge the follow-
skills. This can take place while a ing fees to its customers:
person is growing in a growth or fast- • $1,000/month to grow an embryo in a growth tank (or a forced-growth tank
growth tank. Deep-learning socializa- without using forced-growth). Growing a human embryo to a baby would thus cost
tion training gives the subject control $9,000 and take the usual nine months, while leaving him in the growth tank and
over his own body and the ability to growing him to age 25 would cost a further $300,000 and take 25 years.
understand and speak one language at
• $1,500/week, for six weeks, to force-grow a human to maturity (or to any ear-
IQ level.
Up to an extra year and a half (more lier stage of development).
time imposes too severe a psychological For species that mature earlier or later, modify the times and costs appropriately.
stress) can be spent in deep learning. For larger-than-human organisms, multiply the cost by the size in hexes. However, the
Every month allows two character only places likely to be set up for growing large organisms are major biotech corpora-
points to be spent on skills. Thus, some- tions. Persuading them to tie up their facilities requires either a very large advance
one who came out of the tank after 18 order, inside connections or a substantial additional fee of perhaps 10 times the cost.
months could spend 36 character points
on skills, much like an 18-year-old
human. Chronowomb (TL15)
Continued on next page . . . A chronowomb is similar to a forced-growth tank, except that instead of using
chemicals to accelerate growth, it creates a miniaturized pocket of accelerated time
within the tank. Typical chronowombs produce about 700:1 time dilation –
about a day of growth every 2 minutes, a month every hour, or 2 years every
day.
External controls allow the chronowomb to be set to operate for a specif-
ic amount of time. When not being used in chrono-acceleration mode, it
functions as an ordinary growth tank.
Unlike forced-growth, developed individuals (or even adult humans) can
use chronowombs – but they should be careful with the setting or they may
end up aging to death! A side effect of the time-acceleration process is disori-
entation followed by unconsciousness: individuals can’t climb into a
chronowomb and study skills or the like, although they can use it to heal
(regenerating about 1 hit per 2 minutes).
A chronowomb built for a human-sized occupant is 500 lbs., 100 cf and
$1,000,000; halve weight and volume, and divide cost by ten, at TL16. A
chronowomb requires at least 10,000 kW of power and usually runs off
building or vehicle power. For larger tanks, multiply the weight, volume, cost
and power requirement by the size in hexes an adult will occupy.
Optionally, chronowombs may appear before TL15, if lower-TL time-
manipulation or time-travel technology also exists. Fees for using a
chronowomb are typically $1,000 per hour of “real time.” For larger-than-
human organisms, multiply the cost by the size in hexes.

Biotech Facilities
Gengineering isn’t something that can be done on the kitchen table –
specialized equipment is necessary.

20 BIOTECHNOLOGY
Lab Facilities
These are necessary to fulfill the basic equipment requirements for
genetic engineering tasks. Weight and cost are not reduced at higher TLs –
instead, sophistication increases. Modifiers are given for both minor and
major tasks. “Minor” tasks are things like genetic testing, or synthesizing a
known protein. “Major” tasks include cloning, chromosome mapping and
sequencing, genetic reconstruction and genetic engineering.

Full Genetics Lab (TL7)

This lab contains sufficient equipment and work space for one researcher
and up to four assistants to perform advanced bioengineering. It contains
tables, lab counters and refrigerators, as well as high-tech (and fragile) gear
such as genetic sequencers, several PCR machines, incubators, culture vats,
microscopes and other imaging systems. It gives +2 to skill for minor tasks,
but no bonus if used for complex genetic engineering research projects that
need a state-of-the-art lab. A big lab complex will contain multiple labs,
allowing several research teams to do work at the same time. 20,000 lbs.,
1,000 cf, $1,000,000, LC 5. Requires 3 kW power.

Standard Genetics Lab (TL7)

Found at small biotech companies or average universities, this is a less
costly and more compact version of the full lab (above). It gives +1 to skill
for minor tasks, but there is a -2 penalty on major projects. 4,000 lbs., 200
cubic feet, $200,000, LC 5. Requires 1 kW power.

Small Genetics Lab (TL7)

A work table or counter, fridge and basic genetic-engineering equipment. This
is typical of community colleges, reclusive geniuses and amateur bio-terrorists. It
Deep Learning (TL9)
gives no bonus to skill for minor tasks, and a -5 penalty when working on major
(Continued)
projects. 500 lbs., 100 cf, $50,000, LC 6. Requires 0.5 kW power. Deep learning is just over 50% actual
study and simulated practice, the
Suitcase Genetics Lab (TL8) remainder being simulated sleep, dream,
rest or play. Thus, someone undergoing
A miniaturized, man-portable genetics lab. It gives -2 to skill for minor tasks, it is actually spending about 12-13 hours
and a -8 penalty when working on major projects. It takes 10 minutes to pack or a day studying, or some 400 hours a
month. Deep-learning can also “pro-
unpack. 20 lbs., 4 cf, $12,000, LC 5. Requires 0.1 kW power. gram” a mental disadvantage into some-
one, with -1 point worth every month
Lab Biohazard Precautions possible instead of skill training. This
sort of programming is not entirely reli-
Biotech labs are rated for the level of biohazard safety that is practiced in them: able, and in a small minority of cases
(GM’s option, anywhere from one in ten
P1 – Ordinary microbiological lab procedures, such as using absorbent mats to to one in a million) may fail to “take.”
catch spills and ultraviolet lamps to kill contaminants, and wearing protective A deep-learning system requires a
gloves. Complexity 6+ computer and special-
P2 – As above, but restricting access (i.e., a lock and a “Keep Out” sign). This ized teaching programs (about $100,000
is the highest level possible for a suitcase lab or hellkitchen (sidebar, p. 22). for life skills, $12,000 per skill to be
taught for other programs) that control
P3 – As above, but lab air pressure is lower than its surroundings, so that air- the various virtual-reality simulations,
borne microorganisms blow in rather than out. Triple the size, weight and cost of drug doses, et cetera. Peripheral hard-
the lab facility. Any critical failure that would result in the escape of biohazardous ware must also be added to the growth
material should be confirmed by a second failure; if this second roll succeeds, the or forced-growth tank. This costs about
accident merely contaminates the lab itself. $100,000 at TL9 or $10,000 at TL10
P4 – Sealed lab. Lab workers change clothes and shower, and there will be an (due to use of neural-interface technolo-
air lock between the lab and the outside world. May have security guards. Multiply gy), with the cost being halved at TL11
and again at TL12. The fee charged for
size, weight and cost by 10. A critical failure that would result in the accidental the deep-learning process itself costs
escape of biohazardous material should be confirmed by a second critical failure $5,000 per character point or point of
(e.g., something else went wrong, like the airlock door malfunctioned). Deliberate disadvantage gained at TL9, halved at
sabotage can still circumvent these precautions! TL10 and again at TL11+.

BIOTECHNOLOGY 21
 Lifebanks and Genome Libraries (TL7)
Hellkitchen (TL8) A lifebank is an indexed collection of seeds, eggs or embryos. A well-stocked
lifebank will have examples of many different genotypes within a particular species,
This is a suitcase genetics lab (p. to ensure genetic diversity. About 50 individuals per species would be the minimum
21) optimized for producing biological breeding populace needed to allow that species to be reintroduced successfully,
weapons. It contains the necessary pre- while 1,000 could preserve most of a species’ genetic diversity.
cision scientific equipment (including The simplest stable ecosystems (e.g., an isolated lake) might have under 1,000
a miniaturized gene-splicing and PCR
species, but most have 10,000 or so. Earth may have as many as 80 million species –
machine), cell cultures and genetic
engineering computer software to 2-4% of all the species it has ever had. Extensive lifebanks may be established as a
transform an ordinary kitchen into a safeguard against extinction. At higher TLs, they can be found aboard colonizing
biowarfare laboratory. A hellkitchen “seedships.” Lifebanks require $500, 5 lbs. and 0.1 cf per embryo stored. A live bac-
gives -2 to skill on minor tasks, and a -8 terial culture, or large quantities of germ cells (hundreds of human gametes, plant
penalty when working on major pro- seeds or bacterial spores), can be frozen for the same amount of weight, space and
jects – with the exception of disease money.
cultures and similar bio-weapons,
A genome library stores the data for a mapped and sequenced genome in digital
where the penalty is only -5. It can also
manufacture additional doses of a germ form. This information can then be used to synthesize DNA, although growing a
from an existing or modified culture at complex organism like a human with nothing but a digital genetic code requires
a rate of one dose per hour; an unmodi- TL10+ technology and is far more time consuming than if actual samples existed.
fied skill roll should be required to set (See Genetic Reconstruction, p. 11). A complete genome database (plus Complexity
this up. 2 indexing programs) for a particular species genome is $5,000 (and 5 gigs) for
The hellkitchen is so compact microorganisms or plants and $20,000 (and 20 gigs) for other life forms.
because it lacks even rudimentary safety
features; any critical failure results in
some form of disaster (e.g., the user
becoming infected or releasing a
Other Biomedical Facilities
plague). This applies whether trying to
modify a disease or find a cure for one. Containment Tubes (TL8)
In its suitcase-sized package, the hell- These resemble giant, vertical test tubes, large enough for a person to stand
kitchen weighs 20 pounds and costs upright in, resting atop a base platform containing a life-support system and power-
$50,000. Packing or unpacking it takes ful vacuum pumps. They are used for containing human-sized specimens. In a
10 minutes. GURPS Supers campaign, any real mad scientist’s lab will have a few of these for
holding captured superheroes or experimental specimens.
The tubes are sealed, but are connected to an external air conditioner that recy-
cles the air within them. They can also be pumped empty of air in 30 seconds.
Canisters may be attached to the tubes to allow gases or liquids to be pumped into
them (e.g., sleep gas, nerve gas, germs or proteus virus), or to maintain a different
atmosphere within the containment tube. A gas canister suitable for flooding the
tube (requires five doses of whatever gas or other agent is used) is 5 lbs. and $300.
It can hold 100 doses of gas.
Access to the tube is provided by a transparent sliding door, which causes part
of the tube to slide open. The door’s lock cannot be picked from inside the tube.
Opening or closing the door, or controlling life support in the tube, is accomplished
using either controls on the base or an external computer terminal. The containment
tube itself is made of a plexiglass-like material with DR 30 and 20 hit points. Add
10 to DR per TL over TL8.
Each containment tube is $6,000, 300 lbs. and 15 cf. It runs off building power
(0.1 kW). For double cost, the containment tube can have twice the DR; at four
times cost, three times the DR. Containment tubes for beings larger than humans are
possible; multiply cost, weight, volume and power requirement by relative hex size.
Growth tanks, forced-growth tanks and chronowombs may be outfitted as contain-
ment tubes; add half the weight, cost and volume of the tube to the weight, cost and
volume of the growth tank or womb. This is useful if growing dangerous beings.

Cryocase (TL8)
This is a portable cryogenic storage case, normally used for transporting organs,
frozen embryos or similar fragile biological cargoes. Its interior can be configured to
contain a human head or arm, up to three large organs (heart, kidney, et cetera), or
twice that many smaller organs (eyes, for instance). It will preserve them for as long
as it has power, after which they will spoil within 1d hours. The cryocase is also suit-

22 BIOTECHNOLOGY
able for transporting other products that need to be frozen – evidence samples or cer-
tain drugs, for instance. The case is about the size of a large suitcase. When empty, it
weighs 10 lbs. It costs $2,000. A single C cell powers it for 24 hours, or it can be
Chrysalis
hooked up to building power (negligible requirements) to run indefinitely. Machine (TL13)
Portable Brain Pod (TL8) The ultimate in biomedical technolo-
gy, a chrysalis machine is a medical
This is a portable suspended animation unit that is specifically designed to keep device designed for nanotechnological
a disembodied brain (and portion of the spinal cord) alive. It is used for the trans- repair and transformation. It is a coffin-
portation of disembodied brains, generally prior to a brain transplant or total cybor- sized or larger machine that the user
steps into or is placed within. The
gizing operation. It can also be used for long-term storage. machine then spins a life-support web
A portable brain pod does not include the systems needed to keep the brain around the patient, completely enfold-
conscious, or any neural connections that would allow the brain to operate equip- ing him. Each cell is surrounded with
ment such as neural interfaces, communicators or sensors. (In fact, it includes sys- microscopic biological repair and sup-
tems designed to keep the brain unconscious, as a conscious brain would suffer total port machinery, which takes over con-
sensory deprivation, which could damage its sanity.) This is very deliberate, as it trol from the patient’s own DNA. The
allows the brain to be quickly and relatively cheaply installed or removed from the chrysalis instructs the cells to begin
self-repair procedures, and if necessary,
pod without the extensive and very expensive surgery required to make such con- takes the patient apart cell by cell and
nections. This is why placing a brain in a portable brain pod is much cheaper than rebuilds him in accordance with its own
transplanting it into a human body (p. 66) or cyborg body (p. RO52 and p. UT106), programming.
or keeping it conscious in a permanently disembodied state (p. P98). A chrysalis can heal almost any
A portable brain pod is 80 lbs. and $40,000, including a D cell power supply wound. Normal HT loss is restored at 1
(good for up to a month; a spare socket allows one cell to be removed while another HT per hour. Crippled body parts or
is still operating) and a casing. Weight and cost are halved at TL9 and again at missing fingers or toes are regenerated
in 24 hours; missing organs or limbs
TL10. It uses negligible amounts of vehicle or building power. regrow within a week. This is slower
Safely transferring a brain from a living body to a brain pod requires a well- than a regeneration field (p. UT104),
equipped TL8+ hospital, TL9+ automed or TL13+ chrysalis machine. Most hospi- but much safer! On a successful
tals will charge about $10,000 at TL8 for this service. The operation takes six hours Physician-2 roll, the time can be halved
to perform. If a character wants to try it, it requires a successful Surgery-5 roll, with (12 hours, or three days for a missing
failure resulting in a transplant to the pod but brain damage of some sort – such as a limb); failure means it takes the normal
permanent loss of 1d points of IQ – and critical failure resulting in death. time, critical failure may have perilous
side effects.
Transplanting a brain from a brain pod into a full cyborg body (p. UT106), total A person who is dead, but who has
cyborg body (p. RO52) or organic body has its normal cost. However, it takes only not suffered serious brain injury, can be
80% as long, and any skill rolls the GM requires to perform the operation are +2, restored to life. Roll against Physician,
since part of the work is already complete. at -2 for every hour the subject has been
dead. Success restores the patient to
life; failure by 1 or 2 indicates recovery,
with personality intact but substantial
memory loss (equivalent to Partial
Amnesia, p. CI86). Failure by 3+ also
restores him to life, but as a blank-
minded clone, with no memory or per-
sonality. A person who has suffered
severe brain damage can still be
restored, but only as a blank-minded
clone.
Beyond that threshold, if there are
Portable Microsurgery (TL8) some cells left, the chrysalis can
clone the original (the body may be
This is a compact microsurgical operating theatre, optimized for performing trans- totally crushed or burned, but not dis-
plants and neurosurgery (see Chapter 3), as well as modifying, repairing, removing integrated). The chrysalis machine
and installing bionics. It is small enough to fit in a room, trailer or van, and contains functions exactly like a forced-growth
enough tools to allow two medics to work at the same time. It adds +3 to Surgery, tank (p. 19). The result will be a
Diagnosis, Electronics or Electronics Operation rolls related to microsurgical tasks. blank-minded clone, unless a brain-
tape is available.
This sort of setup is favored by splicers (p. 129) and organleggers (p. 129), A chrysalis machine can also be used
since it can be packed up if the law comes calling. Security and intelligence agen- to transform someone, performing safe,
cies, and military units that use a lot of cybernetics, will also have a few of these fast clinical metamorphosis (see p. 79)
installed in vehicles (or safe houses), both for treating their own agents and for in conjunction with a metamorphosis
operating on defectors or prisoners – removing or inserting implants. nanovirus.
The portable microsurgery weighs 500 pounds and costs $30,000. It requires A chrysalis machine costs $150,000
about 25 cubic feet of space, or 10 cubic feet when packed for storage. and weighs 1,100 pounds. It takes up 75
cf and uses 0.1 kW of power.

BIOTECHNOLOGY 23
2 HUMAN GENETIC
ENGINEERING
 “What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty!
in form and moving how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in
apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals! And
Defining “Human”
yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust?”
What is “human”? This is a philo-
– Hamlet, William Shakespeare sophical question, but it may also be an
important legal and social one in many
Everyone thinks that they’re the end product of evolution – T. rex probably campaign settings. Definitions could be
thought that way just before he saw the comet flash. But with genetic engineering, based on the amount of human vs. non-
we can take control of our own cells, making our children brighter, faster and human DNA (i.e., “eugenic vs. species
immune to hangovers. We can even redesign people to live in space, so the next modification”). Other common criteria
time some big rock hits, some of us won’t be here. include:

Anatomy: Certain standards may be

Gengineering at Conception
A genetic engineer can insert recombinant DNA or RNA into a newly-fertilized
set, such as being physically indistin-
guishable from a normal human or,
perhaps more loosely, having a gener-
human egg cell (a zygote) to alter its genes. Those genes will express themselves by ally humanoid appearance.
Birth: This might exclude “non-
producing somewhat different proteins. As the zygote develops into an embryo and borns” who came out of incubators or
then a fetus, the new proteins will make up different cells, and a child will be born clone tanks, as opposed to “test-tube
with traits it would not have possessed had it remained unmodified. These changes babies,” conceived artificially but ges-
will be passed on to its descendants. This process is known as “gengineering at con- tated inside a surrogate mother.
ception,” or more technically, germline genetic engineering. Intelligence: A racial IQ modifier of
-3 or worse might disqualify someone
as legally human.
Eugenic Germline Gengineering (TL8) Theology: Belief systems may have
their own criteria, related to things like
“We’d like our Katiana to be petite and beautiful, with big, violet eyes and jet- the presence or absence of a soul, or
black hair. Could she have a tendency toward musical aptitude, with long fingers whether the person fits a definition of
for playing the piano? We also want her to be good at sports – an athletic body type man in a religious text.
would be nice, so she could be a gymnast. Oh, and we want the standard features,
of course: boosted immune system and genefixed heredity.
“Now, how much will all that cost?”
– Mr. and Mrs. Arlington
Sex Selection
“Of course a boy! We must have a
“Ever since my teens, I’ve really wished my parents had designed me for some- male, so he can marry and inherit the
thing practical. At least I don’t get sick.” family business.”
“You want a boy, she wants a boy . . .
– Katiana Arlington III
If every parent is going to have boys,
who are they going to marry?”
This is what most people think of when they hear the term “human genetic
engineering.” This is the process of selecting gene combinations that ensure the This is chromosome manipulation
appearance of traits the gengineer considers desirable; for example, good looks, rather than gene manipulation. Sex
high intelligence or perfect vision. selection is simply a matter of choos-
The abilities and disabilities of each of us result from traits inherited from a mix- ing whether the baby will have XY
(male) or XX (female) sex chromo-
ture of our parents’ genes, modified by environmental factors such as diet, experi-
somes. (If anyone wanted, such tin-
ence and education. Eugenic gengineering (“eugeneering”) involves determining kering could also result in a natural
what genetic combinations favor certain traits, then using gengineering at conception hermaphrodite.)
to make it likely they appear. It does not add anything new to the human genome, so Sex selection is easy, as genetic
a eugeneered person will still appear perfectly human to genetic tests or scanners. engineering goes, but may have pro-
The major stumbling block in the road to eugenic modification is that desirable found effects on society. For example,
traits can result from the interaction of hundreds of different genes. Moreover, one if parents favor boys over girls (as in
many Earth cultures), the result could
gene may be involved in multiple traits – change it to produce one effect and there
be a demographic disaster within a
may be unintended consequences for the others. generation, especially if population
The capability to perform eugeneering rests on possessing a complete map of controls restrict families to one child
the human genome (see The Human Genome Project, p.14) and a detailed under- each.
standing of how specific gene sequences affect human development. Completing a At TL8, sex selection costs $1,000 if
racial genome map is a TL8 achievement, and the ability to use this knowledge to it’s the only genetic modification
perform complex eugenic selection is TL8+. ordered; it’s free with more extensive
gengineering. Halve the price at TL9
Efforts to determine the effects of specific, modified gene sequences often pro-
and again at TL10+.
ceed by tinkering with the DNA of individual genes one at time, using animal sub- See also Cross-Sex Clones, p. 16.
jects. Since mammals such as mice share much of our DNA and produce successive
generations in a short period of time, animal testing can provide considerable
HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING 25
 insight into the effects on humans, especially if the test animals are gengineered to
possess additional human genes. As more data is gathered on each gene’s role in
Sex and Genetic human development, computer simulations may supplement or replace experimenta-
Engineering tion, making eugenic selection far more practical, and allowing a designer to work
with a standard “tool kit” of genes known to produce certain effects.
Once this capability is achieved, eugeneering can create “designer people”
“I have my first Daddy’s hazel eyes whose potentials are enhanced or skewed toward a specific physical or mental ideal.
and my second Daddy’s red hair, but
they bought my sense of direction from Changes may range from the obvious (good looks, muscular build, 20/20 vision or
the gene bank.” “double-jointedness”) to the subtle (higher IQ, gengineering of the adrenal glands to
– Chance Mackintosh give someone a positive stress response).
At TL9, same-sex partners can use
genetic engineering to blend their genet-
ic material together. Women don’t need
Germline Gengineering for Species Modification (TL9)
to involve men at all; men will still need “Yesterday, the Mokoto twins started laughing and teasing me ’bout my gen-
a female egg donor, although the genet- emods again, calling me Girl Dracula and stuff. I bit one of them, but she beat me
ic material from the egg nucleus could up – ain’t no room to fly in the ship; it’s hard to fight back proper when your bones
be removed and replaced with genetic aren’t strong as theirs. I can’t wait for planetfall on Darktree. Soon we parahuman
material drawn from the male partners. kids be gliding from tree to tree, while them crew-brats be stumbling around in the
Splicing genetic material from same-sex
partners together costs an extra $10,000
groundfogs in their chillsuits and respirators. Then we see who’s laughing.”
and takes about a week. Halve this at – Tizbeth Sung-Morton (age 9), Darktree Colonization Fleet
TL10 and again at TL11+.
Species modification involves gengineering for complex traits that never existed
within the human genome, such as gene sequences that produce modifications to
Linked Advantages human anatomy. Some changes may be internal, like a modified liver that’s better
able to filter toxins. Others might be obvious, like a coat of fur or a pair of functional
and Disadvantages extra arms. Again, the main difficulties lie in predicting how the effects of a specific
genetic change will cascade over the entire genome, and in making major changes in
Sometimes, the genes that combine hundreds or thousands of genes at once. The tools to do this become available at
to produce a specific desirable trait are TL9 – megacomputers for running extremely complex genetic simulations, and
mingled with those of other traits. GMs bio-nanotech, such as highly-sophisticated, tailored retroviruses or nanoviruses.
can rule that this is the way it works for Gengineers might synthesize genes for totally new abilities,but it may be easier
specific advantages, requiring them to to enhance existing human traits, or design non-human abilities by basing them on
be combined with disadvantages, dis- the genes of terrestrial animals. This can be background information (“I’m part
tinctive features or even other advan-
tages. This has considerable basis in
bat?”) or imply colorful physical features (someone whose bat DNA sequences give
reality, and is very common in science them sonar and wings may have other chiropteran features, such as fangs and
fiction – what if an exotic advantage pointed ears). These may be the unintended results of cross-linked genes, or neces-
(like Intuitive Mathematician or a psi sary for a given trait (e.g., pointed ears for ultrasonic hearing).
power) were linked to a disadvantage This sort of transgenic gengineering is already in the experimental stage at TL7,
like Albinism or Short Lifespan? with single human genes having been inserted into “pharm animals” (see p. 98) so
Sex-linked traits are also possible – that their metabolisms produce necessary proteins. Once the human genome and
in the case of a variant race, this means several nonhuman genomes are mapped and sequenced, complex human transgengi-
that males and females will have neering could become a reality, limited mainly by ethical considerations.
slightly different racial templates. Adding traits from very different species – like insects, plants or aliens – proba-
bly requires high technology (TL11+), unless the genetic sequences are extremely
simple. The guidelines under Designing Variant Human Templates (p. 29) suggest
TLs at which various advantages and disadvantages can be produced by gengineer-
ing.

Chimerization
Technically, a chimera is an entity created when the cells of two dissimilar blas-
tocysts (very early embryos) are carefully fused together so that they form a single
organism. If the blastocysts are from different species, the result – if it survives –
will be a new creature with traits of both.
While a “classic” chimera is not too difficult to achieve with bacteria, plants or
very closely related animals (e.g., between dog and wolf blastocysts), the likelihood of
a viable chimera declines as the species become more diverse. To produce more exotic
chimeras, such as human/wolf, the germ cells from each embryo must undergo genetic
engineering to improve their compatibility. Additional cell grafts or microsurgery are
used to ensure the correct mix of cells and to correct any resulting deformities in the

26 HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING

developing embryo. Cross-species chimerization is unlikely to be easy. The path to
success will be littered with failed fusions resulting in dead embryos and aborted,
defective or monstrous fetuses. Even a successful chimera may have genetic flaws, or
be born with hormonal imbalances that can cause psychological problems. Eugeneering
In game terms, there isn’t that much difference between chimerization and
germline gengineering, especially since the techniques are likely to blend together. As
and Society
such, chimerization uses the germline gengineering rules – design the species as a Widespread practice of human
gengineered animal or human, with appropriate cross-species characteristics. Since a genetic engineering can easily have a
chimera’s fusion occurs on the cellular level rather than the genetic level, it is less of a profound effect on society.
“complete” organism. All chimera templates should have these disadvantages (as unin- If it is available to anyone who can
tended defects): Delicate Metabolism (-20 or -40 points, p. CI81), Sterile (-3 points, p. afford it, eugeneering may be used by
CI84) and Unusual Biochemistry (-5 points, p. CI106). A lower HT is also reasonable. wealthy parents who want to have “bet-
ter” children. The descendants of the

Objectives of Human Gengineering elite would not only think they were
superior, but would actually be so,
genetically speaking. This could turn
Once we have the technology to radically redesign a human, would we want to
the gulf between rich and poor into a
do it? Here are some reasons that might drive gengineers: gaping chasm, or lead to a backlash if

Pantropy demagogues attempt to parlay resent-

ment against the gene-enhanced into
political power.
A term coined by writer James Blish (from Greek, “grow anywhere”), this is
In a socialist or authoritarian regime,
the practice of adapting humans to live and work in hostile or alien environments. gengineering might be subsidized or
People designed to survive without an artificial environment may be safer (due to even mandated by the government, per-
reduced risk of accidents) and, in the long run, less expensive – things like atmos- haps as part of a massive eugenics pro-
phere plants, artificial gravity, space suits or domed cities don’t come cheap, and ject. A benign program may subsidize
actual terraforming is a massive expense. genefixing to eliminate “defective
Moreover, if long-term colonization is planned, a colony is more likely to be genes” such as hemophilia. A society
psychologically stable if the colonists and their children can live on “their” world could expand that into a full-scale
eugenics program aimed at producing a
without the constant threat of death if some technological system fails. If there is a homogenous population or developing
local or widespread breakdown of civilization, such as a war, blockade or “long specialized “genetic castes” for different
night” (see p. S13), colonies of altered people are far more likely to survive the loss roles (see Specialization and Genetic
of their technological infrastructure. Castes, p. 28). Perhaps a limited num-
ber of “approved” genotypes would
Homo Superior exist, from which parents must choose
(or have chosen for them). Or maybe
Gengineering may be driven by the desire to create “better” or “super” people. everyone (except the leaders) must use
This is the major goal of eugeneering, but it can also be taken farther via species the same genotype; it would end racism,
modification. but it might make the population easier
Typical goals include improved health, longer life (even immortality!), mental to predict and control.
enhancements like improved intelligence or memory, and superior physical abilities In some science-fiction backgrounds,
there is a conflict between more “natur-
such as enhanced strength or speed. Other objectives may be to gengineer away al” societies and those that utilize
human dependencies, such as the need for sleep. gengineering.
“Homo superior” may have generalized improvements in many areas, or be Even if only one generation is
more specialized, gaining some abilities at the expense of others. Unmodified altered, this affects the overall gene
humans may react with fear or envy to a gengineered super-race, especially if they pool, as their children will inherit their
can’t afford to give their children the same kinds of modifications. genetics. Societies concerned with
On the other hand, extensive or limited gengineering of this sort may be applied genome preservation might allow
gengineering but mandate sterilization,
to an entire society. For example, an effort to ensure everyone is gengineered with so that if a gene-altered person is to
an enhanced immune system. The exact concept of a “superior” person may also be have children, they’d have to be artifi-
driven by ethical or ideological considerations. A utopian commune might consider cially inseminated or cloned.
their “Homo superior” to be a peaceful race, and choose to delete genes linked with
aggression.

HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING 27

 Human Eugenics:
Breeding Programs
It’s possible to produce desired
changes in heredity through a conven-
tional breeding program rather than
genetic engineering. This can be done at
any TL, although it’s most effective Slave Species
when the laws of heredity are under- Gengineering may be used to create a more tractable proletariat, underclass or
stood. It requires locating breeding slave caste. Slave species are usually designed for jobs that humans find dangerous,
stock with suitable traits, mating them
and observing the offspring. The boring or demeaning, such as work in hostile environments, soldiering, manual
process is repeated with each genera- labor, domestic servitude or concubinage.
tion, with new mates chosen to strength- Gengineered slave species often possess highly specialized physical and mental
en desirable traits or remove undesir- modifications to make them more effective workers, or condition them to accept their
able ones. role. For example, pleasure models may be grown with stunning looks and glandular
This is the process that’s been used modifications that keep them constantly “in heat,” while a janissary warrior could be
for thousands of years to breed plants gengineered with enhanced speed, revised pain threshold and boosted aggressive-
and animals. As far as we know, no
one’s ever done it successfully with ness. These changes can leave members of a slave species more effective than
humans – although to a limited extent, humans within a limited sphere, while circumscribing their free will. This might
the entire earth is an exercise in eugen- result in simultaneous feelings of inferiority and superiority with respect to normal
ics (“evolution in action”), since most humans. Gengineers sometimes try to create a slave species so perfectly adapted to
people (or their parents) choose their its role that it can’t conceive of freedom. Of course, they don’t always succeed.
mates with at least some eye toward Slave species are sometimes deliberately gengineered to look physically distinc-
suitability for children. tive. For example, all slave bioroids may have blue skin, or be gengineered
Of course, this brings up the main
problem with human eugenics. As human/animal hybrids. This might be done purely for cosmetic reasons, but it also
humans usually prefer to choose their makes it more difficult for people to see them as “human” and harder for them to
own partners, some form of coercion or escape. It’s even possible that differences will accrue because the law states that
indoctrination is often required. Since having a certain percentage of nonhuman gene sequences makes someone legally an
the process will take many generations, animal or living artifact (which can be owned) rather than a human being (who is a
a very stable organization must be free citizen). Thus, gengineers may have to make a slave species less human in
founded which can oversee the program order for it to be considered a slave species.
through many generations.
Eugenics programs are usually A variant human species designed as a slave species may not always remain as
devoted to designing a master race with one. For example, changes in circumstances or social attitudes, or an unforeseen muta-
superior physical and mental traits, a tion, might lead to emancipation or revolt. Of course, if the slave species has been spe-
super-being with exotic psi powers, or cialized for a limited role, this may limit its ability to enjoy its new-found freedom . . .
specialized humans for a biological
caste system modeled on an insect hive.
Often, they are managed by communis-
Specialization and Genetic Castes
tic governments, secret societies or reli- Gengineered people may be optimized for specialized tasks from birth, without
gious orders. In the past, the Nazis ever having been intended as slaves. This may be the decision of parents (“I want
made half-hearted efforts in the field of my baby to be a scientist”) or of a community.
eugenic breeding programs. Had the Taken farther, this could lead to a caste-based communism similar to the one in
Reich really lasted a thousand years,
Aldous Huxley’s novel Brave New World: citizens designed from birth for specific
they might have been successful; fortu-
nately, they had less than a generation. jobs, a drone-like working class indistinguishable from a slave species. They might
But can you really breed a “better” be managed by an upper class of unspecialized people (normal humans or a Homo
race with eugenics? A major problem superior race) to give orders and handle unforeseen emergencies.
would be the danger of inbreeding, with Such a society may dispense with sexual reproduction and reproduce through
an increased possibility of recessive growth tanks or cloning. Ordinary citizens may be gengineered to be non-aggressive
metabolic diseases. In GURPS terms, workers; faced with war, a state might deliberately alter its birth programs to grow
this would manifest as problems such as
(or simply mass-clone) a crop of super-soldiers or super-agents.
Epilepsy, Hemophilia, Weak Immune
System and various forms of insanity.
This is a danger in keeping the genes
within a small population without hav-
Hidden Dangers – Overspecialization and Evolution
ing genetic testing and gengineering to Evolution is limited by the past of the organism – it can only work with what it
detect and counter such problems. has to start with. If you eliminate a “useless” trait entirely from a population, then
Continued on next page . . . the only way for it to reappear is by having the gene re-evolve from scratch, which
could take millennia – if it ever happens at all. This can be a fatal error if that gene
turns out to be not so “useless” after all . . .
28 HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING
 Moreover, what if a gengineered species encounters a virus that even their
jacked-up immune systems can’t resist? Since they lack genetic diversity, there will
be very little chance of any individuals being immune and their descendants surviv- Human Eugenics:
ing to carry on the species, as might have been the case had the plague struck the
“imperfect” masses of naturally-evolved humanity. A real-life example of this is the Breeding Programs
cheetah. Some time in the prehistoric past, this cat species suffered a genetic “bottle- (Continued)
neck” in which a large amount of the breeding population died (for unknown rea-
sons). Modern cheetahs are descendants of a very few individuals, and as a species, In theory, a eugenic breeding pro-
cheetahs are highly vulnerable to disease, and suffer many birth defects due to gram could eventually produce “racial
inbreeding. templates” that include any hereditary
Similarly, it’s all well and good to transform everyone into a race of “beautiful” advantage or disadvantage within the
people by, say, deleting gene sequences for excess body fat. However, if a disaster human genome (see Eugenic Germline
Gengineering, p. 25). It could only
(comet strike, nuclear winter or whatever) triggers the next ice age and causes the bring out and emphasize features that
collapse of technological civilization, the fashion-model beautiful Homo superior are latent in existing genes, not create
will all starve or freeze to death in short order – and since the gene for obesity is completely new capabilities (“species
now gone, there will be nothing to select for in future generations. modification”).
There’s no way to predict how long
this process would really take. GMs
who want hard numbers could assume
that a large, intensive and ruthless
breeding program just might be able to
put about 1d-4 (at TL1-5), 1d-3 (at
TL6) or 1d-2 (at TL7+) character points
towards creating a specific genetic tem-
plate every generation. Keep track of
negative points as well – apply them
toward hereditary disadvantages, repre-
senting inbred traits.
At TL7+, this averages 1.5 character

Designing Var iant Human Templates

A gene-altered person belongs to a “sub-race” or “variant race” of humanity, even
points per generation; so, for instance,
breeding a “warrior caste” who all pos-
sessed Combat Reflexes (15 points)
would take about 10 human generations.
if he represents the first (or only!) member. A variant human racial template should be These represent total points of change,
created using the Racial Generation rules in GURPS Compendium I (pp. CI173-180) so Weak Will (-8 points) and High Pain
and the guidelines in this section, and have its own attribute modifiers, advantages, Threshold (10 points) is 18 points, not 2
disadvantages and features. Ideally, it should be designed around a specific theme, points. A eugenics program will proba-
depending on the intent of the designer and the kinds of genetic material used. bly also produce several “failures,” who
may have interesting but unplanned
The traits chosen should have a scientific – or at least pseudo-scientific – ratio-
advantages or disadvantages.
nale (e.g., Combat Reflexes and Extra Fatigue could be justified by “built-in war Someone who is the living product
drug glands and enhanced lungs”). Others may be based on “xenogenes” from other of an ongoing eugenics program might
species (e.g., Night Vision derived from cat genes). A variant human racial template represent centuries or millennia of
can have any attribute modifiers, advantages, disadvantages or features the GM effort by a powerful organization. As
feels could be logically produced through genetic engineering. This rules out traits such, they might well be the victims of
that represent social position, relationships, training, experience, conscious choice, plots to subvert, kidnap or assassinate
them. The Social Stigma “valuable
injury or mental trauma (e.g., Dependents, Honesty, Literacy, Military Rank,
property” is appropriate for any eugen-
Trained by a Master or Wealth). ics subject.
The GM can also rule that some traits are too abstract, weird or difficult to Eugenics programs are especially
gengineer, such as Luck. Individual paranormal or occult traits like psionics, suitable for GURPS Illuminati settings,
Magery or being a werewolf may or may not have a known genetic cause. where secret societies may indeed have
In science-fiction settings, the GM may want to limit the genetic engineering of long-running and manipulative interest
more exotic abilities to higher tech levels. This is the approach that was taken in in certain “bloodlines,” which might
translate into eugenics. In alternative
Chapter 4 of GURPS Robots (Biological Androids, p. RO74ff), where restricted
history settings where the Axis won
lists of advantages and disadvantages were assigned TLs based on how difficult World War II, such as “Reich-5” (see
they might be to produce through gengineering. For GMs who prefer this approach, GURPS Alternate Earths), eugenics
the rest of this chapter is devoted to discussing what genetic engineers might plausi- programs may also be underway. GMs
bly produce at various TLs, and how they might do it. interested in SF examples of eugenics
GMs should feel free to modify the TLs, effects and rationales suggested for programs should definitely check out
various modifications – they are only intended as guidelines, not hard and fast rules. the works of SF author Frank Herbert,
notably Dune and Hellstrom’s Hive.
Not every advantage or disadvantage has been included, only those that seemed
most likely. In particular, in space-opera, supers or horror settings, variant racial
templates can include pretty much any ability that can be rationalized as “genetic,”

HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING 29

 from mouse-sized humans to the ability to throw lightning bolts or fly faster than
light. In that sort of campaign, don’t feel bound by tech levels – after all, in the
comics, a genius grad student working in a late-TL7 lab might splice “spider genes”
into human germ cells and grow a human/spider chimera with ST and DX bonuses,
Clinging, Extra Arms and Webbing.

Gengineered Attribute Modifiers

Attribute modifiers are used to determine the attribute scores of an average
member of a race whose mean attribute scores differ from the human norm of 10.
Thus, a variant race with an attribute modifier of ST+1 will, on average, have ST
11. A variant race with a particular attribute bonus, like ST+1, has undergone genet-
ic alterations to make its strength, dexterity, intelligence or health superior to the
human norm; a penalty indicates modifications that have made it inferior. See p.
CI175 for further details on attribute modifiers.
What actual changes might be needed to achieve this? Here are some possibilities:

Strength
ST may be enhanced by eugenic modifications to ensure a hefty build.
Alterations to the endocrine system may promote growth of muscle over fat. The
structure of both voluntary and involuntary muscle tissue can be modified with
Why Make more or stronger fibers. Species modification may actually improve the bones them-

Ubermenschen? selves, increasing their structural strength and allowing stronger attachment points
for muscles. At high TLs, alterations to the mitochondria (see Eve, Eukaryotes and
Genetic engineering to allow super- Organelles, p. 8) might improve the way the body uses its own energy resources.
human physical feats is useful for many
physically-demanding jobs, but espe-
cially for covert operations, where bion-
Dexterity
ics or powered suits might be too easy DX may be improved by eugenic modification to ensure an athletic body type,
to detect. Modern military forces may or at high TLs, by modifying nerve fibers and the spinal cord for faster nerve
also find biological enhancement easier impulse transmission.
on logistical grounds – a gene-enhanced
soldier may not be quite as strong as a
robot or suit, but at least he doesn’t
Intelligence
require any special maintenance. IQ may be improved by subtle neurological changes (see Brain Modifications,
Since modifications to ST and DX p. 32) or by increasing brain surface area. These are delicate procedures, requiring
are purely physical, they would be sophisticated neuropsychological and genetic science, and are probably impossible
amenable to animal testing. Several before TL10. Species modification may actually increase the size of the brain.
models of enhanced “super-animals”
were probably designed before any
super-humans were. Even if the animals Health
weren’t put into production, a few pro- HT may be increased by a spectrum of genetic changes, ranging from eliminat-
totype super-critters might be found in ing genetic defects and hereditary tendencies toward degenerative illness to gengi-
(or escape from) labs. neering away the appendix. Species modification to produce high racial HT bonuses
Many species modifications (and to
a lesser extent, almost all genetic modi-
may physically alter internal anatomy, especially the cardiovascular, respiratory,
fications) produce effects that can be gastrointestinal and immune systems.
replicated more cheaply by technology.
Why bother to use feline genes to give
someone fur or claws when you can get
the same or better effect with a weather-
proof jacket and a knife?
First, parahumans may be designed
as frontier colonists or workers on
worlds with harsh environments. A bio-
logical edge may be useful if disaster
leads to a technological breakdown.
Even if it doesn’t, being able to survive
outdoors (even briefly) without artificial
aids brings a welcome sense of security,
contributing to the psychological health
of the community.
Continued on next page . . .

30 HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING

Gengineered Attribute Bonus Table Why Make
Type Amount Cost TL
ST Bonus: __________________________________________
Ubermenschen?
+1 10 8 (Continued)
+2/+3/+4 20/30/45 9 Second, some cultures may prefer
+5/+6/+7 60/70/80 10 “softer” biotech to inorganic devices, or
+8/+9/+10 90/100/110 11+ create transgenic people for aesthetic
DX Bonus: __________________________________________ reasons.
Third, biological abilities are more
+1/+2/+3 10/20/30 9 convenient. Someone with super-acute
+4 45 10 senses doesn’t need to stop to look at an
+5 60 11+ instrument to know if someone’s sneak-
IQ Bonus: __________________________________________ ing up on him. Likewise, you don’t
+1/+2 10/20 10 have to worry about changing the bat-
+3/+4 30/45 11+ teries. If you have retractable claws,
HT Bonus: __________________________________________ you’ll never forget your knife or puzzle
over concealing it in different types of
+1 10 8 dress or undress. Sure, you can get the
+2 20 9 same effect with cyberwear or neural
+3/+4 30/45 10 interfaces, but that’s as expensive as
+5 60 11+ riding the genemod train.
Fourth, transgenic modifications can
be augmented as well. If you’ve got nat-
The table shows the maximum attribute bonuses a gengineered variant human ural claws, no one says you can’t add a
diamond layer to them. If you have
race should have at a given TL. super-sensitive hearing and smell, you
If further gengineering is applied to an existing variant race, the limits remain can use them at the same time you’re
based on the original species, and represent fundamental physiological, psychologi- wearing that macrovisor. It’s not an
cal or technological limitations. Thus, you can’t get around the maximum of IQ+2 either/or proposition – it’s a wider range
at TL10 by engineering a variant race with an average IQ 12, then gengineering it of capability.
again and again to give it even higher IQs. The assumption is that humans have a
basic set of limits the human form must fall within. As gengineering improves in
TL, humans can be pushed closer and closer to those limits. It is impossible to go
further without fundamentally altering the human form itself.
Bonuses over +3 to ST or +2 to other attributes require species modification:
the recipient is no longer entirely human. Species modification can also allow ST
bonuses under half the maximum for a particular TL to be achieved without visible
increase in bulk, through redesign of muscle and bone tissue.
Attribute penalties down to -3 (or -5 with species modification) are possible,
representing either genetic flaws tolerated in an otherwise good design, or the
results of aiming for a specific build. For instance, a heavy frame might give high
ST but low DX, with the reverse being true of a sub-race that is designed with a
small or light frame.
Non-Human Strength: When gengineering a species that starts with ST other
than 10, the maximum alteration (see the table above) is expressed as a percentage
increase: +10% per +1 on the table. For example, at TL9, an elephant (ST 300) is
not limited to +4 ST; it could be modified for an extra ST +120 (since 40% of 300
is 120). This rule also applies to Extra or Reduced Hit Points.

Gengineered Advantages
The following sections discuss changes that might plausibly be bioengineered
into a variant human race to produce various advantages (a few associated disad-
vantages are also included; see Gengineered Disadvantages, p. 51, for more).
Rather than repeat the racial generation rules in yet another GURPS supplement,
we’ve assumed familiarity with this system, as presented in GURPS Aliens, Blood
Types, Compendium I, Fantasy Folk and Uplift, and have instead included only
the point costs and names of advantages or disadvantages, plus page references to
GURPS Basic Set or Compendium I.

HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING 31

 Nature vs. Nurture
There is an ongoing scientific debate
over the relative degree to which human
traits and behavior are influenced by
genes (“nature”) and by environmental
factors (“nurture”) in the womb and in
childhood, including child care, nutri-
tion, education and other life experi-
ences.
It is important to stress the profound
effect that events in the womb have on The assignment of TLs and association of advantages with various traits (e.g.,
the physical and mental traits of a per- Hard to Kill under Cardiovascular Modifications) are suggestions only, and may be
son. While genetic disorders can cause altered by the GM as desired.
many physical disadvantages, many
other physical abnormalities – including Eugenic vs. Species Modification: Whether added DNA sequences are human
many gross deformities – can result or not may be very important if society bans or stigmatizes parahumans. Also,
from problems that arise during fetal species modifications are more likely to be coupled with nonhuman features. Those
development, such as the lack of oxy- genetic advantages that would probably require departing from the human genome
gen at a crucial time, or the presence of have been labeled as “species modifications.”
radiation or chemicals.
The childhood environment is simi-
larly influential. For instance, there is a
convincing body of research that sug-
Brain Modifications
gests the trait of “shyness” is genetic. “Our competitors at Matsai gengineered their 3000-series megabrights for
Certain genes do make people extra-cau- hyped-up creative, intuitive and mathematical faculties. Turned out the gengineers
tious and anxious, leading to high heart didn’t know as much as they thought they did about brain chemistry, and ended up
rates when responding to new stimuli. with three super-bright, high-strung, delusional schizophrenics. Two killed them-
This influences behavior through a kind selves. The third is convinced God is behind the event horizon of the black hole in the
of feedback loop. To escape these feel- galactic core, and devotes all her time to trying to figure out how to get him to
ings of anxiety, children with these
answer back. She’s managed some useful astrophysics and hyper-mass experiments,
genes avoid new situations where these
kinds of stimuli occur – they act “shy.” but that isn’t what Matsai hoped for. Still, Matsai corporate ideology keeps them try-
However, studies also indicate that par- ing to develop ‘super-thinkers.’ I admit they did a better job with their more modest
ents who encourage their shy kids to Pandora-series, although these sure aren’t bug-free either – ever try talking to one?”
play with others at an early age will – Doctor Sayyid Iqbal, Biotech Euphrates
actually alter these biochemical systems,
modifying the way the body reacts to Attempting to gengineer mental traits such as intelligence, alertness, memory or
stimuli. In other words, nurture triumphs
specific aptitudes is difficult, because these traits are much more abstract than phys-
over nature through deliberate action.
Likewise, while it is possible to edit ical ones. Exactly how much of “intelligence” is genetic and how much is environ-
out genes believed to influence mental mental is not only controversial, but any answer also depends on how you measure
instability, many mental disadvantages and define intelligence.
result from childhood trauma. Thus, However, traits ranging from self control to high intelligence appear to be at
while someone may not have the genetic least partially the result of specific gene sequences that govern the exact mix of hor-
predisposition toward lecherousness, he mones and other neurotransmitters produced by the body. As of 1997, scientists
may have grown up in an emotionally
have found human genes that appear to correlate with mental stability, shyness,
deprived environment which led him to
adopt promiscuity as his sole means of impulsiveness (which, by mitigating it, may lead to Common Sense) and memory,
expressing affection. Similarly, someone among other things.
who saw his parents massacred in a war In this realm, gengineering works hand in glove with neurology and molecular
may be prone to fits of uncontrollable neuropsychology. Today, radioisotope-labeled monoclonal antibodies (p. 17) are used
rage, or manic-depressive episodes. to locate neurotransmitters in the brain. At TL9 or higher, nanomachine probes can
In short, it’s hard to eliminate com- actually observe the brain’s neurochemical activity as it occurs. By studying what mol-
mon mental and physical problems just
ecular changes take place while staying awake, enduring pain, memorizing, solving a
by fixing genes. If gengineered people
are grown in an artificial womb (growth math problem, et cetera, bioengineers may be able to design nucleotide sequences that
tank or forced-growth tank) and educat- will optimize the brain’s neurochemistry or structure toward specific activities.
ed under controlled conditions, then
they may turn out exactly as planned.
On the other hand, if they are born of a
real womb and grow up in the real
world, there is a fair chance that they’ll
have the same sorts of problems as
everyone else.
Continued on next page . . .

32 HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING

Brain Modifications Nature vs. Nurture
Name Cost Page TL
Alertness 5/level B19 9* (Continued)
Ambidexterity 10 B19 9
Autotrance 5 CI20 9 In game terms, this means that most
mental advantages, disadvantages and
Eidetic Memory 30/60 B20 9/10 taboo traits in a genetic racial template
Lightning Calculator 5 B21 9 should be considered guidelines rather
Mathematical Ability 10 B22 9 than hard-and-fast rules. If the subject
Single-Minded 5 CI30 9 was raised in controlled conditions, and
3D Spatial Sense 10 CI31 10 no mistakes were made, he’ll generally
Chronolocation 15 CI21 10 “live up to spec.” Of course, it’s also
Common Sense 10 B20 10 possible that a human who is gengi-
neered for a specific trait may have had
Intuition 15 B20 10 those genes artificially enhanced to a
Intuitive Mathematician 25 CI26 10 degree that makes it much more likely
Language Talent 2/level B20 10* he’ll develop it.
Musical Ability 1/level B22 10*
Versatile 5 CI31 10
Species Modification:
Compartmentalized Mind 50/level CI52 11**
Miniature Humans
Modification of genes governing
* Add +1 to TL for every level of this advantage after the first five levels. human growth factor can create pint-
** Add +1 to TL per level after the first. sized parahumans who, as adults, are
the size of young children, smaller than
Sleep-State Modifications ordinary genetic dwarves. Creating
miniature people has some obvious
The exact biochemical mechanisms behind sleep remain somewhat murky. advantages: they’d take up less space
Many researchers believe that animals (including humans) sleep and dream because (especially useful for military or space
the body or brain needs time to rest and regenerate itself. However, some scientists vehicle crews) and require less life sup-
lean toward the idea that sleep is not a metabolic necessity, but rather an evolution- port. However, there are some serious
physiological obstacles to producing
ary quirk. That is, our brains are programmed to make us sleepy because being dor-
doll-sized humans.
mant for a certain length of time reduces food requirements and, for humans, pre- First, we define “humanity” in terms
vents us from stumbling into predators we can’t see. If that’s the case, sleep’s been of intelligence. The human brain’s
obsolete since we invented fire – unfortunately, the only way to tell our bodies oth- thinking capacity depends on having a
erwise may be genetic engineering. certain minimum size and mass. You
Careful tinkering with sleep-regulating structures in the brain, such as the cau- can shrink the body but not the head, as
dal brain stem, basal forebrain, the serotonin-producing raphe nuclei and the in a human dwarf, but there is a limit to
how big a head can be supported on a
suprachisamatic nuclei (which appear to govern circadian rhythms) may modify or
shrunken neck and spinal column with-
eliminate the need for sleep. Other modifications may affect the way humans dream out causing problems. Alternatively, if
by interfering with the flow of images to the cortex from the limbic centers (the the size of the head is reduced propor-
older part of the brain). tionately with the rest of the body,
intellectual capacity will decline.
Sleep-State Modifications Fortunately, intelligence appears to be a
function of brain area rather than mass
Name Cost Page TL
or volume, so reducing brain mass does
Deep Sleeper 5 CI23 9 not result in a direct, linear drop in IQ.
Less Sleep 1-5 3/level CI27 9 Second, a scaled-down human loses
Sensie Talent 2/level CI30 10 heat more rapidly, due to his larger
Racial Skill Bonus: ____________________________________________________ body area in relation to his mass. This
Lucid Dreaming +1-3 0.5/1/2 CI142 10 means he will need to eat more in pro-
Dreaming +1-3 4/6/8 CI139 11 portion to a normal-sized human just to
Species Modification: ____________________________________________ keep his body temperature up. (This is
why small mammals like mice are
Reduced Sleep 10 CI64 10 almost always either eating or sleeping.)
Doesn’t Sleep 20 CI53 11 Even so, overall food consumption will
be lower. It might be a good idea to add
Cardiovascular Modifications fur (to preserve heat) or a longer sleep
cycle to any miniature human.
Cardiovascular modifications are made to the heart, blood and circulatory sys-
tem. The heart may be strengthened with enhanced muscle tissue so it can better Continued on next page . . .
withstand trauma and stress, providing the advantages Extra Hit Points, Fit, Very Fit
or Hard to Kill.
HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING 33
 Bone marrow cells may be modified to produce gengineered blood cells with
Miniature Humans improved capabilities. The hemoglobin in red blood cells (erythrocytes) can be
redesigned for greater oxygen transport capacity (Extra Fatigue). Extra red blood
(Continued) cells can be stored in the spleen (as in a dog) for additional release when necessary.
Platelets may be modified for superior wound clotting ability (Rapid or Very Rapid
Third, while a smaller size is handy Healing).
in terms of reduced life support require- Arterial tissue may be gengineered so it does not lose its elastic property with age
ments, it is also inconvenient for many
(which could provide Longevity). More specialized cardiovascular genemods are also
other activities, from reaching things on
a shelf to finding clothes that fit. It also possible. For instance, as high-g acceleration causes blackouts when the blood pools
correlates with reduced ST and hit in the lower body rather than reaching the brain, arteries feeding the lower body may
points. be redesigned to react to g-forces by pinching off blood flow to legs and abdomen
while enhancing it to the brain (Acceleration Tolerance). Related modifications may
Miniature Human Templates produce faster recovery from unconsciousness (Recovery) or adapt the circulatory
system to lengthy periods in higher or lower gravity (Improved G-Tolerance).
Realistic miniature humans should
have these advantages and disadvan- To design cardiovascular genemods, use these advantages:
tages:
Cardiovascular Modifications
Miniature Attributes Table Name Cost Page TL
Scale ST IQ HPs TL Acceleration Tolerance 10 CI19 9
1/2 -5 -1 -5 8 Extra Fatigue 1-5 3/level CI24 9*
2/5 -6 -2 -6 9 Extra Hit Points 1-3 5/level CI24 9*
1/3 -7 -3 -7 10 Fit 5 CI25 9
1/4 -8 -4 -8 11 Hard to Kill 1-3 5/level CI25 9*
Longevity 5 B21 9
Scale: The reduction in overall pro- Rapid Healing 5 B23 9
portions, including the body’s height, Improved G-Tolerance 1-3 5/10/15 CI26 9/10/11
breadth and thickness. It is also the pro- Recovery 10 CI64 10
portion of air, food and water the Very Fit 15 CI31 10
miniature consumes on a daily basis
compared to a normal human – multi- Very Rapid Healing 15 CI31 10
ply cost of living and any life-support
requirements by this amount. * +1 to TL for every level after the first three or five.
ST, IQ and HPs: Suggested racial
attribute modifiers for that scale. These
limits can be exceeded by modifying the
muscles, skeleton or brain using gengi-
Cosmetic Modifications
Hair and eye color can be specified quite
neering, as described under Gengineered
easily, as they are governed by single genes.
Attribute Modifiers (p. 30). However,
the maximum increase allowed at each Skin pigment (melanin) and other traits that
TL should be multiplied by scale. For make someone racially black, Caucasian,
instance, TL10 gengineering allows up and so on, are governed by multiple genes.
to +7 ST; in a 1/3-scale human, this These can be selected at TL8+ to give what-
would be reduced to a mere +2 bonus, ever skin color or other ethnic features are
which mean a 2’ tall superman would be desired, or to deliberately blend several
limited to a ST modifier of -5.
types. At TL10+, exotic features like green
TL: The minimum TL required.
“Miniaturization” counts as a single fea- hair, blue skin or gold-flecked eyes may be
ture of that TL for gengineering purpos- possible.
es. Good (or bad) looks can be selected by
Other Advantages and Disadvan- choosing a particular bone structure and
tages: Miniatures should have these metabolic factors that encourage a specific
advantages and disadvantages: Decreased type of build, while working against acquir-
Life Support (10 points), Fur (4 points,
ing blemishes, acne and so on. Left unspeci-
optional but common if 2/5 scale or
less), Gluttony (-5 points) and Reduced fied, a person’s looks are whatever is ran-
Hit Points (see above, -5 points per -1 domly inherited from the original genetic
hit point). If 1/3 scale or less, material used, i.e., it depends on the parents,
Inconvenient Size (-15 points) should and it’s up to the player or GM.
also be taken. Transgenic Features (TL9): If genes are
taken from other species to produce certain
Continued on next page . . .
effects, they may also alter appearance. For
instance, a person with Discriminatory Smell
and Ultrahearing from dog genes may have a
34 HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING
canine nose and ears. Such features could be accidental or deliberate, or a bit of
both. When calculating the difficulty of gengineering, assume that something like
“canine features” counts as a single feature.
Miniature Humans
Genetic Tattoos (TL10): These are images or symbols formed from skin pigmen- (Continued)
tation, bumps or ridges. They might be artistic, or show clan or company affiliation – Weight, Area and Meals Table
a slave race might even have a tiny company logo and “TM” on their body. Also at Scale Weight Area Meals/Day
TL10, introns can be modified to “spell out” specific messages when someone 1/2 1/8 1/4 4 (1.5)
sequences the gengineered DNA – see Junk DNA and Gengineering (p. 10) for an 2/5 1/16 1/6 6 (1.2)
explanation of introns. 1/3 1/27 1/9 9 (1)
1/4 1/64 1/16 16 (0.75)
Cosmetic Modifications Weight is in comparison to an aver-
Name Cost Page TL age human of similar build. To deter-
Appearance 5/15/25 B15 9 mine a miniature’s actual height and
Pitiable 5 CI29 9 weight, find what his ST would be if
Racial Skill Bonus: ____________________________________________________ there were no racial ST penalties (p.
B15), determine height and weight from
Sex Appeal +1-3 1/2/3 B64 9
that, then multiply that height by scale
Species Modification: __________________________________________________ and that weight by the weight number
Transgenic Features 0 – 9 shown on the table.
Genetic Tattoos 0 – 10 Area is the body’s surface area com-
Intron Messages 0 – 10 pared to a human. Multiply the cost and
weight of clothes or armor for the
miniature by this amount.
Gastrointestinal Modifications Meals/Day: This is the number of
separate meals that the person would
“Chronos-series long-range recon patrol bioroids have a stomach like a normally have to eat in an average day.
grasshopper mouse’s and hyperactive digestive enzymes that can digest anything. However, each individual meal is scaled
Supposedly, that frees them from dependence on the supply system, especially in down in proportion to the weight of the
harsh environments where there isn’t much food around. In the Andes conflict, I saw miniature (e.g., a 1/2-scale miniature
them ambush an enemy patrol, then swallow them up and grind them down, bones eats a 1/8-sized meal), which is why the
and all. Even ate their own dead. Creepy.” overall cost of living is less. The daily
– Captain (ret.) Dana Martello, Marine Force Recon equivalent in human-sized meals is in
parenthesis, e.g., four meals for a half-
sized character equal 1.5 human meals a
Colonists, scouts or soldiers who have to live off the land might have an intesti- day.
nal tract redesigned to function like that of a ruminant animal (e.g., a cow), with
symbiotic bacteria that can digest cellulose, allowing them to eat almost anything.
This gives either Cast Iron Stomach or Universal Digestion.
Going the other way, it might be desirable to remove as much parasitic and
symbiotic bacteria as possible from the human body. Spacers may take this route to
reduce the risk of bacterial infection or mutation in fragile and radiation-exposed
space ecosystems. If so, the newly-sanitized intestines will need to be modified to
produce enzymes that handle the functions of intestinal bacteria, such as vitamin
synthesis. This would give Sanitized Metabolism.
The vermiform appendix is a vestigial growth on the end of the intestine. In
humans, it doesn’t do much except become easily infected; human gengineers may
choose to remove it in the interests of boosting overall health and resistance to dis-
ease. In and of itself, this is only a feature (no point cost), but it is often taken in
conjunction with an overall increase in HT.

Gastrointestinal Modifications
Name Cost Page TL
Species Modification: __________________________________________________
No Appendix 0 – 9
Sanitized Metabolism 5 CI65 9
Cast Iron Stomach 15 CI51 10
Universal Digestion 15 CI69 11

Glandular Modifications
“Well, sir, we’ve been grown with the Gen-Five supergland. Whenever our
model goes into overdrive, we get these cravings afterward. No, sir, we didn’t mean

HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING 35

 to do that to the prisoners, but we just couldn’t help ourselves. Usually the MPs are
Alpha-Series on hand, but – yes, sir, I’m sorry, sir.”
– Corporal NB-SEK-0172-BUR84, 152nd Paratroop Regiment, female Felicia-
Upgrade (TL9) series bioroid

DX +1 (10 points), HT +1 (10 A network of internal glands, the endocrine system, secretes hundreds of different
points). hormones into the bloodstream. These hormones regulate the body’s growth, develop-
Racial Advantages: Attractive (5 ment and routine metabolic processes, as well as emergency, emotional and sexual
points), Disease-Resistant (5 points), responses. Selective glandular biomodification can optimize the body’s hormonal bal-
Longevity (5 points). ance so that a person will develop in a certain way (more muscular, for instance), per-
Racial Disadvantages: None. form differently under stress, or experience stronger or weaker passions.
Features: Taboo Traits (Genetic
Defects, Mental Instability).
Gengineering of the hypothalamus, pituitary and thyroid glands, or designing
Racial Cost: 35 points. new, voluntary regulatory glands that produce similar hormones, could adjust meta-
bolic processes such as growth and maturation, permit increased activity (at the cost
Careful eugenic improvements of greater food consumption), or possibly allow control over normally involuntary
ensure an attractive, athletic, healthy biological functions like respiration and digestion.
individual. Medscanning may reveal It may also be feasible to engineer for short-term “emergency performance” or
minor “mutations” compared to the to improve stress response in general. One goal would be to allow voluntary control
human norm, such as being born with-
out an appendix. This is a simple
of the sudden bursts of “hysterical” speed or strength that some people are capable
“Homo superior” genotype that TL9+ of in emergencies. This might require genetic tinkering to modify the adrenal glands
parents – or societies – might select for or, as with metabolic control, the creation of new voluntary glands that produce sim-
their children. ilar hormones. This would be represented by Hyper-Strength or Hyper-Reflexes, or
by advantages like Combat Reflexes and Increased Speed.
By tinkering with hormones, the gengineer can also adjust human behavior, cre-
ating a variant human whose emotions are somewhat skewed in a desired direction.
Modifications of this sort usually center on the adrenal gland, the gonads (which
control influential sex hormones such as estrogens – e.g., estradiol – and androgens
– e.g., testosterone) or the pituitary (which produces hormones that influence other
glands). The strongest influence will be on the three “primal” human responses:
fear, aggression and sexual behaviour.

Glandular Modifications
Name Cost Page TL
Metabolic: ____________________________________________________________
Early Maturation 5/level CI53 9*
Hyperactive 30 CI57 9
Improved G-Tolerance 5/10 CI26 9
Metabolism Control 5/level CI60 9*
for hibernation 2.5/level CI60 9*
Emergency-response: __________________________________________________
Combat Reflexes 15 B20 9
Hyper-Reflexes 15 CI58 9
Hyper-Strength 30 CI58 9
Increased Speed +1-2 25/50 CI26 9
Increased Speed +3 75 CI26 10
Behavioral: __________________________________________________________
Collected/Composed 5 CI22 9
Cool 1 CI23 9
Fearlessness +1-5 2/level CI25 9
Imperturbable 10 CI26 9
Unfazeable 15 CI31 9

* +1 TL for every two levels after the first.

Limitations: Tinkering with glandular systems is tricky, and design compromises

are often made by the gengineer. These can be represented by taking one or more of
these limitations on glandular advantages: Chemical Trigger (p. 137), Emergencies
Only (p. CI110), Limited Use (p. CI111) or Nuisance Effect: Temporary
Disadvantage (often Bad Temper, Berserk, Gluttony or Lecherousness; see p. 137).
36 HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING
 In addition, emergency-response modifications also often
have Cardiac Stress (p. 139), Costs Fatigue (p. CI110),
Uncontrollable (p. CI112) or Unreliable (p. CI112).

Pheromone Modifications
I believe that we can gain further control over the next
generation by restoring the vestigial vomeronasal system,
which reacts to airborne pheromones. Unlike lower animals,
whose pheromone vulnerability is limited by mating seasons,
humans with this genemod may experience irregular, height-
ened states of arousal. More important for our purposes, they
will become far more vulnerable to enhanced pheromones,
such as those produced by the pheromone glands and
aerosols we have developed.
– Dr. Tse Chang, Report to the Genetic Planning
Council

Pheromones are chemical signals given off by the body’s

natural secretions. Animals use pheromones to attract mates
or, to a lesser extent, warn others of danger, identify each
other or establish dominance. Many other animals have a
vomeronasal organ that lets them perceive pheromones as a
feeling rather than a smell: detecting another’s pheromones
can induce arousal, attraction, respect, nervousness or what-
ever. In humans, the vomeronasal organ has atrophied to the
point where people probably can’t detect pheromones.
Various pheromonal genemods are possible at TL9+: Eros-Series
Sex Pheromones (TL9): Modified human glands could produce sex pheromones
powerful enough to influence humans. This is the advantage Pheromone Control
Bioroid (TL9)
(25 points, p. CI63). ST -1 (-10 points), HT +1 (10
Dominance Pheromones (TL10): These are bought as a reaction bonus or points).
Charisma, with the limitation Scent-Based (-20%; see p. 138). Racial Advantages: Deep Sleeper (5
Restored Vomeronasal Organ (TL10): This is bought as one or more levels of points), Disease-Resistant (5 points),
Weak Will, only to resist pheromones or seduction attempts (-75%), -2 points/level. Light Hangover (2 points), Pheromone
Control (25 points), Sanitized
Metabolism (5 points), Sex Appeal +3
Other disadvantages might also be triggered by pheromones – see the Only vs.
(3 points), Very Beautiful (25 points).
Pheromones limitation (p. 138) for details. Racial Disadvantages: Impulsive-
ness (-10 points), Lecherousness (-15
Immune System Modifications points), Sterile (-3 points), Unnatural
Feature (exaggerated sexual characteris-
The body responds to invaders by producing white blood cells (leukocytes): tics, -5 points).
B-cells (formed in the spleen, blood and lymph nodes) tag invading cells with Features: Taboo Traits (Genetic
antbody proteins so that killer T-cells (formed in bone marrow) can recognize and Defects).
Racial Cost: 37 points.
attack them. Improved disease-resistance may result from gengineering the spleen
and bone marrow to manufacture more discriminating and aggressive leukocytes. A high-end “custom-cutie” design,
Ultimately, they may be engineered into bio-nanomachine factories, creating cells with an inhumanly perfect body, plus
that can do everything from binding with and destroying toxins to cleaning out brain, glandular and bacteriological
clogged arteries (Immunity to Disease, Longevity). modifications to ensure it is always
eager, playful, healthy and disease-free.
Immune System Modifications Grown as a professional courtesan or a
rich person’s living toy, the Eros can
Name Cost Page TL also be the basis for a devastating “Mata
Disease-Resistant 5 CI24 9 Hari” spy.
Longevity 5 B21 9 The Eros-series’ exaggerated sexual
Resistant to Poison 5 CI29 9 anatomy is the source of both its Sex
Appeal skill bonus and its Unnatural
Species Modification: __________________________________________________
Feature.
Immunity to Disease 10 B20 10
Immunity to Poison 15 CI58 10

HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING 37

 Felicia-Series Lifespan and Self-Repair Modifications
The search for longevity is likely to be a major preoccupation of eugeneering.
Bioroid (TL9) “Dying of old age” seems to result from numerous factors, each of which must be
dealt with separately: arterial clogging, weakening bones, cancers, diseases, accu-
ST -1 (-10 points), DX +3 (30 mulated genetic copying errors, and even the progressive depredations of brain-
points), HT +1 (10 points). destroying prions. Any genemod that treats even a few of these factors may increase
Racial Advantages: Acute Hearing lifespan, but there’s also evidence that some cells seem to accumulate copying
+2 (4 points), Acute Taste and Smell +2 errors after a certain number of replications (the Hayflick limit). If that’s the case, a
(4 points), Attractive (5 points), Catfall “revised Hayflick limit” genetic sequence, designed to produce more robust cells,
(10 points), Claws (15 points), Combat
Reflexes (15 points), Double-Jointed (5 might be needed in order to grant Extended Lifespan or, at TL11+, Unaging.
points), Fur (4 points), Hyper-Reflexes Actual regeneration is trickier. Gene sequences copied from lizards (which can
and Hyper-Strength (Nuisance Effect: often regenerate tails or other extremities) may give humans a similar ability. True
suffers from Gluttony, Impulsiveness immortality may require radical alterations to cell structure, or a colony of symbiot-
and Lecherousness after use until ic bio-nanomachines that patrol the body (see Chapter 3).
fatigue is regained, -30%, 32 points), Immune system modifications (p. 37) are closely related to lifespan and self-
Night Vision (10 points), Perfect repair modifications – someone who is immune to toxins and disease is likely to live
Balance (15 points), Sharp Teeth (5
points). longer, for example, so these advantages are often found in conjunction with
Racial Disadvantages: Extra Sleep Unaging or Longevity. Immunity to poison and disease (TL10) are logical prerequi-
(one hour, -3 points), Overconfidence sites for TL15+ advantages like Immortality and Undying.
(-10 points), Reduced Hit Points -1 (-5
points), Self-Destruct (-20 points),
Short Lifespan 3 (-30 points), Sterile (-3
Lifespan and Self-Repair Modifications
points), Unusual Biochemistry (-5 Name Cost Page TL
points). Longevity 5 B21 9
Racial Cost: 78 points. Rapid Healing 5 B23 9
Very Rapid Healing 15 CI31 10
This is an expensive, feline-model Species Modification: __________________________________________________
bioroid resembling a lithe, anthropo-
Extended Lifespan 5/level CI54 10
morphic cat. It is designed for superhu-
man grace, speed and reflexes, and also Regeneration, slow 10 CI64 11
possesses upgraded sensory abilities. Regrowth 20/40 CI64 11/12
Felicia-series bioroids are usually Unaging 15 CI69 11
employed at jobs that might demand a Regeneration, regular 25 CI64 12
quick burst of activity rather than Regeneration, fast 50 CI64 13
strength and staying power. Thy are Regeneration, instant 100 CI64 14
also physically attractive, making them
Immortality 140 CI58 15
in vogue as athletics or aerobics
instructors, dancers, personal pilots, Undying 175 CI69 15
chauffeurs, bodyguards or even body-
guard/courtesans. Military and police
forces may also employ the Felicia- Liver and Kidney Modifications
series as aerospace pilots or hostage- “Uh, should all of us be drinking? I’m out of Sober-Ups, and we don’t have a
rescue troopers. designated driver.”
There’s an unintended glitch in the “Hey, it’s cool. I’m an Ishtar-sequence upgrade. With my genemod liver, I can
Felicia: after triggering an emergency-
overdrive response, glandular imbal-
drink all night and never get wasted.”
ances sometimes result in mood swings “Well, I hope you’ve got a boosted kidney, too. It’s twenty miles to the nearest
and heightened appetites. rest stop, and I’m not going into this place’s washroom without a gun.”

Modifications to the liver are usually aimed at selectively improving its metabo-
lization and detoxification abilities, giving better resistance to the effects of blood

38 HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING

poisons, usually in conjunction with modifications to the spleen and kidneys. It may
also be possible to rebuild the liver so that its tissues can store oxygen.
The kidneys could be remodeled after a desert animal to conserve water via
super-concentration of the urine (which would also reduce the need for bathroom
breaks), giving Decreased Life Support.

Liver and Kidney Modifications

Name Cost Page TL
Alcohol Tolerance 5 CI19 9
Light Hangover 2 CI27 9
Resistant to Poison 5 CI29 9
No Hangover 5 CI28 10
Species Modification: ________________________________________________________
Decreased Life Support 1 10 CI52 9
Oxygen Storage 14 CI62 9
Immunity to Poison 15 CI58 10

Morphological Changes
No terrestrial vertebrate strays from the fundamental skeletal pattern of a crani-
um, four limbs and a tail. In some animals, certain of these features are enhanced
and others are atrophied – sometimes to invisibility. For example, dolphins replace
their legs with flippers and a huge tail, snakes have no limbs, while humans have
only a vestigial tail bone, but differentiate their limbs into arms and legs.
Nevertheless, the basic pattern remains.
Genetic engineering can alter humans within these limits between TL9 and 10,
changing the function of limbs (or deleting them), adding a tail or altering body
posture. However, deviating from vertebrate morphology to give humans more than
four functional limbs, or other exotic changes, requires TL11+.

Modified Limbs
First time I saw the new foreman, I was a little skeptical: a work shack’s
cramped enough without two extra elbows. That lasted until I saw what Lyra could
do in zero-G – we got the new solar panels up in record time. A few days later, Lyra
invited me to her apartment, in the station hub where it’s always weightless. That
night, she showed me another reason to appreciate four hands.
– Copernicus Jones, Posthumans I’ve Known

Digitigrade Posture (TL9): A human’s legs can be redesigned to resemble a

quadruped’s hind legs. Someone with this modification walks on his toes and the
ball of his foot, or a hoof. This is usually a cosmetic modification, intended for cus-
tom-designed satyrs or other beast-people. While a bit less practical for bipeds than
for quadrupeds, careful modification of joints can make this posture just as comfort-
able. This is a 0-point feature.
Legs to Flippers (TL9): Altering both feet into “frog feet” gives half a level of
Enhanced Move (Swimming) (5 points, p. CI54) but at a cost of Reduced Move
(Running) -1 (-5 points, p. CI103).
Prehensile Toes (TL9): These are toes that have been lengthened to serve as fin-
gers and equipped with opposable thumbs. This is bought as two short Extra Arms
(10 points, p. CI54) with Nuisance Effect: Temporary Disadvantage (Legless while
using Extra Arms, -35%), for 7 points. This means that if a person with prehensile
toes is using his feet as arms, he can’t walk or run; he can still sit, float (in space or
liquid) or fly, of course.
Legs to Arms (TL10): Only popular in zero-G, this is a more radical change that
replaces both legs with a second pair of arms. Buy this as Prehensile Toes, except
that the arms are full length (20 points, or 13 points after the limitation) and give
Reduced Move (Running) -2 (-10 points, p. CI103), even when they aren’t in use,
for a net 3 points.

HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING 39

 Extra Arms (TL11): Adding one or two real, functional arms (attached between
the shoulders and the hips) is much harder than simply transforming legs into arms.
Not only are extensive skeletal and muscular modifications required, but blood flow
will need to be increased to handle these busy additions, which means a larger heart
and more efficient lungs. The nervous system must also be reworked and the brain
modified in order to control them.

Except for an extra pair of arms, all of the above modifications are mutually
incompatible.

Modified Limbs
Name Cost Page TL
Digitigrade Posture 0 – 9
Legs to Flippers 0 – 9
Prehensile Toes 7 – 9
Legs to Arms 3 – 10
Extra Arms 10/arm CI54 11

Gengineered Tails
“How’d I get away? Well, Galba’s assassin had the drop on me. I set my drink-
ing bulb down on the table behind me and raised my hands. He watched them care-
fully. He forgot I was a spacer. He wasn’t watching my tail.”
– Captain Zeke Morrigan, free trader Antares

Humans have a vestigial tailbone; species gengineering could use genes from
other species to give humans a tail. This might be done for cosmetic reasons, or the
tail may be usable as a weapon or a functional extra arm.
Heavy Worlder (TL9) Ordinary Tail (TL9): A normal animal tail, with various styles available (cat,
wolf, pony, rabbit, rat, et cetera). Clothing should be designed with tail flaps! A 0-
ST +3 (30 points), HT +1 (10
points).
point feature.
Racial Advantages: Improved G- Prehensile Tail (TL10): A tail capable of grasping, like a monkey’s. This is
Tolerance (0.5 G increment, 10 points) higher TL, as it requires modifications to the brain and nervous system as well. It
with home gravity (p. S36) of 1.5 to 2 may be a popular biomod feature for spacers, where an additional grasping limb is
G. always useful. Treat as an Extra Arm with no physical attack (p. CI54; 5 points).
Racial Disadvantages: Unattractive Scorpion Tail (TL12): A segmented tail with a barbed, poisoned tip. Treat as a
(-5 points). Striker, reach 1, -4 DX, thrust+1 impaling damage (26 points), with Venom, 3 levels
Racial Cost: 45 points.
(Limited Use, 4/day -20%, 36 points).
A heavy worlder’s weight is 25%
over the human norm, but height is 1’
less than indicated for ST. Someone
Gengineered Tails
Name Cost Page TL
with this modification is wider, which Ordinary Tail 0 – 9
can give problems in narrow passages
or doors designed for normal humans (a
Prehensile Tail 5 – 10
DX roll to squeeze through). Scorpion Tail 62 – 12
This is a variant human designed for
life in a 1.5 to 2 G environment. He has
more muscle to get around, stronger
bones to avoid breaking them in falls,
Winged Humans
“We can synthesize the DNA for feathered or bat-like wings, but you can’t just
and a redesigned circulatory system to
prevent early death due to heart failure. splice wings into a normal genotype and expect it to fly. Thanks to the square-cube
Modifications for high gravity are simi- law, a set big enough to lift even a child isn’t practical. Sure, you can expand the
lar to those used for superhuman wingspan, but then you end up with wings 50 or 60 feet across. Aside from the
strength (p. 30), with greater emphasis inconvenience, you’ll run into problems of structural strength and finding the mus-
placed on redesigning the heart and cir- cles needed to flap them.
culatory system for durability. “As a result, winged bioroids typically have wingspans of about twice their height.
However, the “heavy-worlder” is usu- While this can be a visually attractive feature, they have no chance on Earth of flying. I
ally unattractive by human standards,
with a barrel chest and a compact, use that cliche deliberately: if you can find an extra-terrestrial environment with a
blocky body. lower gravity but normal or higher atmospheric pressure, then you’re in luck. Planets
like that are rare, but there are artificial habitats. Our Camazotz-series bioroids were

40 HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING

grown for the domes on Luna City and Titan, and the big orbitals; in under one-sixth
G, they really can fly. I imagine if we ever make a Dyson sphere, they’d be perfect.”
– Dr. Sayyid Iqbal, Biotech Euphrates
Helot-Series
Arms to Wings (TL9): Both arms are replaced with a pair of wings. This gives
Upgrade (TL9)
Flight (40 points, p. CI56) with either the Gliding (-50%) or Winged Flight (-25%) lim-
Racial Advantages: Disease-
itation, plus the limitation Requires Low Gravity (-5% per 0.1 G below 1 G, p. 138). Resistant (5 points).
To work out the maximum gravity, take the average ST of the racial template Racial Disadvantages: Weak Will -2
(ST 10 for humans), multiply by 2.5, and divide by the template’s average body (-16 points), Staid (-1 point).
weight (found from racial ST – see p. B15). Both Skinny and a racial ST penalty are Features: Taboo Traits (Aggressive-
useful disadvantages, as they reduce body weight. ness, Genetic Defects, Mental Instabili-
If the wings can still be used as arms when not flying, this is merely a limita- ty, Unattractiveness).
tion on the cost of Flight; treat as Nuisance Effect: Temporary Disadvantage (No Racial Cost: -12 points.
Fine Manipulators, -30%; see p. 137). This peaceful and non-aggressive
If the wings are usable only to fly with, then they give the disadvantage No genotype is the result of deliberate
Fine Manipulators (-30 points; see p. CI103), unless they are accompanied by other gengineering to produce a “tractable”
limbs that serve as arms. variant race. Helot-series parahumans
If the wings can double as arms when not flying and are accompanied by Extra have been eugeneered to weed out
Arms, buy Extra Arms, but with the limitation Nuisance Effect: Temporary genetic defects and vulnerability to dis-
Disadvantage (loss of Flight, -40%; see p. 137). ease, and are fully as intelligent as ordi-
nary humans. However, subtle neuro-
Angelic Wings (TL12): This is the classical fantasy of wings sprouting from the logical and glandular modifications
shoulder blades. It’s very hard to gengineer, for the same reasons as adding an extra have bred rebellious, impulsive and
set of arms – in addition to the problems of arm-to-wing conversion, it requires aggressive genes out of the genome –
redesigning the skeleton and adding new muscles and a modified nervous system. and they are very good at following
Angelic wings give the Flight advantage (40 points, p. CI56), with either the orders. An unintended defect was some
Gliding (-50%) or Winged Flight (-25%) limitation, plus the limitation Requires reduction in natural curiosity.
Low Gravity (-5% per 0.1 G below 1 G, p. 138). Use the formula given for Arms to
Wings to work out maximum gravity.

Devolutionary Modifications
Some morphological modifications take a backward step down the
evolutionary path, causing humans to revert to more bestial forms. These
are most likely intended for the creation of toys or slave races, although a
very advanced civilization might enjoy creating blank-minded clone bod-
ies this way, then “uploading” their minds into them as a new experience.

Quadraform (TL9): Chimerization or gene splicing could result in

a sphinx-like body, with a human head atop a quadruped animal body
(e.g., a leopard or pony), with hands and feet replaced with walking
paws or hooves. A quadraform human would have Enhanced Move
(Running) 1-2 (10-20 points, p. CI54), but suffer from Horizontal (-10
points, p. CI102) and No Fine Manipulators (-30 points, p. CI103).
However, ST is bought at -40% to cost due to the lack of fine manipu-
lators, and the maximum level of ST and Extra Hit Points allowed for
human gengineering should be increased by +10 at each TL. The body
will take up two or three hexes, and weighs four times as much as a
human of the equivalent ST.
Vermiform (TL10): A stranger variation would be a human head
on a snake-like body (such as the “lamia” that Tika Dawnstar created;
see p. 5). A vermiform human would have the disadvantages
Horizontal (-10 points, p. CI102) and No Manipulators (-50 points, p.
CI103). However, the advantages Flexibility (15 points, p. CI56) and
maybe Constriction Attack (15 points, p. CI52) would be gained. As
with quadraform, ST is -40% to cost, and the maximum level of ST
and Extra Hit Points is +10. The body will take up two or three hexes,
but only weigh the same as a human of the equivalent ST.
Aquaform (TL10): A true “aquamorphic” human may undergo
radical gengineering so that the embryo never forms legs, instead
developing a fishlike lower body and tail. This would justify Enhanced

HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING 41

 Move (Swimming) 1-2 (10-20 points, p. CI54) at the cost of
Aquatic (-40 points, p. CI101).
Centauroid (TL12): A more useful but trickier-to-gengineer
variation of quadraform or vermiform would alter chromosomes
to blend a human upper body with a bestial lower body, with
Centauroid (0 points, p. CI101) replacing Horizontal, and with-
out No Fine Manipulators or No Manipulators. It would still be
strong, but would use the Split ST for Hybrid Races rule (p.
CI176), and only its lower body would benefit from the +10 ST
over human norms suggested above.

Musculo-Skeletal Modifications
The BS-2-F Felicia-series combat bioroid is a “special
forces” upgrade of our popular AS-2-E, with a wide-spectrum
of state-of-the-art improvements. In this vidclip, we see a fire
team of BS-2-Fs free-jumping from a helicopter 12 meters up
and landing on their feet without injury, thanks to their XM-723
feline morphology.
– Biotech Euphrates promo video at WarEx ’47 trade show

“Meow.”
– Felicia-series bioroid, upon landing on enemy soldier

Muscular and skeletal modifications are usually aimed at

improving physical strength – see Strength, p. 30 – but more
specialized enhancements are also possible. Modifications to
skeletal and connective tissue could provide better-articulated or shock-absorbing
Ishtar-Series joints and vertebrae (Brachiator, Catfall, Double-Jointed) or even longer fingers
(Manual Dexterity). At high TLs, organic strengthening of the skeleton itself is pos-
Upgrade (TL9) sible (Extra Hit Points, Extra Encumbrance).
Bones seem to lose calcium in zero gravity, becoming fragile. GMs can simu-
ST -1 (-10 points), DX +1 (10 late this by requiring a HT roll for every twelve months cumulative exposure to
points), HT +1 (10 points). zero-G. A failed roll indicates -1 ST or -1 hit point; a critical failure gives the
Racial Advantages: Alcohol Fragile disadvantage. Genetic engineering may be used to prevent this problem. “No
Tolerance (5 points), Beautiful (15 bone degeneration in zero-G” is bought as Slow Regeneration, only to replace bone
points), Disease-Resistant (5 points),
Voice (10 points). decalcification (-75%), 3 points.
Racial Disadvantages: Jealousy (-10 Finally, proteins such as resilin (from grasshoppers) might be used to create
points), Overconfidence (-10 points). extra-elastic muscle tissue (Super Jump, although in a realistic setting, only one
Features: Taboo Traits (Genetic level of this advantage would be plausible for a human-sized individual).
Defects, Unattractiveness).
Racial Cost: 25 points.

The Ishtar-series genetic upgrade is Musculo-Skeletal Modifications

intended to cater to the desires of par- Name Cost Page TL
ents and creche-groups who want a Double-Jointed 5 B20 9
child optimized for professions such as Manual Dexterity +1-5 3/level CI27 9
vid star, dancer, gymnast, pop singer, Toughness 10/25 B23 9
model and so on. Biotech Euphrates Species Modification: __________________________________________________
genetechs selected a light, “elfin” build
Brachiator 5 CI51 9
and a facial bone structure that com-
puter-simulations indicated would pro- Catfall 10 CI51 9
duce distinctive but highly attractive Extra Hit Points +1-3 5/level CI24 9
looks. An extra feature was an aug- No Bone Degeneration in Zero-G 3 – 9
mented liver. In a controversial move, Extra Encumbrance 5 CI55 10
they also deliberately modified the Extra Hit Points +4-6 5/level CI24 10
Ishtar neurochemistry with sequences Extra Hit Points +7-9 5/level CI24 11
believed to enhance ego and competi-
Super Jump 1 10 CI68 11
tiveness. Some believe they went a bit
too far . . . Extra Flexibility 5/10 CI55 12

42 HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING

Nervous System Modifications (Reflex Boosting) Lepus-Series
Alterations to the nervous system could increase nerve impulse transmission
rates and thus reaction speed, perhaps by finding superior protein combinations to
build nerve fibers out of, or even through the addition of extra neural pathways.
Parahuman (TL9)
However, the built-in speed limitations of electrochemical reflexes – a few hundred ST -1 (-10 points).
miles per hour – make radical improvement difficult without using cyberwear. Racial Advantages: Acute Hearing
More extensive neural modification usually proceeds through quasi-organic +2 (4 points), Acute Taste and Smell +2
enhancements – see Chapter 3. Use of nanotechnology to lay down parallel or (4 points), Disease-Resistant (5 points),
replacement electrical nerve pathways may be a more practical – if extremely high- Early Maturation 2 (10 points), Estrus
(0 points), Fur (4 points), Increased
tech – route to super-reflexes than gengineering. Fecundity (0 points), Peripheral Vision
(15 points).
Nervous System Modifications Racial Disadvantages: Color Blind-
ness (-10 points), Lecherousness (only
Name Cost Page TL
Combat Reflexes 15 B20 9 in springtime -75%, -4 points).
Racial Cost: 18 points.
Increased Speed +1-2 25/50 CI26 9
Increased Speed +3 75 CI26 10 ST -1 and Color Blindness were
Species Modifications: __________________________________________________ unintended defects.
Enhanced Time Sense 45 CI54 10
Increased Speed +4 100 CI26 11 These human/rabbit genesplices
Increased Speed +5 125 CI26 12 were originally developed as bioroids
by Novabody in the last century,
apparently for the domestic, secretari-
Limitations and Side Effects: A limitation like Chemical Trigger (p. 137), Costs
al and pleasure market. A century
Fatigue (p. CI110) or Emergencies Only (p. CI110) is sometimes appropriate, as is later, after the War, the Bureau of
the racial disadvantage Short Lifespan (p. CI104). Colonization resurrected the genotype.
BuCon’s mandate was to establish

Paranormal Abilities “facts on the ground” by repopulating

some of the planets depopulated during
the War, and by colonizing as much
Abilities like psi powers, super abilities, Magery and Magic Resistance may be
gengineered if they have a mapped genetic cause. The TL required is up to the GM, territory as possible. The idea was to
send over a seedship with a few hun-
depending on when the genetic basis for the powers in question was discovered. It dred “rabbitoid” settlers and a colo-
will require at least TL8 if the paranormal ability is governed by only a few genes, nial governor’s cadre, and within a
or TL9 if controlled by a large complex of genes. few years these stable, fast-breeding
parahumans would give Earth a thriv-

Respiratory Modifications ing agri-world. That was the plan, any-

way. Of course, we all know how it
turned out.
No need to wait centuries for atmospheric terraforming to be completed!
Colonial Genetics has pioneered this new, high-capacity lung system designed to – Darin Skay, Shattered Genomes:
The Colonial Revolution
have your children breathing without a respirator and playing outdoors! Mars
Development Corporation will offer a 20% rebate on all lung gengineering as part
of the Ares Pioneer program.
– Colonial Genetics press release

Ship malcons and convicts to Mars, then modify the

poor bastards’ kids so they can’t come back to Earth even
if they try.
– Professor C. Eric Gideon, soc.culture.mars

Unless they buy the nano to turn them back.

– Deimos Dog, soc.culture.mars

The lining of the lungs may produce detoxifying

agents to counter or filter respiratory agents. More radi-
cally, larger low-pressure lungs could be designed that are
specialized for breathing in a thin atmosphere, such as a
recently-terraformed Mars. Someone with low-pressure
lungs would treat very thin atmospheres as thin, thin as
standard, standard as dense, and dense or superdense as
unbreathable; they would also have a noticeably larger
HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING 43
 chest. High-pressure lungs would have an opposite effect: atmospheric pressures
Light Worlder (TL9) would be treated as one stage lower. Rules for atmospheric pressure can be found on
pp. S75, S108 and pp. CII137, CII144.
A different goal of respiratory modification may be to improve physical perfor-
ST -2 (-15 points), HT -1 (-10
points).
mance. Lungs may be give greater elasticity or stronger muscles for superior breath-
Racial Advantages: Longer Arms holding capacity or enhanced gas exchange, with a notable improvement to
(+1 reach, 20 points). endurance (Extra Fatigue). A different kind of performance modification would be to
Racial Disadvantages: None. alter and improve the windpipe to give someone the Voice advantage, or even a
Features: Home gravity (p. S36) is multi-functional larynx capable of Mimicry (perhaps derived from myna-bird genes).
0.2 to 0.7 G. Increase height by up to 2’
over the norm for the lowered ST, but
weight is 15% to 25% lower than nor-
mal. They can sometimes squeeze into
places that normal people can’t fit, but
this is balanced by their extra height
(needing to duck under doors and so
on). In settings where artificial gravity
Respiratory Modifications
Name Cost Page TL
is uncommon, this should be worth an
extra -5 points.
Breath-Holding 1 2 CI21 9
Racial Cost: -5 points. Extra Fatigue 1-4 3/point CI24 9
Voice 10 B23 9
Human metabolisms may be geneti- Species Modification: __________________________________________________
cally adapted for life on planets with Decreased Life Support 10/level CI52 9*
gravity significantly lower than Earth’s. Extra Fatigue 5+ 3/point CI24 9
Generic “light worlder” gengineering Filter Lungs 5 CI56 9
results in a willowy build, often with
long limbs and spidery fingers.
High-pressure Lungs 0 – 9
Low-pressure Lungs 0 – 9
Breath-Holding 2+ 2/level CI21 10*
Mimicry 15 CI60 10

* Add +1 to TL per level after the first.

Respiratory Alternatives
Ever looked at an embryo? It’s got gills. Gengineering to retain these vestigial
traits should be relatively simple, right?
– Aquagrrl, sci.bio.genemod.human

It’s true that human embryos have gill-like structures – but these serve a differ-
ent function than in fish or amphibians, eventually forming the chin, jaw, cheek and
outer ear. As a result, gengineering a merman is a lot more difficult than Aquagrrl
implies, especially if we want to breathe both air and water. So far, most dual-
environment humans are designed like marine mammals. Navy SEAL bioroids don’t
use gills. They store oxygen in the myoglobin of the muscles, just like whales do.
When drawing oxygen from these sources, their lungs aren’t necessary, so they can
undergo complete alveolar collapse as water pressure increases, letting them ignore
the bends and survive very deep dives.
– DocIqbal, sci.bio.genemod.human

Respiratory Alternatives
Name Cost Page TL
Gills:
water only 0 CI56 9
air and water 10 CI56 10
Oxygen Storage 14 CI62 9
Pressure Support:
to 10 atmospheres 5 CI63 10*
to 100 atmospheres 10 CI63 11*
immune to pressure 15 CI63 12*

* Pressure Support is one TL lower if combined with Oxygen Storage.

44 HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING
Sensory Modifications
I work with a Border Patrol bioroid whose sense
of smell is cranked up. He doesn’t need a chemscan-
ner or dog – Duncan can sniff out drugs, explosives,
illegals . . . hey, he can even smell a smuggler’s fear.
Trouble is, Duncan gets these splitting headaches all
the time. Just goes to show, if you want a blood-
hound’s sense of smell, you need a bloodhound’s
brain.
– Detective Cody Chase, Nevada PD

Engineering the genes governing the develop-

ment of the rod and cone cells in the eyes, hair cells
and membranes in the ears, and the chemical receptor
cells in the nose and tongue may enhance basic
human senses beyond “perfect” human levels.
However, while humans can train themselves over
years to develop high “Acute Senses,” inborn bonus-
es over +5 always require transgenic techniques; e.g.,
ear muscles that swivel independently to more pre-
cisely localize a sound. More exotic animal-inspired
genemods are also possible:

Absolute Direction can be artificially duplicated

by gengineering human brain cells to contain the
same kind of magnetite particles that certain migrato-
ry bird species possess, forming a biological com-
pass. More extreme versions of this could also give Magnetic Sense.
Absolute Timing may be the result of adjustments to the glands that govern the
body’s circadian clock. Orion-Series
Discriminatory Smell, similar that of a canine or other sensitive-nosed species,
could be achieved through enhancement of the chemical receptors in the nose and Upgrade (TL9)
via modifications to the olfactory lobe.
Field Sense or Magnetic Sense may be granted by electrically-sensitive organs ST +1 (10 points), DX +1 (10
points), HT +1 (10 points).
modeled on those of electric rays or other fish. Racial Advantages: Attractive (5
Infravision may be modeled on viper heat organs – subdermal, heat-sensitive points), Combat Reflexes (15 points),
pits found next to the eyes on rattlesnakes and similar species. Unless further genetic Cool (1 point), Fit (5 points), High Pain
modification is done to enhance it, this has lower resolution than infrared goggles: Threshold (10 points).
-4 to IR vision rolls (-20%), for 12 points. Racial Disadvantages: Attentive (-1
Night Vision could result from a reflective layer of cells that amplify the light point), Overconfidence (-10 points).
reaching the eyes. These “cat’s eyes” could be derived from feline genes. If exotic Features: Taboo Traits (Genetic
Defects, Mental Instability).
eyes are unusual, their glittering in dim light could be an Unnatural Feature (only in Racial Cost: 55 points.
darkness, -50%). This is worth differentiating from ordinary Night Vision, as the
glittering could give away someone’s position. A much more complex version of These genetic upgrades were euge-
this could lead to Polarized Eyes. neered with slight metabolic and glan-
Perfect Balance could follow from an inner-ear balance-organ design patterned dular modifications designed to burn
on those of cats or squirrels. away excess fat, enhance physical per-
Ultrahearing could be achieved using ears based on those of canines, bats or formance and optimize their crisis
response. A lot of Orion-series upgrades
other mammals with high-frequency hearing. Subsonic Hearing is slightly trickier, find jobs in athletics, emergency ser-
but might be based on an enlarged middle-ear cavity, like that of the kangaroo vices, police work or the military, but
mouse. Parabolic Hearing may be achieved using a somewhat asymmetric ear certainly the best-known Orion-series
design, similar to that of an owl. upgrade is dynamic karate master-
Bat voice boxes are the best models for natural air sonar (Sonar Vision), while turned-megastar Chuck Abrams, whose
underwater sonar may be based on that of marine mammals – probably pinnipeds, unchallenged reign as king of the action
such as seals, rather than dolphins. Gengineering will have to both alter the voice sensies has had much to do with this
genotype’s popularity with creche
box and modify (and probably enlarge) the ears to ultrasonic receivers. The com- groups and parents.
plex gengineering required to allow a human brain to directly process sonar images
requires a high TL to manage.
HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING 45
 Whiskers are not merely for show. For example,
a cat’s whiskers are potent sensory organs for night
hunting, capable of detecting air currents flowing
around objects. Since this is a completely passive
sense that cannot be jammed by most countermea-
sures, it might be useful for gengineered scouts or
warriors (although it requires leaving the face
unprotected). This is best represented as Faz Sense
with a form of the “Needs Eye Contact” limitation
(as described below) to restrict it to a 3-hex range.

However, while these upgrades to human sens-

es are exciting and theoretically possible, there are
some problems! Evolution has adapted the human
brain toward cognition and away from sensory pro-
cessing, when compared to the brains of other ani-
mals. For example, the olfactory lobe takes up
much more of the brain in a dog than in a human.
Re-engineering a human with a bloodhound’s sense
of smell or a dolphin’s sonar might turn him into a
sensory idiot savant unless a very sophisticated
redesign of the human brain is performed. Even so,
some disadvantageous side effects are likely (see
below).

Sensory Modifications
Name Cost Page TL
Spacer Acute Hearing +1-5
Acute Vision +1-5
2/level
2/level
B19
B19
8
8
Modification Absolute Direction 5 B19 9
(TL9) Absolute Timing
Acute Taste and Smell +1-5
5
2/level
B19
B19
9
9
Peripheral Vision 15 B22 9
ST -5 (-40 points), HT -2 (-15 Species Modification: __________________________________________________
points). Acute Hearing 6+ 2/level B19 9
Racial Advantages: Free Fall +3 (4 Acute Vision 6+ 2/level B19 9
points), Slow Regeneration (only to
Discriminatory Smell 15 CI52 9
replace bone decalcification, -75%, 3
points). Discriminatory Taste 10 CI53 9
Racial Disadvantages: G-Intolerance Faz Sense 10 CI55 9
(0.05G increment, -20 points), Skinny Night Vision 10 B22 9
(-5 points). Perfect Balance 15 CI63 9
Features: Home gravity (p. S36) of Subsonic Hearing 0/5* CI67 9
0 G. Increase height by up to 3 feet Ultrahearing 0/5* CI69 9
over the norm for the lowered ST, but
Acute Taste and Smell 6+ 2/level B19 10
weight is 25% to 50% of normal.
Racial Cost: -73 points. Infravision 15 CI58 10
Sensitive Touch 10 CI65 10
In micro- or zero gravity, the lack of Sonar Vision 0/25 CI66 10
weight seems to affect development, Telescopic Vision 6/level CI68 10
causing brittle bones. Gengineering may Field Sense 10 CI55 11
be aimed at modifying the parathyroid Magnetic Sense 5/level CI60 11
gland to restore calcium levels, and oth- Parabolic Hearing 4/level CI62 11
erwise adjusting the metabolism to life Polarized Eyes 5 CI63 11
in zero-G. Individuals modified for
micro- or zero gravity tend to be very
tall and emaciated – some “spacers” * Ultrahearing and Subsonic Hearing cost 0 points if the possessor is deaf to the
may be unattractive, while others have normal hearing range.
an elfin beauty.
Limitations: Eye Contact Only (-20%; see p. CI110) can be applied to sensory
advantages, even if they don’t actually require eye contact, to limit their range to 3
yards. Faz Sense, Infravision and Sonar Vision can all be limited in this way to rep-
46 HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING
resent shorter-ranged (and, in humans, more feasible) forms of these advantages. If
so, reduce the required TL by one.
Side Effects: Any species modifications (except Acute Vision, Night Vision,
Camazotz-Series
Perfect Balance or Telescopic Vision) are likely to produce disorientation or sensory
overload. This may result in one or more of these disadvantages: Confused, Light
Parahuman (TL10)
Sleeper or Migraines. The brain might be able to develop structures to mitigate such
ST -2 (-15 points), DX +1 (10
problems, although this may also cause a slight drop in IQ or loss of other senses.
points).
Racial Advantages: Acute Hearing
Revised Pain Thresholds +2 (4 points), Acute Taste and Smell +1
(2 points), Claws (15 points), Flight
I knew I was going to join the ranks of the ethically-challenged when the
(Winged, -25%; Requires Low Gravity:
Sultana offered me twenty grand to create a clone of her ex-husband with a gengi- 0.3 G, -35%; Nuisance Effect: No Fine
neered low pain threshold. Manipulators, -30%; 10 points), Fur (4
– Dr. Lucien Locke, Genehackers Inc. points), Sharp Teeth (5 points), Sonar
Vision (25 points), 3D Spatial Sense (10
Pain sensitivity is vital. People born without it die early – by accident, or from points), Ultrahearing (5 points).
infection resulting from internal joint and bone damage. (They are unable to tell Racial Disadvantages: Fragile (-20
when a particular posture or sleeping position is over-stressing joints or bones, and points), Skinny (-5 points), Unusual
Biochemistry (-5 points).
so do not receive signals to shift weight or otherwise take corrective measures while Features: Due to their hollow bones
sleeping or awake.) However, while total insensitivity to pain is not a survival char- and slight build, weight is 50% of the
acteristic, the ability to selectively block pain is quite useful. norm for their height.
Through genetic modification of the genes responsible for “signal molecules” Racial Cost: 45 points.
that induce changes in nerve cells, or via transplants of gengineered nerve tissue to
the notochord (the embryonic spine), it may be possible to activate neural gating Camazotz-series parahumans have a
circuits in the spinal cord to deliberately mitigate incoming pain signals before they sizable percentage of bat genes spliced
are perceived, without destroying the ability to sense pain as a whole. Of course, the into their genome. Their arms double as
opposite could be done to enhance the ability to feel pain . . . wings, although they can’t be used as
arms when they’re flying. They possess

Revised Pain Thresholds large, pointed, bat-like ears, fangs, and

soft fur, as well as a modified voice
Name Cost Page TL box with natural sonar abilities. Aside
High Pain Threshold 10 B20 9 from serving as a night-vision aid, this
Low Pain Threshold -10 B29 9 has security (peering inside packages)
and medical (performing sonograms)
uses.
Sexual and Reproductive Modifications This is the racial template used to
create Tizbeth and her siblings (see p.
“Jace, it’s a hot scoop – the Wimmin’s Pantropic Collective are having another 26). They were designed as explorers
try at colonizing Sappho IV, and you should see what they’re building into their and rangers for an exotic world (a rare
daughters’ germ plasm. Sal got an insect bug into their birthlab. Book both planet with low gravity but thick,
Morgana Selene and one of those Neo-Christian cybervangelists on tonight’s show. breathable atmosphere), where their
We’ll ambush ’em with the vid and watch the fur fly.” flight and sonar (to see through thick
fogs) were invaluable. However, a bat
– Noriko Hayakawa, host of Cyberia Beat
parahuman could be grown as an
unusual toy or courtesan, or intended
These advantages have minimal impact on adventures, but may have a dramatic for work in a microgravity habitat like
effect of the way a particular society functions! a hollow asteroid or domed lunar city.

Altered Sex Ratio modifies the ratio of male to female births. This can be a spe-
cific ratio (e.g., five women to every man) or even eliminate births of either sex.
This is a 0-point feature.

HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING 47

 Light Menses may be achieved through alterations to female ovulation and hor-
Chronos-Series mone function so that post-pubescent women experience greatly reduced monthly dis-
comfort due to PMS and menstruation, as well as the later problems of menopause.
Bioroid (TL10) This may result in either a very mild period or, if taken in conjunction with either
Sterile (p. CI84, -3 points) or Reproductive Control (below), no menstruation at all.
Estrus is another approach to avoiding menstruation, altering humans to
ST +2 (20 points), DX +1 (10
become fertile for one month of the year (much like cats or dogs). This is worth 0
points), IQ -1 (-10 points), HT +1 (10
points). points, since the advantages and disadvantages cancel out. Males can also have a
Racial Advantages: Acute Hearing version of this. Variant humans (male or female) with this feature often have
+2 (4 points), Cast Iron Stomach (15 Lecherousness, only in mating season (-75%) for -4 points.
points), Combat Reflexes (15 points), Reproductive Control is also possible, allowing females to control their fertility.
Discriminatory Smell (15 points), Fur This will usually require a day or so to adjust hormonal levels. Combined with the
(4 points), Hyper-Reflexes (15 points), Light Menses modification, this means a woman has a period only if she voluntarily
Sharp Teeth (5 points), Single-Minded
chooses fertility in a particular month. Alternatively, and for the same point cost, a
(5 points), Very Rapid Healing (15
points). female could be able to absorb an early fetus back into the womb, like a rabbit, with
Racial Disadvantages: Bloodlust (-10 pregnancy being cancelled on a successful Will roll.
points), Disturbing Voice (animal-like, Sexual Orientation can perhaps be selected – some credible theories suggest a
-10 points), Low Empathy (-15 points), tendency toward heterosexuality, bisexuality or homosexuality may be partially or
Self-Destruct (-20 points), Short even largely predetermined by genetic inheritance. If so, gengineers should be able
Lifespan 2 (-20 points), Sterile (-3 to select sexual preference before birth, a procedure with potentially explosive
points), Unusual Biochemistry (-5
social consequences. Predetermined sexual orientation is a 0-point feature, not an
points).
Racial Cost: 40 points. actual advantage or disadvantage.
Shorter Gestation: It may be possible to reduce the length of the human gesta-
Designed for unsupported, long- tion period, perhaps by modifying human growth factors or altering the chemical
range patrol and counterinsurgency environment in the womb. Each level of this advantage reduces the gestation period
operations, Chronos-series combat by 1/6 its original length (-1.5 months in a human), to a maximum of 3 levels. This
bioroids are lean and muscular, with is convenient for the mother, as well as allowing faster population growth – but
canine muzzles and sharp teeth, but careful gengineering will be needed to ensure that the fetus develops normally.
large mouse-like ears and eyes. Their Easy Childbirth: Modifications to the structure of the pelvis to help mothers
bodies are covered with short grey fur. deal with the delivery of (large-headed) human babies have been an ongoing part of
They are transgenic hybrids of human,
canine, rodent and shark genes. They human evolution; further ergonomic improvements may be possible via genetic
possess modified stomachs so they can engineering. The ability to shut down many (but not all) pain receptors during deliv-
live off the land, and bone marrow and ery may also be welcomed by many women. This advantage gives a +2 to HT rolls
adrenal gland upgrades to improve to determine the success of any pregnancy.
emergency response and health. Extended Fertility: As lifespans increase, genetic engineering may be used to
Optimized for tracking and spotting extend the period in which both sexes can produce children. With this advantage,
the enemy, and rapid reaction to fertility is retained until the third aging threshold (e.g., 90 in a normal human).
ambushes by shifting into biological
overdrive, the Chronos series bioroids Increased Fecundity: This modification means that a woman is more likely to
are most often deployed in small teams experience multiple births; releasing two eggs every ovulation, for example, could
to range ahead of human troops and result in twins in as many as one-quarter of all pregnancies. It is a good idea to com-
conduct recon, guerrilla-hunting and bine this with the Easy Childbirth advantage!
strike operations. Hermaphroditism occurs naturally in some humans, but usually the mutation is
vestigial, and not noticed until puberty. At TL10+, genetic enhancement might cre-
ate functional “hermaphromorphs,” able to switch sexes or be both at once, which a
tolerant culture might find interesting. A “utopian” society
might try to give everyone this ability to ensure sexual equal-
ity (no sexual discrimination if everyone is both sexes).
Parthenogenesis in females may be possible through
very high-tech gengineering of the human ovum and repro-
ductive organs. A woman’s egg cells would carry a complete
chromosome map, and could be diverted to her womb, then
brought to term. Pregnancy would be triggered by voluntary
hormonal changes learned through biofeedback, or by taking
a pill ($2). The fetus would effectively be her clone.
Parthenogenesis is a superior strategy for rapidly increasing
a race’s numbers, and might be deemed viable for an all-
female sub-race. It means the race won’t change, but if they
have the capability to gengineer themselves, then natural
evolution is probably no longer something to worry about.

48 HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING

 Exotic Genitalia: May include “improved” shape or texture, extra organs in the
same or new places, or erectile tissue added to other areas, such as lips or fingertips.

Sexual and Reproductive Modifications

Name Cost Page TL
Altered Sex Ratio 0 – 9
Estrus 0 – 9
Extended Fertility 0 – 9
Increased Fecundity 0 – 9
Light or No Menses 1 – 9
Reproductive Control 2 – 9
Sexual Orientation 0 – 9
Shorter Gestation 1-3 1/level – 9/10/11
Easy Childbirth 1 – 10
Hermaphromorph 2 CI57 10
Parthenogenesis 0 – 11
Exotic Genitalia 1 or 3* 49 9
*3-point version adds racial +1 to Erotic Art skill (p. CI159)

Transformations
Today, Kosmozavot Tenno Tanjo’s gengineers announced success on their Void-
Dancer project. They’ve added a vacuum-adaptive skin, special muscle sphincters
that seal guts and lungs, and nictating membranes for the eyes. The Void-Dancer
parahumans are supposed to survive in space without protective gear for an hour or
more. According to KTT, the productivity and cost savings from being able to avoid
suit-up/suit-down time, safety checks and suit training alone will pay for the program.
– Chance Mackintosh, Posthuman Consumer Review

At very high TLs, highly unusual changes are possible, probably using com-
pletely synthetic DNA sequences. Elastic Skin or Vacuum Adaptation, for instance,
require the creation of new voluntary muscles (to change shape in one case, to close
off openings in the other) and the extensive bioengineering of skin cells and, in the
case of Vacuum Adaptation, internal organs.
This kind of modification may be more realistically achieved with exotic nan-
otech than gengineering, in conjunction with numerous limitations – for examples,
see Sample Metamorphosis Transformations (p. 81) in Chapter 3.

Transformations
Name Cost Page TL
Elastic Skin 20 CI53 11
Vacuum Adaptation 27 CI69 11
Doesn’t Breathe 20 CI53 12
Doesn’t Eat or Drink 10 CI53 12
Flexibility 15 CI56 12
Morph 40 CI61 13
Vacuum Support 40 CI70 13

Xeno-Anatomy
These are traits that humans don’t possess at all, such as claws or fur. They are
borrowed from terrestrial animals by direct transgenic gene splicing, or more com-
monly, by creating synthetic genes copied from or patterned on other species:

Amphibious represents gengineering for webbed fingers and toes, and is often
associated with a sleek coat of fur like a seal, or very light scales.
Bioelectric Organ is an exotic modification that uses modified plates
formed from muscle tissue, derived from electric eel genes. This may give
Bioelectric Shock (p. CI50), Shock or Surge (p. CI73). The latter two should have

HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING 49

 Costs Fatigue (p. CI110) or Limited Uses (p. CI111). Lightning (p. CI73) would
require more energy than a human body could store; it’s only possible if magic,
psi or super powers can be gengineered.
Clinging represents tree-frog or insect-type suckers on hands and feet.
Flesh Pockets are natural pouches, like those of marsupials, which may be use-
ful for carrying tools or concealing weapons, as well as holding babies.
Fur, Scales and other exotic body coverings are usually intended for aesthetic
effect. Some serve more practical purposes, such as protecting colonists designed
for harsh climates. Many are side effects of blending human and animal genes in
search of other advantages like xenosenses.
Nictating Membranes, like a reptile’s, protect the eyes. This modification may
be common in pantropic parahumans designed for worlds with irritant atmospheres
or perpetual dust storms.

Xeno-Anatomy
Name Cost Page TL
Amphibious 10 CI49 9
Flesh Pockets varies 136 9
Temperature Tolerance 1-9 1/level CI30 9
Nictating Membrane 10/level CI62 10
Temperature Tolerance 10+ 1/level CI30 *
Clinging 25 CI51 11**
Xeno-Skin: ____________________________________________________________
Fur:
very thin 0 CI56 9
regular 4 CI56 9
thick 29 CI56 9
spiny 33 CI56 10
Scales
very light 0 CI57 10
regular 3 CI57 11
heavy 28 CI57 11
Thick Hide 28 CI57 10
Armor Plates 59 CI57 11
Carapace 56 CI57 12
Chameleon 7/level CI51 12
Gilgamesh-Series Strikers: ______________________________________________________________

Parahuman (TL10) Butting Horns

Claws or Sharp Claws 15/25
5 CI67
CI67
9
9
Sharp Teeth or Fangs 5/10 CI67 9
DX +1 (10 points), IQ +1 (10 Spear 30 CI67 9
points), HT +1 (10 points). Spines 5 CI67 10
Racial Advantages: Attractive (5
points), Extended Lifespan 1 (5 points), Long Tusks 50 CI67 10
Immunity to Disease (10 points), Talons or Long Talons 40/55 CI67 10
Longevity (5 points), Sanitized New Organs: __________________________________________________________
Metabolism (5 points). Bioelectric Shock 10 CI50 11
Features: Taboo Traits (Genetic Shock 20 CI73 11
Defects, Mental Instability). Surge 15 CI73 11
Racial Cost: 60 points.

Gilgamesh-series parahumans are a * Equal to level, e.g., level 12 requires TL12.

Homo superior design intended for high ** Clinging often has the Requires Low Gravity limitation (p. 138). If it
intelligence and lengthened lifespan. requires 0.5 G, it’s only TL11, while if it requires 0.2 G or less, it’s only TL10.
The Gilgamesh series looks human, but
features extensive eugenic and species
modifications, including redesigned
Xenoglands
heart, arteries, spleen and gastrointesti- “Today’s featured company expose is Onokage Labs. This shadowy Kyoto-based
nal tract, plus alterations to the cell corporation has carved out a niche for itself in custom gengineering for the rich and
structure itself to reduce cumulative decadent of Asia-Transpacific. Their living products are well known among connois-
copying errors. seurs of the bizarre – and not always what they seem. Take their Fugu-series plea-

50 HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING

sure bioroid: an exotic beauty with lavender skin and white hair, she also possesses
genemod venom sacs and sharp fangs capable of delivering endorphins. Her ‘love
bites’ can make you high, but too much of a good thing can kill you.”
Pandora-Series
– Noriko Hayakawa, host of Cyberia Beat Parahuman (TL10)
The most common exocrine glands derived from non-human species are venom
IQ +2 (20 points), HT -1 (-10
sacs based on those of reptiles or amphibians – usually in conjunction with Sharp
points).
Teeth or Claws (above). Gengineering of these, or of modified hormone glands, Racial Advantages: Enhanced Time
may permit chemicals produced in the body (including exotic, new ones) to be Sense (45 points).
secreted externally. At high TLs, glands (such as spinnerets) capable of secreting Racial Disadvantages: Overcon-
enzymes and proteins derived from insect or arachnid genes may allow clinging or fidence (-10 points), Stuttering (super-
web-slinging. Other exotic possibilities are enhanced sweat glands to provide rapid speech, no penalty if talking to
Temperature Tolerance, or squid-like ink glands giving the Smoke advantage (with someone else with Enhanced Time
Sense, -10%, -9 points).
the -30% limitation “only useful in water”).
Features: Taboo Traits (Genetic
defects).
Xenoglands Racial Cost: 36 points.
Name Cost Page TL
Drug Factory 20+10/extra drug CI53 * Instead of just gengineering a
Temperature Tolerance 1/level CI30 10** smarter human, the goal of the
Venom 15/level CI71 10** Pandora’s designers was to create a
if corrosive 15/level CI71 11** faster-thinking one. The resulting
Pandora-series genetic upgrades look
Smoke (as ink) 11 CI73 11 identical to normal humans, but their
Clinging 25 CI51 12 brains have been neurologically modi-
Webbing 20+2/ST CI71 12** fied to improve information flow
between neurons, permitting faster
* More commonly used in animals than humans – see Pharm Animal thought.
Modifications on p. 98 for detailed rules. Unfortunately, the interface with
** +1 TL for every full five levels of this advantage. the speech centers of the brain was not
as smooth as intended: they don’t
actually stutter, but they do find it
Limitations: The Limited Uses limitation (p. CI111) is very common for all types hard to slow their words down when
of xenoglands. Clinging often has the Requires Low Gravity (p. 138) limitation; if it talking to normal people, so the effect
requires 0.5 G, it’s only TL11, while if it requires 0.2 G or less, it’s only TL10. is about the same. The Pandoras were
also not as robust as Matsai had
hoped.
Gengineered Disadvantages
Most gengineered sub-races should have some disadvantages. This has the dual
Despite their flaws, the Pandoras
are popular, general-purpose “Homo
superior” genetic upgrades, likely to
benefit of reducing their racial point cost and making them more realistic. find jobs in many different fields,
Disadvantages fall into two categories: intended defects and unintended defects. especially where complex snap deci-
The former are chosen by the gengineer to suit his or his employer’s purposes. The sions are required, such as surgery,
piloting or even battle management.
latter usually result from a specific desirable trait being linked to an unwanted gene
sequence, with the disadvantage being overlooked, or tolerated in this particular
design, because it was too much trouble to gengineer it away.

HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING 51

 Mental Disadvantages
We must ensure that the bioroids we create are happy in
their jobs. A happy worker is a productive worker. We can point
to the success of the Eros-5’s hormonal imbalance: To be crude,
the E-5’s are always in heat, hence eager to please.
– Internal memo, Biotech Euphrates

Intended Defects: What might be a disadvantage to the indi-

vidual can suit the purposes of the gengineer. It’s possible to
deliberately eugeneer a careful imbalance of neurotransmitters
and glandular hormones to result in a predisposition toward cer-
tain distinct mental states, such as aggressiveness or lecherous-
ness. Sometimes, the goal is a more tractable variant race: a
slave with Combat Paralysis will be less likely to rebel, and one
with Dyslexia won’t get dangerous new ideas through reading.
Other changes may be intended to suit a person to his job, for
example, instilling Lecherousness in a pleasure model or
Bloodlust in a soldier.
By tinkering with the genes that regulate behavior-
modifying neurotransmitters, like MAO inhibitors, an unspeci-
fied mental instability can be engineered. This is usually intend-
ed as a form of genetic booby trap; e.g., someone orders or
awakens a clone, but a saboteur has secretly gene-modified it to
go crazy after it awakes. In game terms, the template is not
given specific mental disadvantages to represent this, but simply
20+ points of unspecified mental disadvantages. These differ
from individual to individual, and are chosen by the GM, usual-
ly from among Chronic Depression (p. CI87), Delusions (p.
B32), Edgy (p. CI90), Manic-Depressive (p. CI92), On the Edge
(p. CI93) or Paranoia (p. B35).
Unintended Defects: Increasing intelligence or adding glan-
dular or neurological modifications may have unintended psy-
chological consequences, reflected by various disadvantages. Parahumans with ani-
Spartan-Series mal DNA may even occasionally revert to more primitive behaviour patterns (Stress
Atavism). Use the same list as for intentional disadvantages, plus the “Mental
Bioroid (TL10) Instability” problems described above.
In particular, someone with performance-enhancing glandular modifications like
ST +5 (60 points), HT +1 (10 Combat Reflexes, Hyper-Reflexes, Hyper-Strength or Increased Speed may suffer
points). from mental disadvantages that trigger after a stressful situation is over. Post-
Racial Advantages: Combat Reflexes Combat Shakes (p. CI93) is common, as are disadvantages like Gluttony,
(15 points), Extra Encumbrance (5 Lecherousness or Stuttering with the limitation Post-Emergencies Only (-50%, p.
points), High Pain Threshold (10 138). In this case, the hormones produced by combat overdrive causes a glandular
points).
imbalance that results in temporary aberrant behavior for several minutes afterward.
Racial Disadvantages: Self-Destruct
(-20 points), Short Lifespan 1 (-10
points), Sterile (-3 points), Unattractive
(-5 points).
Racial Cost: 62 points.

This is a typical high-end bioroid

soldier: hormone-boosted muscle
growth, skeletal strengthening, revised
pain threshold and endocrine system
adjusted for improved stress response.
While high strength in and of itself is of
limited use in ultra-tech combat, the
objective was to grow a trooper who
could use heavy infantry weapons with-
out a two-man team, bionics or a battle-
suit.

52 HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING

Mental Disadvantages
Disadvantage Cost Page TL*
Absent-Mindedness -15 B30 9
Attentive -1 CI86 9
Bad Temper -10 B31 9
Berserk -15 B31 9
Bloodlust -10 B31 9
Bully -10 B31 9
Callous -6 CI86 9
Cannot Learn -30 CI86 9
Chronic Depression -15 + -2/level CI87 9
Combat Paralysis -15 B32 9
Confused -10 CI88 9
Cowardice -10 B32 9
Distractible -1 CI89 9
Dreamer -1 CI89 9
Dyslexia -15 B33 9
Gluttony -5 B33 9
Hidebound -5 CI91 9
Impulsiveness -10 B33 9
Laziness -10 B34 9
Lecherousness -15 B34 9
Low Empathy -15 CI91 9
Megalomania -10 B34 9
Overconfidence -10 B34 9
Paranoia -10 B35 9
Shyness -5 to -15 B37 9
Slave Mentality -40 CI94 9
Split Personality -10/-15 B37 9
Stress Atavism -16 CI105 9
Stubbornness -5 B37 9
Stuttering -10 B29 9
Weak Will -8/level B37 9
Workaholic -5 CI95 9
Curious -5 to -15 CI89 10
Incurious -5 CI91 10
Indecisive -10 CI91 10
Selfless -10 CI94 10

* TL only applies if the disadvantage is an intended defect.

Physical Disadvantages
Intended Defects: Some variant races are eugeneered with deliberate physical
defects. For example, a wealthy sadist might want his latest concubine to be an albi-
no with Low Pain Threshold, while the eccentric Sultana of Gideon Prime might
desire her bodyguard of gene-enhanced janissaries to have both Gigantism and
Mute. The most commonly engineered physical disadvantages chosen for aesthetic
effect are Albinism, Dwarfism, Eunuch, Fat, Gigantism, Light Sleeper, Low Pain
Threshold, Mute, Overweight, Skinny and Sterile.
Self-Destruct and Short Lifespan are also common in slave races, produced
through modifications to the endocrine system or built in “suicide clocks” in cells.
Usually, the goal is to ensure demand for new product via planned obsolescence.
Short Lifespan might also be popular for non-sterile slave races, as it allows faster
reproduction; in bioengineered humans that aren’t property, the advantage Early
Maturation would be used instead.
Unintended Defects: IQ or HT penalties, Delicate Metabolism, Low Pain
Threshold, Sterile, Unusual Biochemistry and Weak Immune System are the most

HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING 53

 common defects produced when designers get too ambitious. In particular, Unusual
Biochemistry is almost certain to occur when attempting complex, transgenic gene-
splices, chimeras and cell fusions. Other modifications may be side effects of trying
for a specific advantage or mixing human and non-human genes. For instance,
Fragile (representing light, hollow bones like a bird’s) might be a side effect of
designing a winged human.
Unless intended, or inextricably linked to some far more important and rare
trait, the grosser physical disadvantages like Blindness, Hemophilia or One Arm are
unlikely in a variant race, as defects this obvious will usually be detected in the
womb and either corrected via genetic surgery or result in termination. The most
common “tolerated” physical disadvantages are listed on the table below; they are
all TL9.
Virtually any other physical disadvantage from GURPS Basic Set or Compendium
I is also possible.

Physical Disadvantages
Disadvantage Cost Page
Albinism -10 B27
Appearance varies B15
Bad Sight -10/-25 B27
Color Blindness -10 B28
Deafness -20 B28
Delicate Metabolism -20/-40 CI81
Disturbing Voice -10 CI81
Dwarfism -15 B28
Epilepsy -30 B28
Eunuch -5 B28
Extra Sleep -3/level CI81
Fat -10/20 B28
Gigantism -10 B28
Gluttony -5 B33
Hard of Hearing -10 B28
Light Sleeper -5 CI82
Low Pain Threshold -10 B29
Migraine -5 to -20 CI82
Mute -25 B29
Overweight -5 B29
Reduced Hit Points -5/level CI83
Skinny -5 B29
Sterile -3 CI84
Unnatural Feature* -5 CI85
Weak Immune System -30 CI85
Species Modification
Aquatic -40 CI101
Fragile -20 CI102
Reduced Move -5/point CI103
Self-Destruct -20 CI104
Short Lifespan -10/level CI104
Sleepy varies CI104
Slow Healing -5/level CI104
Unusual Biochemistry -5 CI106

* Remember, this only qualifies if the feature is somewhat disturbing and the
variant race is otherwise human-like.

54 HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING

 Tek Rat
Parahuman (TL10)
ST -5 (-40 points), DX +1 (10
points), IQ -1 (-10 points).
Racial Advantages: Acute Hearing
+1 (2 points), Acute Taste and Smell +1
(2 points), Decreased Life Support (2/5
food consumption, 10 points), Extra
Arm (no physical attack, 5 points),
Flesh Pocket (2 points), Fur (4 points),
Sharp Teeth (5 points), 3D Spatial

Other Features
Besides specific modifications or defects, a race may also have a variety of sec-
Sense (10 points).
Racial Disadvantages: Gluttony (-5
points), Reduced Hit Points -5 (-25
points).
ondary, 0-point features. Several such features appear under Gengineered Features: Miniature (2/5-scale).
Advantages (p. 51ff). One special class of features, taboo traits, merits additional After calculating height and weight
discussion. based on ST, multiply height by 2/5 and
weight by 1/16. Normally has 6 meals a
day, but each is only 1/16 as large as a
Taboo Traits human meal.
Racial Cost: -30 points.
Some genetic constructs undergo selection to screen out or mitigate undesirable
traits; therefore, certain advantages or disadvantages may be forbidden to individual Fourth Officer Ratzelle is just over
characters built with such racial templates. A forbidden advantage or disadvantage two feet tall, has short brown fur, and
is called a taboo trait (p. CI176). It costs no character points to assign a taboo trait lives in the vacc-suit locker. Her cover-
to a racial template – it’s a 0-point feature. all is always covered in grease, her
For instance, a character can normally have Berserk as a personal disadvantage, voice is an irritating chitter, and when
she’s not working, she’s stuffing her
even if it isn’t in his genetic template. However, if Berserk is a taboo trait for his face with junk food. But who’s com-
template, then it cannot be taken. plaining? Hiring her was the first smart
Taboo traits that cover a general class of disadvantages do not prevent specific move the captain pulled since he
disadvantages from within that class from being part of the racial template. The pro- spaced the S-3 unit. Now our hyper-
hibition is also lifted for disadvantages that are acquired after birth (e.g., due to a drive works all the time, the nanotoast-
proteus virus or brainwashing). er’s no longer a menace and she even
One way to add a taboo trait to a template is through genefixing. squirmed up the Milliken Tube to hose
the scorpio wasps out of number-two

Genefixing engine. Every ship should have a Tek

Rat.
“Unlike a lot of cults, the Neo-Gnostics don’t have a taboo against genefixing.
Using a mix of human, raccoon and
Or maybe they just considered it the lesser of two evils when they hired me to ensure
possum genes, the Tek Rat is about 2’
none of their babies would ever be born with a lecherous gene in his or her body.” to 2.5’ tall, with a rodent-like face,
– Dr. Lucien Locke, Genehackers Inc. miniature prehensile tail and marsupial
pouch it uses for young or tools. It has
The practice of “genefixing” consists of testing germ plasm for genetic defects, undergone TL10 eugenic modification
such as hereditary diseases, and then fixing them through gengineering at concep- for a higher IQ and ST to counteract its
tion. This is the easiest type of trait selection for society to accept – making sure small size, and its cardiovascular sys-
tem is also somewhat more efficient
that genes for good physical or mental health are coded into children, while defects
(giving an extra hit point).
are fixed.
At TL8, this is limited to major genetic defects, where genetic errors result in an
excess or deficiency of certain proteins or hormones, producing problems like
Dwarfism or Hemophilia.
At TL9+, the definition of “defect” can be
extended, ensuring that minor flaws like lantern
jaw, knock knees, snaggle teeth, excessive acne
and so on are not in a genotype.
It should be possible to suppress or edit gene
sequences connected with a tendency toward certain
mental states, such as rage, lecherousness or poor
self-control. It’s not possible to genefix specific

HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING 55

 mental disorders, such as an individual obsession or phobia, but manipulation of
Void-Dancer-Series genes governing behavior-modifying neurotransmitters (such as serotonin) can delib-
erately create “stable personality” genotypes that are less likely to suffer from some
Parahuman (TL11) forms of mental illness. This is the reverse of the technique used to create the “genet-
ic booby traps,” described under Mental Disadvantages (p. 52).
ST -3 (-20 points), HT -1 (-10 While genetic behavioral modification of this sort may be controversial, elimi-
points). nating aggressive or unstable mental traits may seem more benign. However, it can
Racial Advantages: Longevity (5 have an interesting effect on a culture over the long term. A non-aggressive culture
points), Oxygen Storage (14 points), might be in trouble the next time it runs into an external enemy, and who knows
Prehensile Toes (see p. 39, 7 points), how many famous prophets, messiahs and political leaders might have gained their
Pressure Support (100 atm, 10 points), inspiration from mild mental disorders?
Sanitized Metabolism (5 points), Slow
Regeneration (only to replace bone
Some possible genefixed taboo traits are:
decalcification, -75%, 3 points), 3D
Spatial Sense (10 points), Toughness 1 Taboo Trait: Genetic Defects (TL8): Prohibits taking attributes more than 2
(10 points), Vacuum Adaptation (27 below whatever the genetic template’s average is (adjusted by age). Also prohibits the
points). disadvantages Albinism, Bad Sight, Color Blindness, Dwarfism, Dyslexia,
Racial Disadvantages: G-Intolerance Gigantism, Hemophilia, Innumerate, Night Blindness, No Sense of Smell/Taste, Non-
(0.05G increment, -20, Skinny (-5 Iconographic, Short Attention Span, Tourette’s Syndrome and Weak Immune System.
points), Weak Immune System (-30 Taboo Trait: Unattractiveness (TL8): Prohibits an Appearance of Unattractive
points).
or worse, Bad Smell, Fat, Overweight and Very Unfit.
Racial Cost: 6 points.
Taboo Trait: Aggressiveness (TL9): Manipulation of genes governing certain
Designed as zero-G construction hormone-producing glands may create a non-aggressive genotype which prohibits
workers, space crew and belt miners, Bad Temper, Berserk, Bully and Stubbornness.
the slender Void-Dancers have been Taboo Trait: Mental Instability (TL9): Prohibits Chronic Depression, Delusions,
extensively adapted to the space envi- Edgy, Extreme Fanaticism, Fanaticism, Flashbacks, Guilt Complex, Kleptomania,
ronment. Radical dermal and internal Lover’s Distraction, Low Self-Image, Lunacy, Manic-Depressive, Megalomania,
modifications (see Transformations, p.
Obsession, On the Edge, Paranoia, Pyromania, Voices and any Phobia worth -10
49) modify them to survive pressure
changes and hard vacuum, and they can points or more.
function without air by storing an Individual disadvantages which could be taboo traits are Lecherousness (TL9),
hour’s worth of oxygen in a modified Shyness (TL9) and Laziness (TL10). It’s impossible to gengineer against (or for)
liver. Brain and inner ear modifications more complex disorders, such as specific Obsessions or Phobias.
adapt the Void-Dancers for life without
verticals, while cardiovascular and
glandular tinkering optimize the metab-
olism for low or no gravity (and inci-
dentally extend lifespan). Dexterous
Racial Point Cost
This is the point cost required to play someone with a particular variant human
prehensile toes on the feet effectively template. It is the sum of the costs of all attribute modifiers, advantages and disad-
give them a useful pair of additional vantages. If necessary, the GM can balance designs by adding unintended disadvan-
arms when not walking on them; i.e., in tages.
zero-G.
Unfortunately, the gengineers’ goals
The GM should try to keep the point costs of races intended for use by PCs
outstripped their capabilities, leading to below the average point total of the campaign, and usually no more than half that
genetic defects that left this particular cost. Thus, in a game with 100-point characters, races costing more than 100 points
model with no resistance to most terres- should be avoided, and most should cost 50 points or less. On the other hand, in
trial bacteria. In sterile, zero-G habitats, games with very high point totals – such as Black Ops, Special Ops or Supers –
among other Void-Dancers or sanitized having “super races” with very high point totals is perfectly in genre.
humans like the Gilgamesh-series, this These are simply play-balance guidelines, not a hard-and-fast rules; GMs can
isn’t a problem – but it restricts their
ability to interact with normal humans.
ignore them or modify them as he sees fit.

56 HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING

Life’s Price Tag
If someone purchases a set of genetic modifications, how much does it cost?
This depends on how complex the nucleotide sequences used in the genotype were,
and whether the buyer is ordering a custom-designed genotype or a tried-and-true
one.

Established Variant Races

Once one example of a variant race has been created, that same genetic
sequence can be used to modify other human reproductive cells. Since the complex
research and development has already been done, it may be possible to simply go to
a biotech company and purchase a “genetic program” or “genetic upgrade
sequence” for one’s unborn children or, if it’s legal, have one grown or cloned to
order. Depending on the law, a bioengineered person may be considered a child
(with whatever legal rights children have) or a form of property.
Assuming it’s legal, a suggested price tag for an embryo is $25,000 if only
eugenic modifications were made, or $50,000 if any species modifications were
performed. This includes purely cosmetic species modifications (gengineering
someone with slit-pupil eyes, cat ears and a tail is still expensive, even if it isn’t
worth character points). If the racial point cost is positive, increase the dollar cost
by $1,000 per point. If the racial point cost is negative, use only the base cost quot-
ed above. For non-human races that start out with racial bonuses, ignore those that
are “native” to the race before gengineering when calculating the price tag. (An
alternative and more complex way of pricing “biological androids” is presented on
p. RO81; this can be used, if desired.)
Note that this cost reflects the utility of the genetic modification, rather than the
difficulty required to design it!
This buys a viable embryo, which can then be implanted in a surrogate mother
of the same or similar species (e.g., a human could bring a parahuman to term),
raised in an artificial womb, or cloned; see Reproductive Technology (p. 17). There
may be additional costs for things like sex selection – see the sidebars.
Example: Mei and Yukio were both created from cells donated by their parents,
using the Pandora-series genetic upgrade (sidebar, p. 51). This variant template costs
36 points. Since one of their advantages was a species modification, their parents paid
$50,000 + $36,000 = $86,000 for the privilege of mentally-enhanced but slightly-frag-
ile offspring. In Mei’s case, her mother had the embryo implanted and carried it to
term herself; Yukio was grown in a forced-growth tank. Aside from that, Mei is of
average height with black hair, while Yukio is a tall redhead. They could have any
mundane advantage or disadvantage not prohibited by the taboo against genetic
defects.

Custom Designs
If no one has designed a particular trait before, the germline gengineering pro-
cedures (Chapter 1, p. 9) should be used. People can hire a genetic engineer (see the
Job Table, p. 133) or do the job themselves.
First, human gametes (egg and sperm cells) are needed. These might be provid-
ed by the customer (one or two parents might donate their own reproductive cells
for modification), or be specially selected for their eugenic characteristics.
Second, a gengineer with an appropriately-equipped lab is required. Custom
gengineering requires a genetics lab. Hiring a genetic engineer (or a biotech compa-
ny) to add new modifications to a particular human zygote is expensive.
The resulting racial template may vary somewhat from the designer’s intentions
– in game terms, the person ordering the gengineering specifies the desired changes,
then the GM adds additional “unintended” disadvantages based on how well or
poorly the gengineering was performed. Any trait not specifically gengineered (that
is, specified in a racial template) will depend on the genetic parents (whoever pro-
vided the egg cell and sperm used).

HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING 57

 Genetic Engineering Genetic Engineering in Play
If the GM wants to “game out” the process (e.g., a PC is the gengineer) here’s a
and Aliens set of rules for doing so:
The first stage of this process is for the gengineer to decide what traits or
While this chapter focuses on human changes he wants to produce in an organism, within the limits of what is possible at
genetic engineering, the guidelines his TL. In game terms, this is the variant racial template that the designer wants to
given here can also be applied to have – don’t include unintended defects.
humanoid aliens or, with adjustment on The next step is coming up with the correct genetic sequences to safely produce
a case-by-case basis, to even less- those modifications. This requires a roll vs. Genetics (Genetic Engineering) skill. It is
human species. made at a penalty based on how complex the GM feels the changes are. The suggest-
Some species may actually be easier
to genetically engineer in certain ways. ed penalty depends on the quantity and TL of the traits (defined as specific attribute
For example, insect genes are packaged bonuses, advantages, disadvantage or features) that the gengineer wants to add. The
in such a way that drastic morpholo- modifier is based on the TL of the trait, not the gengineer’s TL. The assumption
gical alteration is relatively easy behind this is that the more complex a specific trait is, the higher its TL will be.
(researchers have modified insects so The penalty per trait is -1 for traits up to TL9, with an additional -1 per TL past
that eyes grow on leg joints, or antennae TL9. The GM can apply extra penalties if he thinks a trait is more complex then its
have been replaced with legs). GMs can TL suggests; e.g., psi powers might have double the penalty. There is no extra
simulate this by making certain cate-
gories of modifications require a lower penalty for species modifications vs. eugenic modifications – that’s already reflected
TL for one species, or a higher TL for in the assigned TLs.
another. Assume that all gengineered looks (a specific level of Appearance, plus skin,
hair and eye color) are a single modification (“gengineered appearance”) and that
purely-cosmetic, 0-point transgenic features that can be explained
as part of other advantages don’t count (e.g., pointed ears may be
implied by Acute Hearing, or animal-like features by Fur).
Example: We want to engineer a Gilgamesh-series parahu-
man (sidebar, p. 50). Checking the racial template, we see it has
seven traits that require TL9 or less (DX+1, HT+1, Appearance,
Longevity, Sanitized Metabolism and two sets of Taboo Traits)
and three traits that are TL10 (IQ+1, Extended Lifespan and
Immunity to Disease). With a penalty of -1 per TL9- trait (-7) and
-2 per TL10 trait (-6), the total modifier to skill is -13.
This work is usually done on a computer, and the only addi-
tional modifiers applied to the roll are bonuses to skill for comput-
er programs assisting in the research. Since more powerful pro-
grams can be run at higher TLs, this will counteract the increased
difficulty of high-tech gengineering projects.
One skill roll is allowed per week. Success means that the
gengineer is ready to proceed to the next stage. Failure means he’s
still working on it. Critical failure means that he has a genetic
sequence that looks good, but is fatally flawed – any success or
critical success on the next stage will automatically become a fail-
ure, and any failure will become a critical failure.
For the next stage, the genetic engineer must have a genetic
engineering lab in which to perform the actual gene splicing.
Genetic material is also required. In humans, this means the eggs
and sperm, collectively called gametes. These may be taken from
a donor (half might come from the genetic engineer, if he wants to
work on his own genetic material). Banks of frozen germ cells
may also exist. In most societies, traffic in genetic material from
sentient organisms is regulated, but donors are relatively easy to
locate.
A “working model” skill roll is now required to perform the
actual gene splicing, which is done in vitro and takes about a
week. The GM should make this secretly as well. Use the same
modifiers applied to the first roll, except that the quality of the
gengineering lab will modify the chance of success: 0 if a full lab,
-2 if a standard lab, -5 if a small lab, -8 if a suitcase lab. If working
with obsolete equipment (less than the TL of the changes), apply

58 HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING

the tech level penalties from p. B185. Add +1 for every “assistant” with either
Genetics (Genetic Engineering) or Biochemistry skill 20+, to a maximum four
assistants.
Beyond the Probable
The GM should note how much the roll succeeded or failed by, but keep it
Many advantages or disadvantages
secret. The genetic engineer now has germ cells that have been altered, but he won’t aren’t covered in this chapter. These are
know how well he’s done until they are allowed to develop. For this, an incubator is the ones that human genetic engineering
needed. Bacteria can grow in test tubes or vats, plants can grow in soil or hydropon- would find very difficult or impossible
ics, but in the case of a species like a human, the cells must be fertilized and, after a to reproduce. This may be because they
short time replicating in a test tube, placed in a natural or artificial womb (see represent social relationships (like
Reproductive Technology, p. 17) where they can develop progressively into an Status), experience (like Literacy), are
embryo, fetus and baby. Exactly what happens depends on how successful the skill very abstract (like Luck), or just
because they would be too hard to
roll was; see the Genetic Engineering Table, below. duplicate genetically without either
As his creation grows, the genetic engineer can use diagnostic sensors to moni- cybernetic implants or invoking
tor its development for crippling defects or deformities. If everything works out, it “mutant super powers” or TL15+
will be brought to term. If not, it can usually be terminated at a fairly early stage. “weird science.” GMs may allow them
The time required before results show up depends on how fast the species grows. to be genetically engineered if discov-
The results below are tailored to humans; for non-humans, adjust proportionately. ered in nature. For example, gengineer-
ing the ability to teleport or breathe fire
is seemingly impossible – but what if a
Genetic Engineering Table person or alien capable of it were dis-
covered? Gengineers may try to hire or
Critical success or success by 10+ . . . . perfect! capture that individual or creature and
Success by 5-9 . . . . viable. study it. Perhaps the genes that code for
Success by 0-4 . . . . semi-viable. this ability can be spliced into humans
Failure . . . . non-viable. or other animals!
Critical failure . . . . lab accident or “frankenstein!”

Perfect: A complete success! The GM may optionally allow a critical success

to produce some unexpected additional advantages. This is a common plot in many
SF novels, where attempts to genetically engineer one trait also produce another
linked advantage that is much more radical.
Viable: The embryo develops properly, but may have 10-20 points of unintend-
ed disadvantages. GMs may wish to select them in order to make a more “bal-
anced” racial template. Use the suggested mental and physical disadvantages given
earlier in this chapter as guidelines.
Semi-Viable: The embryo develops into a fetus, but is somewhat flawed. At
TL8+, a pre-natal scan will be able to note the problems, allowing the decision to
abort within 1d weeks. If carried to term, it will have various disadvantages. These
should be reflected by giving the species the Sterile (-3 points) and Delicate
Metabolism (-40 points) disadvantages, and any other disadvantages the GM feels
appropriate (usually at least equal in point total to any advantages that were deliber-
ately added to it). Common problems that may result are Stress Atavism, Unusual
Biochemistry and Weak Immune System.
Non-Viable: The organism developed, but was too deformed to survive. On a
successful Diagnosis roll, this can be noticed in 1d weeks. Otherwise, it will result
in a stillbirth.
Lab Accident or “Frankenstein”: Something went badly wrong. There’s an
equal chance of an accident or “frankenstein.” A “frankenstein” means that the
result looks good, but has some unnoticed flaw that won’t become apparent until
after it has been born – maybe not for years afterward. Perhaps it simply has some
crucial genetic defect that will cut its life short soon after birth (this can be bought
as Terminally Ill). Or maybe it’s something more dangerous, like violent Stress
Atavism that will drive it to attack its creator. Or, in a cinematic campaign, perhaps
it will mutate further after its birth, maybe even turning into a killer monster! Exact
details are up to the GM.

If the concept roll was a critical failure, all working models will be non-viable
or worse! NPCs will usually realize their concept is flawed after 1d failed attempts
(twice as many if they have Stubbornness); players may keep trying until repeated
failures suggest to them that something is wrong.

HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING 59

3 BIOMODS
 “Okay, so the gengineers have figured out the right way to biomodification failed; a later attempt is possible after the
build a tougher, smarter liver that provides better resistance to patient recovers (full recovery time still applies). Failure also
toxins, or some other little upgrade to the human genome. Fine, inflicts 1d damage for every two weeks of recovery (or fraction
that’s great, insert the genes for it in the next generation and thereof) that would be required. Use the hit location rules; e.g.,
raise some enhanced superbrats. But that doesn’t do squat for surgical damage in excess of HT/2 to an arm or leg is ignored,
the current generation of people.” but may cripple the limb. A critical failure may double this dam-
age or, at the GM’s option, result in other side effects instead of
“No way! I got loads of cash, but my parents didn’t have direct damage (e.g., surgery to improve eyesight might cause
the valuta to have my genes twanked. Heck, they couldn’t do Blindness, cosmetic surgery could reduce Appearance).
that then. You telling me I’m obsolete because I’m already
born?” Types of Surgical Procedures
Stay frosty. We haven’t even mentioned gene implants, bio- Surgical procedures are grouped into these categories:
mod transplants, surgery and metamorphosis nanovirus. (Unless Bodysculpting (p. 61), Transplants (p. 65), Neurosurgery (p. 70)
noted, the dollar cost of a biomod is halved one TL after that bio- and Tissue Engineering (p. 72).
mod first appears, and halved again after two or more TLs. GMs
should feel free to create new biomods or alter existing ones!)
Bodysculpting
Elective Surgery
“The Rabid stepped out of the shadows. His slit-pupiled
Bodysculpting (also called “biosculpting”) includes cosmet-
ic surgery, muscle grafting and sex-change operations. While
some changes may shock the traditional, bodysculpting is usual-
eyes were feline transplants, and as he grinned, he showed me a ly available and legal in all but the most conservative societies.
mouth full of canine tooth bud implants. I was impressed: The TL7 cosmetic modifications rely on surgery, tissue grafts taken
gangs must be doing well here, to afford all that surgery.” from other parts of the patient’s body and injections or implants
– Detective Cody Chase, Nevada PD. of inorganic material. TL8+ bodysculpt is more precise, with
computer axial tomography scans to produce 3-D “before and
Elective surgery involves reshaping, modifying or trans- after” models, laser scalpels and vat-grown collagen implants.
planting tissue, bone, organs and limbs. In some cases, it may
also involve neurosurgery to ensure that certain transplants,
such as limbs, function properly. Each surgical procedure (“bio-
mod”) is described with these characteristics:

Statistics: The game effects and character point cost of each

surgical procedure – for instance, what advantages it grants or
removes.

Operation: The cost to hire a surgeon (or medical team),

along with the time required to recuperate following the opera-
tion. This period is measured in weeks. For every TL over the
minimum required, reduce this by one day per week. Thus, if 6
weeks were required at TL8, this would be reduced by 6 days at
TL9, by 12 days at TL10, and so on. Some operations require
less than a full week to recover from. If so, reduce the period by
three hours per TL over the minimum.
Altered Appearance (TL7/8)
“My parents were both neo-goths, and they had me gengi-
The recovery period required is also a rough guide to how neered to fit the ideal – you know, pale and thin, with these
long the operation itself takes: assume about two hours for every huge, dead-poet eyes and ink-black hair. It was just so tacky.
week of recovery required (before modification by TL). Any The day I turned sixteen, I went down to the Novabody and got
operation requiring less than a week of recovery takes an hour it changed.”
to perform. – Gabrielle Ravenwood
Both recovery and operation time from multiple operations
is consecutive rather than concurrent; e.g., two procedures with
2-week recovery times require 8 hours of surgery and 4 weeks “When I was back in LA, we’d run into poser gangs where
of recovery. everyone looks like Nixon or Cthulhu or whatever – or almost
look, this being street medicine. I helped shut down this black
Surgery Skill Rolls clinic that was kidnapping street people and turning them into
doubles of famous grid stars, then renting or selling them as
The GM can assume that commercial hospitals are well toys.”
enough trained and equipped that no skill rolls are required to – Detective Cody Chase, Nevada PD
perform surgery. If characters do their own work, or a back-alley
surgeon is hired, use the Surgery rules on p. B56, but instead of Statistics: Select any level of Appearance, as well as
the modifier listed there, assume the roll is at -1 for every week facial looks, hair color, eye color and ethnic features. Point
of recovery required (if less than a week, no penalty). cost is the difference between the original and new Appearance.
A success means the surgery was performed properly. A Appearance can’t be increased above Very Handsome/Beau-
critical success halves the recovery time. A failure means the tiful.

BIOMODS 61
 Operation: To decrease Appearance by any Statistics: Sex Appeal +3 (3 points) plus
number of levels, or to change features so that an Unnatural Feature (exaggerated sexual features,
acquaintance needs an IQ roll to recognize you, -5 points). -2 points.
costs $500 (and takes one week to recover from). Operation: $5,000 (and one week). It is usu-
To increase Appearance by one level costs ally preceded or followed by surgery to increase
$1,000 (and takes 2 weeks). Two levels cost Appearance. LC 5.
$5,000 (and 3 weeks), and the same degree of
surgery can alter appearance to make someone
unrecognizable, or give him a recognizable but
Hair Graft (TL7/8)
inexact copy of another’s face (“You look sort of At TL8+, living hair or fur strips may be
like Elvis.”). However, if a person naturally looks grafted onto certain parts of the body, such as the
like another person (excluding hair and eyes), he spine, ankles or wrists, for an exotic look. Of
may be modified to look exactly like his near- course, it’s also possible to cure baldness this
double for the price and time quoted above. way; this is TL7 rather than TL8, and is half as
At TL8+ only, to increase Appearance by expensive.
three levels takes $25,000 (and 3 weeks). The same Statistics: Usually a 0-point feature, but may
effort can also turn someone into an exact duplicate qualify as an Unnatural Feature.
of another person (as much as height and build per- Operation: $1,000 (and one day). LC 6.
mit), including that person’s level of Appearance.
Removing a person’s finger-, palm- or footprints
(TL7) takes $2,000 and 2 weeks; changing them
Sex Cha nge (TL7/8)
It’s fashionable for hetero parents to swap
(TL8) costs 10 times as much.
sexes after each child, so they can both have a try
All changes are LC 6 (except changing prints, which is LC
at being pregnant. This is perfectly healthy, but do be cautioned
3). However, making exact copies of a famous person may be a
that some people seem to be predominantly male or female, and
copyright or trademark violation!
won’t be comfortable in the other gender for the months that a
Altered Bulk (TL7/8) natural childbirth requires. See your psychogenetic counselor
first!
“When I told the doc I wanted to gain weight, he was – Dr. Lucien Locke, Sexmorphing and You
shocked. I told him it was for a movie – well, I wasn’t going to
admit I needed some extra room to hide my flesh holster, was I?” The procedures and effects depend on the level of sex
– Detective Cody Chase, Nevada PD change:
Superficial (TL7/8): The subject retains his/her own sex,
Fatty tissue can be removed surgically through techniques but when fully dressed appears to be a member of the opposite
such as liposuction, or it can be grafted onto the body. sex.
Statistics: Bulk can be safely altered up or down by one Full Cosmetic (TL7/8): The subject completely resembles
step. The steps range from a maximum of Very Fat (-20 points), his/her new sex. Only a medical examination would reveal that
to Fat (-10 points), Overweight (-5 points) and normal weight, a sex change had taken place. To all exterior appearances and
down to a minimum of Skinny (-5 points), in that order. After for all social interactions, the change is total, except reproduc-
the operation, adjust weight accordingly. tion is impossible.
Operation: $5,000 (and one week). LC 6. Complete (TL8): This is a total sex change, with full capac-
ity for reproduction being possible. This requires growing a
Extreme Sexual Dimorphism (TL7/8) cross-sex clone (p. 16) and transplanting organs from it into the
Would you like to make onlookers pant with lust or moan recipient’s body, although at TL12+, proteus nanoviruses can
with envy? Come to Novabody, where we can turn you or your design working reproductive organs and cells within the
partner into the stuff of fantasy. Our fast, safe biosculpt proce- patient’s own body.
dures exaggerate primary male and secondary female sexual
attributes, with striking results achieved in hours! Statistics: If full cosmetic, the subject is Sterile (-3 points).
– Novabody: Nirvana is Now A functional sex change can sometimes alter personality, as a
result of the hormones used and the change in self-image. At the
“Yes, you too can be stacked like a pleasure bioroid. No GM’s option, a sex change can justify buying off or exchanging
thanks. I’ve heard rumors that the majority of Novabody’s a few mental disadvantages.
clients work for, quote, escort services, unquote, and that some Operation: A superficial sex change is $8,000 (and 2
of the surgery is a little less than elective, if you take my mean- weeks). A full cosmetic sex change is $30,000 (and 4 weeks). A
ing. Custom cuties, anyone?” complete sex change is $30,000 (and 8 weeks) for a male-to-
– Detective Cody Chase, Nevada PD female change, or $100,000 (and 10 weeks) for a female-to-

62 BIOMODS
male, the latter requiring the creation of an artificial Y chromo- Statistics: Any of Catfall (10 points), Double-Jointed (5
some, which is trickier. Sex changes are LC 5. points) or Manual Dexterity +1 (3 points).
Operation: $20,000 (and 2 weeks) per advantage. LC 5.
Altered Height (TL8) Muscle Graft (TL8)
Height can be altered surgically by up to 3” in either direc-
tion through adjustments to the long bones of the arms and legs. Tired of getting sand kicked in your face? Want the body
Slight modifications to the spine can add an extra 3”. your lover has always dreamed off? Try SpaTek’s muscle graft-
Statistics: No point cost unless the modification results in ing! Bulk up in record time while avoiding the metabolic haz-
Dwarfism or Gigantism (or adjusts height surgically so that the ards of conventional muscle-enhancing drugs and the risks of
character no longer qualifies for such a disadvantage). transplant rejection. Strong, safe and swift: It’s SpaTek.
Operation $8,000/inch (and one week, or three if spinal). – SpaTek advertisement
LC 6.
Way I see it, muscle grafting is kind of the surgical version
Archwork (TL8) of steroid pushing – a quick and dirty way to bulk up real fast, if
you don’t have the self-discipline or the time for body building
“This bold fashionmod from the spring collection of Milan or the valuta for something more subtle. Graft’s the sort of thing
bodysculptor Fox Delamere coaxes you into a ballerina’s deli- you’d see on MafInc muscleboys or some simstar’s bodyguards.
cate, toe-first walk with modifications to the tendons and arch- Kind of low class. Por favor, chum: Don’t tell “Mountain”
es in the feet! Thanks to supplementary bone reinforcement, Mahoney I said that, or he’ll break my spine.
you’ll be fully comfortable – and if you wear high heels, this – Streethawk, alt.bio.upgrade.samurai.livechat
makes a day spent walking in them as ache-free as if you’d
worn flats.” Statistics: Select from +1 to +3 ST. Pay for it like any
– Noriko Hayakawa, host of Cyberia Beat. improvement in ST, except that the doubled cost for increasing
ST after initial character creation does not apply. Then buy the
“Sure it’s striking on a supermodel like same number of levels of Reduced Fatigue (-3
Alicia Lordes, but didn’t this silliness die out in points/level), reducing the cost of the strength
pre-space China? Still, at least Delamere set it up increase. This reflects the fact that this ST only
so it isn’t physical torture any more.” applies to limb muscles, not to internal muscles
– Chance Mackintosh, Posthuman Consumer like heart or lungs. Boosting ST by muscle grafts
Review. adds 10 pounds to weight per point of ST increase.
Optionally, characters who gained +3 ST from
Statistics: Adds 2” to height when barefoot, muscle grafts can take the Unsupported Strength
and you can wear high heels or dance shoes indef- limitation (p. 138).
initely without pain; regular footwear is uncom- Operation: $20,000 (and 4 weeks). If using a
fortable (0 points). muscle-boosting nanovirus, half the ST gain
Operation: $5,000 (and 2 weeks). You can be (round down) occurs after two weeks, with the
up and around after surgery, but treat as Lame remainder at the end of the growth period. LC 6.
while recovering. LC 6.

Jointwork (TL8) Testicle Tuck (TL8)

“SpaTek markets this biomod for male box-
Net-gossip says Macrotech caught a cat bur- ers, hockey players and other such jock types, but
glar picking the lock on their VP’s Manhattan it’s a favorite streetmod as well. I’ve been think-
suite. She’d squirmed her way through the air ing of getting one myself.”
ducts on the way in, and when Security found her, – Streethawk, alt.bio.upgrade.samurai
she jumped two stories and landed running.
Nearly made it, too. Seemed the thief had gotten “Hey, hawk-baby – don’t go to a street doc,
bodywork at a back-alley clinic in Kyoto: extra okay? You make sure those blood-vessels get re-
joints, genemod connective tissue, even some routed dolphin-style so your cajones stay cool.
work to modify the ankles and knees for improved Don’t want to bake your spunk, you know.”
shock absorption. Nice job, and no patent. So they – Genosibyl, alt.bio.upgrade.samurai.
dissected her, studied the design, and reverse-
engineered it into their newest product. Ironic, Statistics: Injury Tolerance (No Vitals) (groin
huh? only, -60%, 2 points). Cheap version adds Sterility
– Streethawk, alt.bio.upgrade.samurai. (-3 points), for a total cost of -1 point.

BIOMODS 63
 Operation: $4,000 (and 2 weeks). Treat as and muscle that can be wagged is a transplant;
Eunuch while recovering from surgery, but no see Tail Grafts (p. 66).
bed rest is required. LC 6. Cheap version is Xenosculpting is LC 6.
$1,000 (and 1 week). LC 6.

Xenosculpting (TL8) Xeno-Voice Box (TL8)

Baby, you may be a hot nightclub singer, but
“You look surprised? I guess it must be a no one, no one, betrays La Cosa. Well, your pret-
shock finding out your little sister has perky fox ty mouth won’t get you in trouble again. This
ears, fur that matches her hair and a bushy tail. automed you’re strapped into? Benni’s gonna
And working in a hostess bar, too. I came to replace your voice box. Hey baby, don’t cry!
Tokyo with all those dreams, be a pop singer, an Sure, you won’t be able to talk no more, but
idol – sure, big sister, laugh. You try sleeping in you’ll still be able to sing. See, we’re gonna give
Ueno park for a few weeks. After that, well, the you a songbird’s syrinx instead of a larynx. Bit of
Kitsune Club was advertising for exotic host- brainwork, a few biochips in your skull, and
esses. True, the surgery and cell grafts weren’t you’ll make us a lot of valuta at Big Al’s other
much fun, but I needed money. If I signed a four- joint, maybe sell recordings, you know? Object
year contract, the ‘sculpt was free. Now I earn lesson, we call it.
50K a year in tips from jaded sararimen like – Nanobug recording of Don C. Magaddino,
your friend. In a year or two, I should have from federal grand jury transcript
enough to change back. If I want to. Excuse me,
sis . . . Welcome to Club Kitsune, sir! I’m Marie, This technology doesn’t have to be used for
your foxy hostess for this evening.” sinister purposes. For instance, a human diplo-
– Marie Detroit, Club Kitsune mat might have his voice box modified so that
he can speak an alien language that’s nearly
Statistics: This gives someone nonhuman impossible for a human larynx to pronounce.
features, ranging from pointed “elf” ears to an Then he’d be modified back after completing his
animal-like face or head. This is a 0-point fea- tour of duty.
ture, but may count as an Unnatural Feature (-5 Statistics: A human voice box altered to
points) if such biomods are rare. Some changes – make animal sounds gives Disturbing Voice (-10
e.g., bug eyes and a sucker-like mouth surrounded points) if speech is still possible, or Mute (-25
by writhing tendrils – would also give a negative points) if it permits only animal sounds. Mute
Appearance. can be combined with Voice (10 points), if the
Operation: This depends on the extent of the animal sounds are pleasant. Modifying a human
change. to speak a very alien language is also treated as
Minor cosmetic xeno-features like a pair of Disturbing Voice, as human speech will be gar-
elf- or cat-like ears, tiny horns (too small to do bled.
damage), a forked tongue or a birdlike crest – Operation: $10,000 (and 2 weeks), or
that is, any features that don’t require bone or $20,000 (and 4 weeks) to combine Mute with
nervous system alterations – are $5,000 (and 1 Voice as described above. Reversing the effects
week) each. A set of related modifications (e.g., of a xeno-voice box operation takes the same
giving someone rabbit ears, buck teeth and a but- time and cost as the original procedure. A person
ton nose) is $10,000 (and 2 weeks). Altered can also be surgically rendered Mute with no
facial bone structure, like an animal-like jaw or ability to make sounds; this can be done quite
muzzle, or modifications to skull shape, in con- safely at TL6, and is $500 (and 1/2 week). LC 4.
junction with any desired cosmetic features, is
$30,000 (and 3 weeks).
Most changes to features like the eyes or
Eros Plus (TL9)
nose do not improve senses – they are cosmetic With the new Eros Plus, you and your part-
only. (Due to the need to modify the brain as ner can climb undreamt-of peaks of sensual plea-
well as the sense organs themselves, improve- sure! Let our trained biotechs improve on
ments to senses require either cybernetics or bio- nature’s gifts. Available for all sexes.
nanotech.) The exception is large ears, which can – Novabody: Nirvana is Now
give Acute Hearing +1 (2 points) due to the fun-
neling of sound, cumulative with any other Statistics: Your erogenous zones are twice as
bonuses. sensitive to pleasurable stimulation as an ordi-
For claws, sharp teeth and so on, see nary person’s. This can be enjoyable, but you are
Xenostriker Grafts (p. 66). Adding a small -4 to resist Interrogation or Fast-Talk during such
patch of fur or feathers (e.g., to the scalp or activity. The net cost is 0 points. This biomod
ears) is a “minor cosmetic change.” For full- can be addictive. For the first 1d months after it
body fur, scales and so on, see Skin is added, the GM can require a Will roll to avoid
Transformation Virus (p. 78). A bunny tail or a acquiring the disadvantage Lecherousness (-15
non-functional tail that simply hangs there is a points).
minor cosmetic modification; a tail with bone Operation: $5,000 (and 2 weeks). LC 5.

64 BIOMODS
Transplants Rejection and Immunosuppression
Need a new or better body part? Why not just graft one on? Rejection is a risk when using transplants that are neither
Transplants aren’t new technology. The first successful from a donor who’s the clone or identical twin of the recipient
organ transplant occurred in 1954, when a man with failing kid- nor vat-grown. The danger can be reduced by using genetic tests
neys received a transplant from his twin brother. (Kidneys come to find donor tissue that more closely matches the recipient
in pairs, so it’s possible to give one up for a transplant and still (mid-TL7); if genetically-matched tissue is unavailable, then the
survive.) A twin was needed because of the major difficulty of recipient should only accept tissue from a donor of the same
transplant operations: tissue rejection. blood type. Use of donated tissue is usually combined with a
Rejection occurs when the body’s proteins work together cocktail of drugs used to suppress the patient’s immune system
with antibodies to destroy foreign tissue, treating it as an invad- long enough for the transplant to become part of the body.
ing organism. The result is an inflammatory response, infection Check for tissue rejection mid-way through the recovery period.
and possible death if the transplant is not removed. The best Rejection is automatic if the donor and recipient have dif-
way to fool the immune system is to have tissue that is geneti- ferent blood types. Otherwise, a HT roll must be failed to avoid
cally identical. In nature, this means tissue from a twin. rejection. Modify the patient’s HT (for this roll only) as follows:
Since few people have identical twins willing to donate +5 if no tissue matching was performed; +2 if a xenotransplant
their organs, tissue from non-genetically-identical sources is (p. 66). If the recipient has Panimmunity or is Disease-Resistant,
usually used instead, and immune response is suppressed with his bonuses to resist disease add to HT; if he has Immunity to
drugs. In the future (late TL8+), “blank mind” clones may be Disease (or level 3 Panimmunity), add +10. A regimen of
grown and used as donors – see Clones as Spare Parts (p. 17). immunosuppressant drugs (available from late TL7 on) gives
A more practical alternative is to grow individual body the patient -TL to HT on the roll for tissue rejection and halves
parts – see Vat-Grown Organs and Parts (p. 17). These may (round down) bonuses for Panimmunity, Disease-Resistant or
also be genetically altered, so that modified body parts can be Immunity to Disease. However, this also leaves the patient vul-
grown and harvested. Such “biomod transplants” may serve nerable to new or existing infections – he gains the Weak
as the organic equivalent of cyberwear. It may also prove pos- Immune System disadvantage (p. CI85) for half again the dura-
sible to modify animals (such as pigs) to grow tissue – see tion of the recovery period after the transplant, which may
Chapter 4. require rolls to avoid catching a disease.
Effects of Rejection: Success on this HT roll means that
rejection starts about halfway into the recovery period. The
The Transplant Procedure patient must make a HT roll (HT-2 if a vital organ is being
rejected) every day, or lose 1 hit (1d hits on a critical failure).
Before a biomod transplant can get underway, the surgeon
Don’t apply any of the modifiers listed above to HT. The risk of
must have the limb or organ that is to be transplanted. Each
rejection damage continues until the implant or transplant is
organ or limb transplant has a listed “time to grow” in weeks.
removed or he dies. Removal requires an operation identical to
This assumes the biomod is custom-grown in a forced-growth
the original, but is easier (add +2 to skill). If a vital organ is
tank (p. 19) using samples from the subject’s cells. If forced-
removed, the patient must be placed on life support until an
growth technology does not exist, read “weeks” as “months.”
organic or bionic replacement can be found.
There may be faster ways to get a biomod body part. Some
companies resell “used” (salvaged or repossessed) body parts,
often on the black market. These can be purchased with no wait-
ing period, but as they are not tissue-matched, there’s a danger
Medical Transplants (TL7/8)
of rejection – see below. These are transplants of ordinary, unmodified organs, per-
The prices given for the transplant procedures in this chap- formed for therapeutic reasons: to replace organs that are degen-
ter include the cost of growing or otherwise purchasing the body erating or non-functional due to old age, disease or injury.
part as well as the operation itself, with one-third of the cost
being the cost of growing the part and the remaining two-thirds Therapeutic? Sure. But you can also use an eye transplant
representing the cost of the operation. Most transplant providers to change your retina print. Even saw one guy who grafted on a
require advance payment before they will begin growing a new hand so he could get past a palm-print scanner.
transplant. – Streethawk, alt.bio.samurai.upgrade.
Once it’s ready, the biomod can be attached immedi-
ately. Use the rules under Surgery Skill Rolls (p. 61). The
patient must rest and recuperate afterward, and each pro-
cedure has a listed recovery time. If the transplant came
from a non-identical donor (i.e., not a clone, twin or vat),
then there will be a risk of tissue rejection – see Rejection
and Immunosuppression (below) for the dangers and
effects.
A biomod organ or limb can be stored until it’s con-
venient, with the operation being performed and paid for
at a later date. Similarly, if a group of cyberpunks were to
salvage an organ from a body, they’d pay two-thirds as
much. If they performed the operation themselves, they’d
pay only one-third cost. If they did both, the process
would be free.

BIOMODS 65
 Statistics: Replaces a body
part. At the GM’s discretion, Medical Xenotransplants (TL7/8)
replacing 1-3 major organs can These were begun experimentally at late TL7 (circa 1992)
possibly cure or arrest some dis- and become reliable by TL8. The goal is to replace a dying
eases or terminal illnesses, or human organ, such as an infected liver, with that of an animal
restore some or all ST or HT lost anatomically and genetically close to humanity, such as a
to aging, disease or radiation. baboon.
Operation: If vat-grown, 6 Medical xenotransplants are used for two reasons: First,
weeks to grow. Sample costs and they serve as a substitute for human organs that may be in short
recovery times for transplants: supply. Second, if the patient’s organs are failing due to an
$3,000 (and 2 weeks) for a minor infectious disease, the disease is less likely to “cross species”
part like an ear or finger, $7,500 and reinfect the new organ than it would were cloned or foreign
(and 4 weeks) for a liver, kidney human tissue used. In such cases, a xenotransplant may not only
or genitals; $15,000 (and 8 weeks) repair damage but also cure the disease (this should require a
for an arm, eye, foot, hand, heart, HT roll, at a penalty depending on the disease).
leg or lung. LC 6. Medical xenotransplants can be used to replace damaged or
If vat-grown organs are failing organs at 75% of the price of an ordinary therapeutic
unavailable (or the patient doesn’t organ transplant and with no waiting period. Careful screening
want to wait for them to grow), of the animal donor is performed to ensure it is healthy.
donated organs may be used.
They have the same prices, but
there will be a chance of tissue Cat’s Eye Transplant (TL8)
rejection (p. 65). Such organs may It’s cheaper and snazzier than a cybernetic eye, although it
be in short supply, with a black does look a bit obvious, especially in dim light when it glitters.
market that provides them to the ’Course, it can’t be upgraded.
rich or desperate. See The Organ – Streethawk, alt.bio.upgrade.samurai
Trade (p. 129) for possibilities.
For another option, see Medical Statistics: Night Vision (10 points). A set of feline eye
Xenotransplants (below). transplants may count as an Unnatural Feature (-5 points). There
is a -2 to Vision rolls unless both eyes are modified.
Brain Transplant (TL8) Operation: $5,000 per eye (6 weeks to grow, 8 weeks to
recover). Only a week of bed rest is needed, but the user will
At late TL8, it becomes possible to transplant a person’s be blind in the transplanted eye until the full time has elapsed.
entire brain and much of their spinal cord into a whole new LC 5.
body. Since brain cells don’t regenerate, this isn’t actual immor-
tality, but it can extend the lifespan.
Statistics: The GM should “set the clock back” on any
physical attributes (not IQ) lost to age, restoring them to the
Xenostriker Grafts (TL8)
My kid sister runs with the Unicorns, a gang of biopunks
level appropriate for that person at his new age. Optionally, the and genehackers down at the Cloisters. Vicious in a rumble, but
GM may charge him the character points for the improvement, real twisted – who else would be crazy enough to clone up nar-
just as though improved stats were being bought normally. If whal fetuses and transplant the horn buds into their foreheads?
brain transplants are likely, the GM may want to keep separate – Streethawk, alt.bio.upgrade.samurai.
track of the brain’s age (which will control the frequency of
rolls for IQ loss due to aging) and the body’s age (which con- Statistics Select any striker from the Xeno-Anatomy table
trols aging losses of ST, DX and HT). (p. 50). Claws, sharp claws, talons and sharp teeth are
Operation: $50,000 (and 8 weeks to recover). There is no retractable or concealable. The others are obvious, and also
need to grow an organ, since an existing brain is used. If trans- count as -5-point Unnatural Features if exotic biomods are
planting a brain into a person other than the original host, treat it uncommon. Before the operation, the claws, talons, horn buds
as a braintape transfer to a different body for its effect (see or tooth buds must be acquired.
Braintaping, p. 116). Brain transplants are LC 6. Operation: Costs $5,000 × (TL-7), where “TL” is the mini-
mum TL required for gengineering the same advantage. 6 weeks
Xenotransplants (TL7/8) to grow, 3 weeks to recover. LC 5.

A xenotransplant involves grafting non-human tissue onto

the human body. This tissue may come from an animal or be Tail Grafts (TL10)
vat-grown. One difficulty with xenotransplants is that the I’m always excited by Lee Pong’s creations, but this time
immune response to non-human tissue is somewhat different he’s outdone himself: The Novabody fall collection is stunning
from that to foreign human tissue. As a result, different drugs in its simplicity, and getting transrock diva Lyla Feng to model
are needed to suppress immune responses, and the risk is slightly was a stroke of genius! Isn’t her new tail just darling?
increased; see Rejection and Immunosuppression (p. 65). – Noriko Hayakawa, host of Cyberia Beat.

66 BIOMODS
 Statistics: Any of the tail types described under Operation: $2,000 per character point it costs, with a mini-
Gengineered Tails (p. 40) can be vat-grown and then transplant- mum of $5,000 (6 weeks to grow, 2 weeks recovery). LC 6.
ed. If biomods of this sort are unusual, a tail may be also qualify
as an Unnatural Feature (-5 points).
Operation: This costs $25,000 × (TL-8), where “TL” is the Auxiliary Heart (TL9)
minimum TL required for gengineering that type of tail. Thus, a “She’s not dead, damn it! Feel that slow heartbeat on the
prehensile tail (TL10) would cost $50,000. All tails take 3 right side of her chest? Her auxiliary heart just kicked in. It’s
weeks to grow before the transplant. Recovery time is 4 weeks smaller than her main heart, but it should keep the blood flow-
for prehensile or scorpion tails, 2 weeks for ordinary tails. Tails ing to her brain and lungs until we can medevac her.”
are LC 5, except for scorpion tails which are LC 3. – Lt. Dana Martello, Marine Force Recon, mission data log
upload
Tentacle Transplant (TL12) Statistics: Extra Hit Points +2 (10 points) and Hard to Kill
Okay, it’s a gene-altered transplant. What I want to know
+3 (15 points). 25 points.
is, what kind of thing they transplanted it from? I mean, does
Operation: $75,000 (6 weeks to grow, 8 weeks recovery).
that black clinic have a basement with some sort of stunted
LC 6.
octopoid/human hybrid floating in a growth tank?
– Streethawk, alt.bio.upgrade.samurai

“Oui. Some of our customers, they have odd tastes.”

Bio-Booster (TL9)
Spring into battle with the Cheetah bio-booster! New from
– M. Madeleine Rouge, the Clinic Rouge VeldtKorp’s ace Johannesburg design bureau, the “Cheetah”
adrenal pump is designed to store up and voluntarily release
Statistics: Tentacles can replace one or both arms. If just abnormal levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline in emergen-
one of a person’s arms is a tentacle, this is Extra Flexibility (5 cies, supercharging you in situations where seconds mean lives.
points, p. CI55); if all arms are tentacles, they have Extra Currently under evaluation by South African, Nigerian and
Flexibility (10 points). Israeli special forces, the VeldtKorp Cheetah epitomizes cut-
Operation: $50,000 per arm replaced by a tentacle (6 weeks ting-edge combat biomods at a price that can’t be beaten by
to grow, 8 weeks recovery). first-world mega-korps!
Warning: Use of the Cheetah for extended periods is sug-
Biomod Organ Transplants (TL8) gested only for those in good health and with normal blood
pressure. We also recommend a VeldtKorp Pacesetter or other
These are transplants of completely new or modified inter- boosted heart.
nal organs. They’ve been grown from gengineered clones or in – VeldtKorp advertisement
special organ vats, then harvested to be ready for transplant.

Eye Upgrade (TL8) “I had a friend who got a Cheetah. Worked fine until he got
into a drawn-out fire fight in Kabul. Then his heart exploded.
If your eye offends thee, pluck it out and get a better one. Guess he should have gone easy on that cholesterol.”
Biomod ears or noses aren’t something you can really graft on – Captain (ret.) Dana Martello, Marine Force Recon
and hope for anything other than a cosmetic change, due to a
lot of the processing being wetware – i.e., in the brain – but Statistics: Hyper-Reflexes and Hyper-Strength, both with
since we’re better wired to handle enhanced visual input, and Cardiac Stress, -40% (see p. 137). 27 points.
most of an eye’s modifications are in the rod and cone cells, Operation: $27,000 (4 weeks to grow, 2 weeks recovery).
they’re fairly easy to improve though transplants. Mind you, you LC 5.
can’t get something exotic like infravision unless you want to
mess with nanoviruses and stuff – cyber’s much easier there.
– Streethawk, alt.bio.samurai.upgrade Boosted Heart (TL9)
Why stick with what nature gave you? VeldtKorp’s
Statistics: Cures Blindness (for 50 points), or Bad Sight, Pacesetter transplant features genemod muscle tissue and modi-
Color Blindness, Night Blindness or No Depth Perception (for fied ventricle construction for greater strength and longer
10 points each). Can add Acute Vision up to +(TL-6), to a maxi- endurance. Say goodbye to cardiac unrest with VeldtKorp’s
mum of +5 (2 points/level). It will also alter the retina print, per- Pacesetter!
haps to match another person’s. – VeldtKorp advertisement

BIOMODS 67
 Fine if you want to undergo heart surgery just to get a few about smoking six packs a day. ’Course, that’s nothing – I hear
minor improvements, but I must say I’m personally a teeny bit Navy SEALS have gills these days.
skeptical. I’d suggest waiting until Biotech Euphrates develops – Captain (ret.) Dana Martello, Marine Force Recon
the nanosurgeons to do the modifications without cutting you
open. A little bird tells me they’re working on it in their Cairo Hyper-Lungs comes in both civilian and military (“mil-
facility right about now. spec”) models.
– Chance Mackintosh, Posthuman Consumer Review Statistics: Breath-Holding 1 (2 points), Extra Fatigue +2 (6
points) for 8 points. Milspec model adds Filter Lungs (5 points)
Statistics: HT +1 (cost varies), Extra Fatigue +1 (3 points), and cost 13 points.
Hard to Kill +1 (bonus also applies to Aging rolls and to any Operation: $16,000, or $26,000 if milspec (6 weeks to
rolls made to avoid heart attacks; e.g., from electric shocks or grow, 8 weeks recovery). LC 6.
the Cardiac Stress limitation; +20%, 6 points). Costs 9 points,
plus the cost of +1 HT. Pay for that like any improvement in
HT, except that the doubled cost for increasing HT after initial
Liver Upgrade (TL9)
character creation does not apply. The liver is a chemical factory and purification system
Operation: $28,000 (6 weeks to grow, 8 weeks recovery). where enzymes restructure molecules into substances useful to
the body, and in which detoxification of harmful substances
High-Efficiency Kidney (TL9) occurs. “Team Babylon,” led by Dr. Sayyid Iqbal, is proud to
announce that we have once again improved upon nature. Enjoy
Planning to live as a drylander? You can’t always depend faster and safer metabolization with Biotech Euphrates’ new
on canteens – even the best vapor models can malfunction, forc- liver upgrade!
ing you to rely on stored water. So be safe rather than sorry, – Biotech Euphrates press release
and conserve water the natural way, using a High-Efficiency
Water-Cycle Kidney, from Colonial Genetics. “One of my best hoverjocks had a drinking problem. His
– Colonial Genetics advertisement own business, until he smashed up the rig and lost me six pharm
goats worth sixty grand. So I said if he wanted to keep working
The kidneys filter everything out of the blood and then for me and wouldn’t get a rehab chip, maybe he should make an
selectively reabsorb those substances that your body needs, appointment with Dr. Iqbal.”
while excreting waste material into the urine. There’s some – Eden Harrier, Harrier Import/Exports
waste in the cycle, though, so this modification super-concen-
trates your urine to reclaim as much water as
Statistics: Alcohol Tolerance (5 points) and
possible. Never used one in the desert, but it made
Resistant to Poison (5 points). 10 points.
long road trips a lot more comfortable.
Operation: $20,000 (6 weeks to grow, 4
– Copernicus Jones, Roughing it on Mars.
weeks recovery). LC 6.
Statistics: Decreased Life Support (half nor-
mal water requirement, use bathroom half as often,
10 points).
Perfume Glands (TL9)
New from body designer Lee Pong, with
Operation: $20,000 (6 weeks to grow, 4 chemical coding by Medea Cosmetics. Perfume
weeks recovery). LC 6. your bodily excretions with a neutral deodorant,
or produce one of a half-dozen musks and fra-
Hyper-Lungs (TL9) grances (custom-selected when the glands are
Gain the stamina of an Olympic athlete with ordered).
Colonial Genetics’ new Marathon-series aug- – Noriko Hayakawa, host of Cyberia Beat
mented lung transplants! Specially strengthened
with extra gas-exchange efficiency, human trials Statistics: Generic +1 reaction (Scent-based,
have demonstrated a substantial increase in -20%, 4 points). With a second of concentration,
breath-holding capacity and a boost to overall the user can change between the perfume or
stamina. Perfect for outdoor sports and activities, deodorant, or if desired, go back to his own, nat-
the Marathon is the lung of choice among aug- ural body odor (but an earlier choice will linger
mented professional lifeguards. Various models for several minutes). By changing his scent, the
available, with wide range of custom features. user can also confuse beings that rely heavily on
– Colonial Genetics press release their sense of smell for personal identification
and tracking prey – halve the normal bonus for
The last volume of Jane’s Combat Biomods Acute Taste and Smell or Discriminatory Smell
says the Marathon is standard-issue for the on rolls to identify or track. The effect on other
U.K.’s Royal Marines, with a few extra upgrades, species may be unpredictable!
like a filtration membrane. Now I know why Operation: $8,000 (4 weeks to grow, 2 days
Brigadier Lisa Rutherford-Hodge was so blase recovery). LC 6.

68 BIOMODS
 surgery are used to create new nerve connections
Spleen Augmentation (TL9) that enable the modified limbs to be used.
Fresh out of Exon-Horizon’s Barcelona Statistics: These are based on the genemods
genetics lab comes the augmented macrospleen: described under Morphological Changes (p. 39).
An integral part of the body’s defense mecha- Both legs or feet can be replaced with altered
nisms has been further modified to produce limbs (see Modified Limbs, p. 39) and arms can
enhanced versions of disease-fighting white blood be replaced with gengineered wings (see Arms to
cells! Enjoy a longer and healthier life with Exon- Wings, p. 41). The statistics and point costs are
Horizon biotechnology. as described in Chapter 2; the genetically-engi-
neered body parts take 6 weeks to grow.
Operation: This costs $50,000 × (TL-7),
– Exon-Horizon press release

Statistics: Disease-Resistant (5 points) and where “TL” is the minimum TL required for the
Longevity (5 points). 10 points. gengineering. Thus, prehensile toes (TL9) would
Operation: $20,000 (3 weeks to grow, 4 cost $100,000. Recovery time is 8 weeks.
weeks recovery). LC 6.

Super-Pheromone Glands (TL9) Polykeratin Grafts (TL11)

Polykeratin is a form of synthetic, vat-grown,
When Colonel Chang enters the room, all biomimetic bone, cartilage or muscle tissue,
heads turn to look at her, and we hang on her based on sensa-skin (p. UT95), bioplastic (p.
every word. It isn’t just her fine aristocratic fea- UT17) and memory plastic (p. UTT18) technolo-
tures, or the black and silver uniform of Special gy.
Projects. It’s something else, a natural air of Sometimes described as “memory tissue,”
command, even of awe, that she projects to all polykeratin cells can “remember” a second
those around her. shape, and switch between shapes upon receiv-
– Ensign Chun Yuan, war diary. ing certain muscular signals (which depend on
the graft). Polykeratin implants permit a limited
“The Overlord-series super-pheromone form of flesh-morphing – an individual with one
gland has performed admirably in all test sub- will have the ability to alter a particular body
jects, releasing controlled amounts of synthetic part between two specific, different forms.
pheromones via the sweat glands. These are tailored to induce Polykeratin grafts are treated as surgery. They have no
states in human or near-human metabolisms that correlate not chance of rejection, but (unlike sensa-skin) are not removable
merely with attraction, as in early pheromone gland designs, without surgery.
but also dominance and awe. Obvious applications are in intel-
ligence-gathering operations and command and control.”
– Dr. Tse Chang, Special Projects Division
Arm Blade (TL11)
Macrotech Biocybernetics’ weapons division is proud to
Statistics: Charisma +4 (Scent-based, -20%; no effect on announce the arrival of our latest polykeratin combat implant!
non-humans, -5%; 15 points) plus Pheromone Control (25 Clench your fist while extending your index finger, and your
points). 40 points. forearm morphs into a lethal, serrated fighting blade! Perfect
Operation: $40,000 (4 weeks to grow, 1 week recovery). for situations where guns are illegal, but a blade is too inconve-
LC 3. nient or obvious to carry.
Option: Allow pheromone glands that produce the – Macrotech advertisement
Charisma bonus (15 points, $15,000) or Pheromone Control (25
points, $25,000) but not both. Statistics: Long Talons with +1 reach (Takes Extra Time:
two seconds to transform arm or turn back, -10%; Nuisance
Effect: One Hand while transformed, -15%; 45 points).
Limb Replacement Transplants (TL9) Operation: This is a single arm replacement transplant.
$45,000 (4 weeks to grow, 8 weeks recovery). LC 3.
Avatar Klusterkorp knows true belters and voidflyers
agree: In zero-G, feet are dead mass. If you’re a spacer who’s
vowed to never get sucked down a gravity well again, you owe it Battle Jaw (TL11)
to yourself to replace both feet with another pair of hands! “You can’t take any weapons into Darkside Arcology –
Modified joints and digitigrade morphology allow knees to dou- their security is too good. But we can transform you into a
ble as elbows for these fully-prehensile feet, while cutting-edge weapon, agent Yukio. We’ll replace your jaw with a polykeratin
neurotransmitter injections ensure trouble-free nerve connec- graft. Bite your tongue and grin – that signals the implant. Your
tion. Reject dirt-mode vestigals for post-human morphs now! jaw and face will morph into a battle jaw that you can extend
– Avatar Klusterkorp promotion out like an egg-eating snake. This should impress those down-
siders and give you an inroad with the Cthulhugangs.”
Gengineered arms, legs, hands or feet can be grown to – Dr. Mara Omokage, Omokage Labs
replace the body’s own limbs. The original limbs are surgically
amputated, then modified limbs are grafted onto the stumps. If the Statistics: Fangs with +1 reach (Takes Extra Time: two sec-
subject intends to return the limbs to normal later on, the amputat- onds to transform jaw or turn back, -10%; Nuisance Effect:
ed limbs can be preserved for potential reattachment, saving the Mute and Monstrous while transformed -50%; 6 points).
time required to grow new ones. Nanomachines and neural Operation: $24,000 (2 weeks to grow, 3 weeks recovery).

BIOMODS 69
LC 4.
Polykeratin Disguise (TL11) Sensa-Skin Grafts (TL11)
“Connective tissue throughout your body, and particularly Sensa-skin is artificial, vat-grown living tissue with an
your face, stomach and chest, has been partially replaced by affinity for living flesh. Sensa-skin placed in extended contact
multiple polykeratin grafts and sub-dermal inflatable pouches. with flesh will actually grow into it over time. Sensa-skin makes
With the proper exercises and biofeedback regime, these will biomod transplants simpler and safer, due to its unique ability to
enable you to vary your apparent shape and bulk, and hold this bond with living flesh.
appearance for a short period of time. Additional modifications The effects of Altered Appearance (p. 61), Altered Bulk (only
to your spinal discs allow voluntary compression for a 5% to gain in bulk; p. 62), Extreme Sexual Dimorphism (p. 62),
decrease or 2% increase in height. The polykeratin implants Sex Change (Full Cosmetic or Superficial; p. 62), Skin
have been supplemented by chameleon-like responsive chro- Transformation Virus (p. 78) and Xenosculpting (p. 64) can all be
matophores in all surface tissues, which can slowly alter pig- produced through sensa-skin at TL11+. Treat these as normal sur-
mentation, while your altered hair cells can stiffen or lie flat, gical or transplant procedures, except that there is no “surgery” as
varying apparent length.” such – the sensa-skin is simply carefully attached. There is no
– Dr. Mara Omokage, Omokage Labs need to wait to grow transplants, no chance of rejection and no
recovery time. The application time for a pre-designed sensa-skin
graft is one hour for every week that a normal transplant or
“So, basically, I can look like someone else. But not for surgery would require to recover from. All sensa-skin grafts can
very long.” be removed without surgery up to HT×3 hours after the operation
– Agent Yukio takes place, using the same procedure; after that they are perma-
nently attached and would require surgery to remove.
Statistics: Elastic Skin (Costs Fatigue, 1 point/minute, -5%, For more uses of sensa-skin, see pp. UT95-96.
19 points). At TL12+, Elastic Skin (20 points) that can hold a
shape indefinitely is possible.
Operation: This is treated as surgery. $200,000 (and 8
weeks recovery) for TL11 type, twice that for TL12. LC 4.
Neurosurgery
Surgical modifications to the brain and central nervous sys-
tem may be performed for non-therapeutic reasons, either to
Quadragraft (TL11) enhance the way the brain functions, or more commonly, as a
form of behavior modification. If neurosurgery is performed on
Macrotech Biocybernetics is happy to present the next in its
series of polykeratin implants. Designed for the colonial and someone with the Compartmentalized Mind advantage, the GM
street markets, our transplant techs will replace your arms and should decide whether it will only affect one “compartment” or
legs with patented polykeratin limb grafts. When triggered, your the entire mind. In general, a neurosurgeon who is unaware of
legs become digitigrade (like a dog’s) while your hands trans- the subject’s ability will only be able to affect one of the com-
form into walking paws. Why walk the dog when you can run partments.
with him? Perfect for high-speed scouting and wilderness fun.
Enjoy posthuman thrills with Macrotech Polykeratin!
– Macrotech advertisement
Prefrontal Lobotomy (TL6)
This radical procedure involves destroying the prefrontal
lobe of the brain, which generates certain aggressive tendencies.
My last Earthside hunt was for the killer of two of our mis- Statistics: Prefrontal Lobotomy disadvantage (-15 points).
sionaries, who had been torn apart. I suspected a psycho killer, IQ will also drop by 2 (cost varies). See p. CI93 for other game
but I must say I was caught by surprise when my quarry trans- effects.
formed into a werebeast. It was an interesting fight. After I ana- Operation: $2,000 (and 1 week). LC 4.
lyzed the remains, it turned out he had a polykeratin battle jaw
and some of that high biotech fur. It’s amazing the kind of con-
traband that gets through our blockade.
Killjoy (TL7/8)
– Tisephone Logos, >warangel>heavenweb>solnet This procedure burns out or removes the brain’s pleasure
center, usually via microsurgery.
Statistics: Extra Legs (4 legs) plus Enhanced Move Statistics: Someone who undergoes a Killjoy should replace
(Running) 2, both with Takes Extra Time: two seconds, -10% any disadvantages that drive him to seek physical pleasure (e.g.,
and Nuisance Effects: Horizontal and No Fine Manipulators, Compulsive Carousing, Lecherousness) with the Killjoy disad-
-40%. 13 points. vantage (-15 points), and pay off any point difference. See p.
Operation: $65,000 (4 weeks to grow, 8 weeks recovery). CI91 for other game effects.
This includes four replacement limb transplants. LC 5. Operation: $8,000 (and 1/2 week). LC 4.

70 BIOMODS
 two hours on the activity. He becomes Single-Minded while
Brain Tissue Graft (TL8) doing so (+3 to skill if concentration is required). Missing the
Extra brain tissue is grafted onto the frontal lobes to hotshotted activity causes withdrawal. Point cost is variable:
increase the brain’s surface area. The skull is slightly surgically hotshotting may be worth 0 points if the hotshotted activity is
enlarged to accommodate the additional grey matter. Exhaustive something useful, such as a socially-acceptable profession; oth-
brain monitoring and therapy are used to ensure the smooth inte- erwise, it tends to be as self-destructive as any drug addiction –
gration of the brain tissue into the cerebrum and prevent the treat as a cheap, highly-addictive drug (-10 points).
impairment of existing cognitive functions. Continued positive reinforcement will usually cause a hot-
Statistics: Adds +1-2 to IQ (pay for it normally, except that shotted person to develop other disadvantages closely related to
the doubled cost for increasing IQ after initial character creation the focus of his hotshot. This is usually Compulsive Behavior,
does not apply). The bulging forehead is an Unnatural Feature but other disadvantages may be appropriate: Bad Temper (if
(-5 points). If the brain tissue was a transplant from a person (as hotshotted toward combat activity), Lecherousness (if a sex hot-
opposed to vat-grown tissue), there’s a 1 in 6 chance that a few shot) or Workaholic (if the hotshot is related to his job).
“memories” of the original donor may survive. This is reflected A hotshot may also have tertiary effects, at the GM’s dis-
by giving the recipient 1d points worth of the donor’s skills, cretion. Within months of hotshotting, some personalities may
plus the Flashbacks disadvantage (p. CI90). Brain tissue trans- eat less (losing any Fat or Overweight disadvantages and even-
plants from psis may also grant half the psi power of the donor. tually becoming Skinny), neglect grooming (lowering
Operation: $20,000 (2 weeks recovery). Even generic brain Appearance) or talk of nothing but their hotshotted activity
tissue grafts won’t be attacked by the immune system (due to (Odious Personal Habit).
the blood-brain barrier). However, the difficulty of assimilating Operation: $10,000 (and 1 day). LC 4.
new brain matter means de facto rejection is possible – make a Note: This greatly expands on the existing rules for hotshot-
HT-1 roll to avoid it (HT+2 if using fetal brain tissue), with fail- ting (p. CY17). GMs who prefer the original rules are free to
ure resulting in -1 IQ per point the roll failed by. Critical failure continue using them!
causes death within 1d days. LC 5.
Psychosurgery (“Deadheading”) (TL8)
Hotshotting (TL8) Prison? Don’t be a fool. In our country, we don’t have
political prisoners, just sick people who need to be cured. Now
“Your daughter is having trouble with her mathematics
program? She spends all her time in parties, with her boyfriend lie down here and we’ll hook you up to the holographic brain-
or living sensies? Perfectly understandable. These activities are scan. I’ll ask you a series of questions. Won’t talk? Don’t
more pleasurable to her, you see. But we at the Clinic Rouge worry. We can measure your neurological responses, and we’ll
can repair that for you. We will simply rewire her pleasure cen- know exactly which area of the brain to . . . Hold him, nurse!
ter to that part of her brain that governs mathematical and ana- No, I’m not going to “cut” your brain. We once used laser or
lytical activity. As long as your daughter is working on such meson beam cauterization, but we’ve progressed far beyond
problems, she will be excited, even aroused, as if she were with that. I’ll inject cellular microsurgeons, which will operate on
a lover, or eating chocolate. Sign this consent form, and our certain areas of your brain. Your fanatical obsessions will be
operatives will pick her up after school.” cured for good. You’ll become a normal, productive citizen. It’s
– M. Madeleine Rouge, the Clinic Rouge quite painless, and you won’t feel a thing. Never, ever again.
– Dr. Tse Chang, transcript of psychosurgery session
This is a specialized form of psychosurgery. You can get A psychosurgical (“deadheading”) procedure selectively
hotshots for almost anything: cooking, washing dishes, sports, obliterates a tiny area of the brain via micro- or nanosurgery. It
fighting, even netrunning. They monitor you and find the deep is similar to a lobotomy, but orders of magnitude more precise,
structures laid down in the brain as you do things. The result’s enough that it is useful for both behavior modification and ther-
the ultimate in positive reinforcement. Existing reinforcers like apy.
sex or eating can be hotshotted to make them even more plea- Statistics: Deadheading can produce a wide variety of
surable, too. Heck, half the hookers on the strip are sex hot- effects, depending on the surgeon’s skill and desires.
shots, so their pimps don’t even have to buy ’em drugs. I’ve It can destroy any of these advantages: Absolute Direction,
heard some korps will pay an employee a bonus if he agrees to Absolute Timing, Alertness, Ambidexterity, Charisma,
the procedure. Yep, hotshotting makes you happy, eager and Chronolocation, Combat Reflexes, Common Sense, Deep
more productive. It also makes you less human. Sleeper, Eidetic Memory, Empathy, Enhanced Time Sense,
– Professor C. Eric Gideon, sci.bio.posthuman.rant Intuition, Language Talent, Lightning Calculator, Literacy,
Mathematical Ability, Musical Ability, Pious, Rapier Wit,
Statistics: This is treated as an Addiction (p. B30) to the Sensie Talent, Sensitive, Strong Will, 3D Spatial Sense and
endorphins produced in the brain when the hotshot activity is Versatile. It can also lower IQ by up to three points. If Magery
performed. To get his daily fix, the character must spend at least or psionic powers are understood, it may remove them as well.
BIOMODS 71
 It can give someone mental disadvantages that represent the recovery). LC 5, or possibly lower if the daemon is dangerous
loss of mental faculties, including: Absent-Mindedness, or antisocial.
Amnesia, Callous, Cannot Learn, Chronic Depression, Clueless,
Combat Paralysis, Confused, Distractible, Dull, Dyslexia,
Gullibility, Hidebound, Illiteracy, Incompetence, Incurious,
Indecisive, Killjoy, Low Empathy, No Sense of Humor, Non-
Tissue Engineering
Tissue engineering consists of surgically implanting syn-
Iconographic,Obdurate, Oblivious, On the Edge, Short
Attention Span, Staid and Weak Will. thetic (but often organic) material to improve the functioning of
It can cure any mental disadvantages except those listed above, living organs, bones or muscles. Instead of replacing flesh the
Prefrontal Lobotomy and Unluckiness. Thus, it could be therapy, way bionics does, tissue engineering aims to enhance it.
removing a Delusion or Phobia. At TL9-10, this must be balanced Tissue engineering uses the rules under Surgery Skill Rolls
by adding a new disadvantage (or removing an existing advantage) (p. 61). As the tissue is synthetic, there is no chance of rejection
from the list above whose point total is worth at least half as much and no need to grow specialized tissues prior to implantation.
as the disadvantage cured. Thus, you could burn Fanaticism (-15 Half of the price buys the tissue, the other half the operation.
points) out of someone’s brain, but you might leave him Confused
(-10 points). At TL11+, deadheading is more precise – it can cure
mental disadvantages as above, but without replacing them with
Muscle Reinforcement (TL9)
“You wish to enhance your strength in a manner that leaves
others. Deadheading can also create targeted (but generalized) no visible traces? You have come to the right place, mon vieux: the
amnesia around specific memories and their associations. Clinic Rouge. Here, the finest nanobots will pleat high-strength
Operation: $1,000 times point change (1 day recovery), elastic fibers into the muscles of your body, using a protein macro-
minimum $10,000. Before psychosurgery can take place, exten- molecule that DuPont Orbital will release next month. Of course,
sive persona mapping is required, requiring a successful we have it now. The Clinic Rouge prides itself on being the cutting
Psychology roll and at least a day of monitoring the subject edge of black medicine.”
(reduce this to an hour at TL11+ and ignore it at TL13+). To – M. Madeleine Rouge, the Clinic Rouge
reverse deadheading, use a biomod or cyberwear that restores
(or neutralizes) the affected advantage or disadvantage. LC 4. “Aussie smuggler, name of Sally
Note: This greatly expands on the existing rules for dead- Strang – maybe you’ve seen her?
heading (p. CY18). GMs who prefer the original rules are free Tiny little redhead with cute braids,
to continue using them! ex-navy hoverjock. Well, we were
walking along the Tokyo waterfront,
Wetware Sub-Personality (TL11) eating squid and talking biz, when
200 kilos of Kobe beef starts hassling
People say I’m too careful, too honest, too soft. I admit I us. Meatboy puts his paws on Sal.
hate the sight of blood, and I’d rather err on the side of caution. Bad move. She grins, lifts him up and
So? It makes me human. But this was too important. The ELF sumoboy goes head-over-heels over
had the Lucifer Plague, and there were only two days left before the rail. Splash! Guess he hadn’t
their deadline. So before I led my team in, I had the GRA labs heard Sally’d gone to Marseille, got-
give me a new wetware sub-persona: the Executioner. ten her muscles done as well as her
– Tatiana Belenko, Genetic Regulatory Agency hair. The meatboy? Hey, you know
what Tokyo Bay’s like these days. The
A development of procedures to treat multiple personality bacteria ate him.”
disorder, this uses neurosurgical and RNA viral techniques to – Eden Harrier, Harrier Import/
construct a sub-personalty – or “inner daemon” – in the user’s Exports
mind. Unlike a Split Personality, this is under his conscious
control. Each daemon has its own set of attitudes, but each also Statistics: Select from +1 to +5
shares the original’s skills, memories and overall goals. ST (or double that if you have skele-
Statistics: Activating an inner daemon causes the user to tal strengthening, p. 81). Pay for it
lose all his normal mental disadvantages, as well as Charisma, like any improvement in ST, except
Collected, Common Sense, Composed, Cool, Cultural that the doubled cost for increasing
Adaptability, Fearlessness, Imperturbable, Single-Minded, ST after initial character creation
Strong Will and Unfazeable. However, any of those advantages, does not apply. Unlike a muscle
and any mental disadvantages, can be included in the wetware graft, weight and looks will not
sub-persona. It is possible to have an inner daemon that simply change when this process is used.
erases all mental disadvantages (“zen state”). The ST increase is cumulative with
An inner daemon takes four seconds of concentration to call other biotech-enhanced ST, but not
up (Takes Extra Time, -20%). It can only remain stable for an bionics. Optionally, characters who
hour or so every day (Limited Use, 1 hour/day, -40%), which is gained +3 to +5 ST from muscle
followed by reversion to the original personality, or a different reinforcement (or +6 to +10 ST,
one. Find the net change in the point value of the character that with skeletal strengthening) can take
was induced by the inner daemon. Then apply a -60% limitation the Unsupported Strength limitation
to this total to find the daemon’s point cost. (p. 138).
Operation: $4,000 times the total cost of all advantages and Operation: $10,000 times char-
absolute value of all disadvantages granted. No cost for erased acter point cost of the added ST
advantages or disadvantages. Minimum cost is $20,000 (1 day (and 3 weeks recovery). LC 5.

72 BIOMODS
Neural Augmentation (TL9) Anabolic Steroids (TL7)
Do you want to move faster than a jack rabbit These are the best-known strength-boosting
on amphetamines? We at Kerensky Labs recom- drugs, synthesized from the natural sex hormone
mend our Max-9 neural augmentation process, testosterone. They have a marked anabolic
which fuses adjacent nerve cells together to (growth-promoting) effect on muscle tissue, espe-
improve the diffusion of neurotransmitters across cially when taken in large doses. That’s why
synaptic junctions and enhance nerve impulse they’re so popular with athletes and body
transmission speed. To ensure optimum perfor- builders who wish to “bulk up” rapidly.
mance, we recommend periodic use of the neuro- Side effects? In spades. Initially, the only
transmitter hormone PK-28N (Pink Noise). effects may seem positive, but continued high
– Kerensky Labs advertisement doses of steroids have a “negative feedback” effect
on the body – it stops making some of its own hor-
They aren’t kidding. Crank yourself up with mones, since it’s getting them from outside. The
the old Max-9 and you move so fast your brain problems associated with prolonged steroid use
can’t handle it without some kind of help. I include sterility, aggression, muscle spasms and
w a s partnered with this ’Maxed-out Russkie pain, and in some cases, cancerous tumors. In
panzerbabe, name of Leona. Greased lightning – men, additional side effects include acne, balding,
or so I thought, until one day when she tripped in a shrinkage of the testicles and breast growth. In
fire fight and shot her foot off. Turned out she’d women, extra side effects are cessation of menstru-
run out of Pink Noise the day before. ation, body hair growth and development of a
– Streethawk, alt.bio.upgrade.samurai more masculine body shape and coarser voice.
To produce a change in strength, large doses
Statistics: Increased Speed +3 (75 points) and of anabolic steroids should be combined with
Total Klutz (p. CI82) unless a dose of drug PK- body-building exercises for a number of weeks
28N ($200/dose) is taken within the week equal to half the character points required to raise
(Mitigator limitation, p. 137; weekly, over ST by one. This produces these game effects:
$100/dose, -60%, -6 points). Costs 69 points. ST +1, HT -1, Extra Hit Points +1 and 3d+5
The Speed increase is cumulative with other lbs. weight increase (all muscle).
sources of this advantage, with the exception of In other words, while a person’s strength and
cyberwear that replaces the organic nervous system bulk increase, his overall ability to resist damage
with electronic systems. stays the same, and his general health declines, rep-
Operation: $330,000 (and 2 weeks), LC 4. resenting the progressive damage that steroids do to
Note: A user can eventually get used to the the body. Moreover, each time ST increases, make
Increased Speed, and buy off the Klutz disadvan- two rolls versus (the new) HT+2, one to avoid
tage using earned points. acquiring each of Bad Temper and Sterile. If the
steroid user has Average or better Appearance, also
roll vs. HT+2 to avoid the loss of one level; like-
Chemical Enhancements
“Ever try Adders? Cute, performance-enhanc-
wise, if the user has the Voice advantage, roll vs.
HT+2 to avoid losing that as well. Women roll to
avoid Appearance or Voice loss at HT, not HT+2.
ing drugs, but they’re pretty limited. Sure, they’ll The same program can be repeated over and
make you smarter or stronger for a few hours, but over again.
then it’s a big letdown. I mean, great for combat or Availability: An anabolic steroid program
acing a test, but that’s not much use if you’ve got a costs about $40 per week. As anabolic steroids
long-term project like a marathon or finishing your (for human use) are grey-market items, LC 5.
thesis, is it? But there’s some drugs out there that Example: Street samurai Gunther Chang (ST
can give you that kind of life-long boost you want. 13, HT 12) decides to increase ST to 14 via
‘Course, your life may not be that long, but at least steroids. Since the difference between ST 13 and
you’ll leave a good looking corpse.” 14 is 15 points, this will take him 15/2=7.5 weeks
– Genosibyl, alt.bio.upgrade.samurai and cost him $300. At the end of this time, Chang
will end up with ST 14 and HT 11/12. He must
GURPS Cyberpunk, Space and Ultra-Tech then roll vs. HT+2 (i.e., 13) to avoid gaining each
describe numerous drug treatments that can pro- of Sterility and Bad Temper, and losing a level of
duce short-term enhancements to human perfor- Appearance. He makes all three rolls – but if he
mance, such as Adders (p. UT97) or Memory-Beta keeps taking steroids, his HT will decline, mak-
(p. UT99). However, it’s also possible to get drugs ing it more likely that he will suffer these effects.
that trick the body into making permanent changes. It’s up to the GM whether characters should
A short selection of drugs of this sort is described pay character points if they increase ST via
below. Feel free to create more, using these as steroids. If so, the cost should be based on the net
inspiration – at TL8+, “designer drug” labs are change. For example, Chang’s ST gain is 15
capable of making a wide range of exotic chem! points, his HT loss is -10 points and his Extra Hit
Note: If drugs increase an attribute, the dou- Point is 5 points, for a total of 10 points. The GM
bled cost for increasing attributes after initial char- could either charge Chang 10 points, or simply
acter creation does not apply. raise his point total by that amount.

BIOMODS 73
Nootropic Drugs (TL7)
These are “smart drugs” (mostly experimental at TL7,
but widely available by TL8) – chemicals that enhance
brain performance. Most smart drugs were originally
designed to treat mental problems, repairing damage to the
brain caused by things like alcohol poisoning, stroke and
senility. They may also fight senility by clearing out cellu-
lar waste products, improving oxygen flow to the brain, or
neutralizing free radicals that interfere with brain function.
In healthy people, they can enhance the ability to grow
connections between neurons, improving the ability to
memorize (which is partially the process of setting up
these connections). Some nootropic drugs also increase
the levels of neurotransmitters that carry electrical signals
from neuron to neuron.
Late-TL7 smart drugs include piracetam, l-dopa and
vasopressin, among others. Most are delivered by pill or nasal This treatment gives +1 Extra Hit Point (maximum). It does
spray. Their long-term effectiveness in healthy people remains not increase ST, but does allow muscle grafting or reinforce-
controversial, but here’s a modest interpretation: For as long as ment to increase ST by two points more than the normal limit. It
the drug is taken daily, and for one day afterward, it allows one can also cure one point of ST or hit point loss due to bone
to buy the Mitigator limitation ($20/week, -65%; see p. 137) for degeneration in zero-G (see Musculo-Skeletal Modifications, p.
any of the following disadvantages: Absent-Mindedness, 42).
Confused, Distractible, Dull, Hidebound, Indecisive, Short Availability: $10,000 (and 2 weeks). Repeated treatments
Attention Span or Staid, and justifies buying off the disadvan- will not have any further benefits, except to cure further ST or
tage whenever the character has the points to do so. hit point losses due to decalcification.
In addition, if the GM feels it is realistic, a character can
buy more IQ, and the doubled cost for increasing IQ after initial
character creation will not apply. To do this he must take
Peter Pan Process (TL8)
“The Clinic Rouge does not advertise this service, but for a
nootropic drugs continuously (and since his last increase in IQ) regular client such as yourself, we will make an exception. Such
for at least as many weeks as the point difference between his a sweet child. How old is he? 11? 12? No, that is not too late –
current and new IQ; e.g., someone with IQ 10 would need 10 as long as he has not left puberty, the Peter Pan process can be
weeks of smart drugs before he could buy IQ 11 for 10 rather initiated. Simply put, our course of synthetic hormone therapy
than 20 points. Side effects are negligible, although hyperten- will ensure certain growth-controlling genes do not switch on.
sion and twitching sometimes occur. As long as treatments continue, he will never enter adolescence.
Availability: $20 per week. LC 5. Eternal youth? Do not mistake me, monsieur. This is not an
immortality process. Organs eventually fail, and after several
Bone Stimulation (TL8) decades, his skin will wrinkle under gravity’s tug, unless cos-
metics or bodysculpt are used. But for the next two or three
Make your bones stronger! This biochemical process stimu-
lates bone cell growth – I heard it’s a development of some of decades, he will be a young boy.”
the technologies the orbitals developed to replace bone decalci- – M. Madeleine Rouge, the Clinic Rouge
fication in zero-G, before they all got their genes twanked to
avoid such mundane problems. “We had the motel under surveillance for dust dealers
– Streethawk, alt.bio.samurai.upgrade when I spotted Mr. Suit heading for a room with a girl who defi-
nitely looked a few years pre-jail bait. Hooking’s legal in this
town, but not with kids. Looked like a righteous bust, so
I blew the door just in time to catch the Vice President of
AresKorp with his pants down. Bad move. Turns out lit-
tle Wendi is 26 years old. Now the D.A. says I’m facing
her lawsuit for false arrest and interfering with licensed
commerce, and the captain says AresKorp wants my
badge. I hate stunties.”
– Detective Cody Chase, Nevada PD

These drugs can be taken by anyone with the Youth

disadvantage, and effectively prevent that disadvantage
from being bought off. However, aging rolls will be
made.
Availability: The course of hormone treatment
requires $500 per month to “stunt” apparent age. LC 4.
Child actors, teenage gymnasts, male singers and others
may be stunted to lengthen their youthful careers, but
many legal systems consider “stunting” to be child
abuse.

74 BIOMODS
 stop growing, many cells switch off. While genetic engineering
Super-Steroids (late TL8) can be performed after the germinal stage, it’s trickier, because
Advanced protein engineering may produce performance- instead of working on a single cell, the body now has billions,
enhancing drugs with similar effects to anabolic steroids (p. 73), each with a different function.
but reduced risk. Genetic surgery cannot produce gross anatomical changes,
After taking super-steroids for half as many weeks as the but it may have subtle effects. For instance, it may alter the way
points required to increase ST by one, gain +1 ST and 3d+5 lbs. a certain hormone is produced, with a marked effect on the
weight. Then roll vs. HT. If the HT roll is a success, there are no recipient’s behavior. At late TL7, genetic surgery is usually
additional side effects. If the roll fails, the user loses one point used to replace defective or missing DNA sequences, repairing
of HT and gains one Extra Hit Point, much as with regular genes so that they can produce whatever missing enzymes or
steroids. If the HT roll is a critical failure (or, if female, any roll proteins caused a genetic disease. At TL8+, non-therapeutic
of 16+), the use also suffers any one of Bad Temper, Sterility, genetic surgery techniques may be developed.
loss of Appearance or loss of Voice, as described for regular Historically, genetic surgery experiments on humans began
steroids (p. 73). in the 1980s with “gene therapy.” Problems were encountered in
Availability: $100 per week. Cost is halved at TL9 and ensuring that the added gene properly interfaced with the body’s
again at TL10+. LC 5. If purchasing these on the street, be wary regulatory system – that is, that it switched on or off when it
of cheaper, old-style steroids with new labels. was supposed to – and it either failed to make the necessary pro-
GMs should usually charge character points for improve- teins or made too much of them. Today (1997), many of these
ment via super-steroids (minus any points lost to side effects). problems have been overcome.
One major genetic surgery technique is the cell transplant.
NERV (TL9) Cells are removed from the appropriate organ of the patient
(e.g., bone marrow cells, if trying to modify how blood is pro-
This drug chemically alters the neuro-endocrine system to duced). Gengineering techniques – usually tailored RNA viruses
improve reflexes and coordination. After taking NERV for half – are then used to introduce new genes into them, as described
as many weeks as the points required to increase DX by one, the in Chapter 1. These altered cells are reintroduced into the
user gains +1 DX. Then he must roll vs. HT. If successful, there patient, where they will hopefully thrive and replicate. At TL7,
are no side effects. If the roll fails, the user suffers one level of the subject is given drugs to help his body accept the new cells
Reduced Manual Dexterity (-3 points/level, p. CI83), as the drug (see Rejection and Immunosuppression, p. 65, for the effects).
increased overall reaction speed and agility but failed to make At TL8+, cell implants are encapsulated in a specialized mem-
the neural connections needed to improve fine motor coordina- brane that masks them from the immune system until they have
tion. If the roll was a critical failure, neural damage was inflict- become safely integrated into the body, while still allowing pro-
ed due to an accidental overdose, and (1d/2)+1 levels of teins to pass through – the advantage being that no immunosup-
Reduced Manual Dexterity are suffered instead of one level. pression treatments are needed. In some cases, the controlled
Availability: $2,000 per week. LC 5. “Street NERV,” at release of cells is orchestrated by biochips (p. 138).
half cost, is similar – but there is a -4 on the HT roll to avoid In some cases, actually removing cells to work on them
side-effects. may not be necessary, and a modified RNA virus can simply be
injected into the patient. This largely depends on how specific a

Genetic Surgery
Humans begin as single cell – a zygote – but as we grow out
change needs to be made, and how confident the genetic sur-
geons are in their ability to target the specific cells they want to
alter.
of the germinal stage, our cells differentiate. Every cell carries Genetic surgery processes have a listed cost and time. The
the full complement of genes, but it only uses some of them, required time is spent in a hospital facility. During this period,
depending on where it is in the body. This is what distinguishes genetic surgeons are taking cell samples, running tests, perform-
skin cells, brain cells, blood cells and so on. The function of the ing the actual RNA injections or cell transplants (often a series
genes in a cell may also change over time; for instance, after we of them), waiting for modified cells to replicate, observing the

BIOMODS 75
results, and taking any necessary corrective mea-
sures. The patient will be confined to bed (often Emotional Regulator (TL8)
with diagnostic sensors attached), but is conscious Get into too many bar fights? Suffer from poor
most of the time. impulse control? Then you’re the kind of personali-
So what can you do with genetic surgery? ty that can use a Jen-Goku Rage Damper! Unlike
Some of the many possible applications are cruder systems, this bio-implant doesn’t prevent
described below. you from feeling emotions. Instead, this cluster of
biochip-regulated cells is capable of sensing hor-
Gene Therapy (TL7/8) mones and follows them up with tailored enzymes
that cut them off at the pass.
If someone is born with faulty or missing – Jen-Goku Corporation advertisement
genes, the body may lack the capability to make
enzymes or other proteins that it needs. Depending “Joji ‘Madboy’ Saiko got one of these cell
on which genes are missing, this deficiency may transplants after his last assault conviction. Was it
cause a hereditary metabolic disease, such as cystic a court order? Not this time. The Oyabun’s deci-
fibrosis or hemophilia. There are almost 3,000 such sion. The Russki-Yakuza don’t admire a man with
genetic disorders. no self control. Besides, Jo had run out of little fin-
In fact, most humans and other animals carry a gers.”
few defective genes. However, humans and similar – Eden Harrier, Harrier Import/Exports
higher animals have two duplicate sets of almost
every chromosome and the genes they carry, one Statistics: Hormonal dampers can justify buy-
from each parent. (The exception is the male “Y” ing off Bad Temper, Berserk or Lecherousness;
chromosome; as a result, men are more vulnerable point cost is equal to the cost of buying off the dis-
to “sex-linked” disorders resulting from defective advantage.
genes on either sex chromosome.) Even so, genetic Operation: $4,000 (and 1/2 week to recover,
disorders affect as much as 10% of the human pop- although it takes effect within 1 day). LC 5.
ulation, although the effects of some do not mani-
fest until quite late in life.
Until the late 20th century, the symptoms of
Bone Marrow Upgrades (TL9)
genetic disorders could be treated, but the disorders When I completed boot camp, the fun began.
themselves could not be cured. Thanks to an After they finished growing the new muscles, the
advance in bioengineering called gene therapy, is doctors implanted modified cells into my bone mar-
now possible to remove the root cause of a genetic row, altering it to manufacture erythrocytes with
disease using cell transplants (p. 75). Even so, a boosted oxygen-transport capacity. Of course, then
basic limitation on gene therapy is the need to they had to do a bit of tinkering with my gastroin-
know exactly which genes code for which enzymes testinal tract to make sure I got enough iron from
or proteins, and how they relate to the body’s func- our diet to keep my bone marrow happy . . .
tioning. While considerable progress has been – Captain (ret.) Dana Martello, Marine Force
made in cases involving a single gene, multiple Recon
genetic interactions are often involved. As human
Bone marrow cells may be modified to pro-
genome mapping progresses (through TL8), more
duce gengineered blood cells with improved capa-
complex genetic therapy procedures will become
bilities. Care is taken to ensure that the modified
possible.
marrow is “smart” enough to adjust cell production
Statistics: Gene therapy can remove certain
so that complications like high blood pressure and
disadvantages, if they result from hereditary condi-
other disorders do not occur.
tions. By late TL7/early TL8, this includes some
Statistics and Operation: These depend on the
forms of Hemophilia, Terminally Ill and Weak
type of blood cells that are modified:
Immune System. By mid-TL8, it also includes
Enhanced Erythrocytes: The bone marrow is
Epilepsy, Migraine and Tourette’s Syndrome.
modified so that the red blood cells it produces
During TL8, all genetically-caused forms of
possess hemoglobin with greater oxygen transport
the above conditions can be cured gradually. In
capacity. Gives Extra Fatigue +2 (6 points).
addition, in a fetus or young child, early gene thera-
$12,000 (and 2 weeks). LC 5.
py may be able to prevent Bad Sight, Color
Enhanced Thrombocytes: Blood platelets are
Blindness, Dwarfism, Dyslexia, Gigantism and No
redesigned for superior wound-clotting ability.
Sense of Smell/Taste.
Gives Very Rapid Healing (15 points). $30,000
Also at some point during TL8, gene therapy
(and 3 weeks). LC 5.
may be able to cure inherited learning or behavioral
disorders. Where these disadvantages have a genet-
ic cause, they can be removed: Cannot Learn, Metabolic Reset (TL9)
Chronic Depression, Gluttony, Lunacy, Manic- “Back in prehistoric times, people used lipo-
Depressive, Non-Iconographic, Paranoia, Short suction and surgery to remove fat, or took pills to
Attention Span and Slave Mentality. suppress their appetites. No, really! And after-
Operation: $10,000 per disadvantage cured wards, they often went right back and regained
(and 2 weeks). LC 6. what they lost. Today, we know what genes make

76 BIOMODS
your body want to be a certain weight, and how to make RNA is the number of days it takes the virus to replicate throughout
injections to change them.” the body and finish its work; there is no “operation” – one mere-
– Noriko Hayakawa, “Fun Ways to Change Weight,” ly takes a pill or receives an injection. Unless using a metamor-
Cyberia Beat phosis virus (p. 79), no rest is required – the nanovirus performs
the work quietly and without fuss.
Statistics: Bulk can be altered up or down one or more Various customized forms of proteus virus are also possible,
steps: Very Fat (-20 points), to Fat (-10 points), to Overweight such as a nanovirus that spreads like a plague or which is specif-
(-5 points), to normal, to Skinny (-5 points) or vice versa. ically designed to affect a particular person (which means that
Adjust weight in pounds accordingly. Lose or gain one step his immune system has less chance to resist it). See Proteus
every two weeks until the chosen stage is reached. Halve the Virus Options, p.82.
time if the subject works with the virus via diet and exercise (or
lack thereof); double the time if he tries to fight it!
Operation: $4,000. The reset operation itself requires 1/2 a Growing Nanovirus
week, but losing (or gaining) weight takes the time discussed A proteus virus designed to produce a particular biomod (or
above. LC 6. a set of nano-symbiotes – see p. 84) can be “home grown”
rather than purchased. This requires a genetics lab (p. 21) of a

Proteus Nanovirus (TL10)

Don’t want to spend a couple of weeks making a pilgrim-
TL equal to or greater than that of the biomod or symbiote the
nano are being designed to produce.
The nano will cost about 50% of the listed cost if the char-
age to some super-clinic to undergo genetic surgery? Well, at acters are paying for commercial blueprints, or 25% of the cost
TL10, proteus viruses become available. These “paraviruses” if they are reverse engineering someone else’s nano. It takes
allow a form of genetic surgery through a single injection, with about one hour per $1,000 the nano normally costs.
no fuss, lab tests or surgical cell transplants. On the other hand, This requires a successful skill roll vs. the lowest of
because the virus hasn’t been specially tailored, it may not Biochemistry, Computer Programming and Genetics (Genetic
always work! Engineering) skills, although members of a team can contribute
Proteus nanoviruses, which are also used in germline gengi- one skill each. Apply any modifiers for lab quality, plus -1 if the
neering at TL10+, are specialized bio-nanomachines, capable of nanovirus would cost $1,000, -2 if $2,000, -3 if $4,000, -4 if
being programmed to perform complex tasks. This includes $8,000 and so on. Failing the roll to build nano just wastes time;
rapidly replicating throughout the body, replacing entire cell a critical failure produces a bad batch that seems good, but
nuclei, completely resequencing DNA and stimulating the rapid which will have dangerous or unusual side effects (GM’s
growth of newly-modified cells. option).
A proteus nanovirus takes 1d×5 minutes to multiply. There
is a chance that the recipient’s immune system may fight it off.
This occurs a HT-6 roll. If successful, nothing happens. Contact
Types of Proteus Virus
with the bodily fluids of someone who is in the process of being
altered by a proteus virus may also cause infection (HT-3 to Biotronic Virus (TL10)
avoid). In both cases, bonuses for Panimmunity and Disease- Protein-based biotronic circuitry – biochips – are being
Resistant apply. However, Immunity to Disease gives only +10 used in more and more computers. Rumor has it that a few cor-
to HT to resist, rather than being automatically successful. If the porations have been creating living superhackers who can
HT roll fails, the virus begins resequencing the subject’s DNA interface with these things directly, using nanoviruses that
and altering his body. weave threads of DNA-based biotronic circuitry through their
An almost infinite variety of proteus viruses exists. At brains. Me, I don’t believe it. We don’t have the technology yet.
TL10-11, a proteus virus can perform relatively “soft” changes, Do we?
whose effects will be seen in altered skin cells or blood cells, – Streethawk, alt.bio.samurai.upgrade
modified neurochemistry and so on. At TL12+, an extremely
sophisticated kind of proteus virus, called a metamorphosis Statistics: Interface Jack (only with biotronic computers,
virus, can produce actual changes in the body’s anatomy. -50%, 5 points); skill bonuses: Computer Operation +3 (only
Each proteus virus has a cost and a time required. This time with biotronic computers, -50%, 1 point) and Computer

BIOMODS 77
Hacking +3 (only with biotronic computers, -50%, 4 points);
Enhanced Time Sense (45 points, only when interfaced with Genetic Surgery Nanovirus (TL10)
biotronic computers -75%, 12 points). 22 points. Any of the effects that can be produced by regular TL7-9
If using the GURPS Cyberpunk netrunning rules, effective genetic surgery (pp. 75–77), such as gene therapy or metabolic
phase length is halved when someone with this ability is netrun- reset, can be produced much more rapidly via a proteus
ning while jacked into a biotronic computer. nanovirus.
Availability: $200,000 (and 4 days). LC 2. Statistics: Produces the same effects as regular genetic
surgery.
Birth-Control Virus (TL10) Availability: Cost is 50% that of TL9 genetic surgery proce-
dures or 25% that of TL7-8 genetic surgery. The virus will pro-
“If the Third World can’t be bothered to control their own duce the changes in a number of days equal to twice the number
fertility, then I suppose we’ll have to do it for them. Let’s see: of weeks of recovery required for actual genetic surgery. For
birth control implants, vasectomies, pills . . . but they’re all so example, a bone marrow upgrade that took 3 weeks would take
crude and time consuming, and then there’s that problem of only 6 days if using a nanovirus.
enforcement. How about isoimmunization, in which the moth-
er’s immune system attacks any fetuses, triggered after the onset
of her first pregnancy? Spontaneous and usually undetectable Methuselah Program (TL10)
early abortions; she’d probably never notice. One woman, one Methuselah Inc. is pleased to offer its new life-extension
child. As for mass post-natal dissemination, a contagious pro- process. A specialized proteus nanovirus injection can adjust or
teus virus should do the job.” even reset the biological clock on your cells, modifying their
– Dr. Tse Chang, address to the Genetic Planning Council ability to survive repeated replications. In partnership with
Biotech Euphrates, our Forever Project staff is now working on
Statistics: Sterile (after one child, -75%, -1 nucleotide sequences that will hard-wire these
point). modifications into unborn generations.
Availability: $500 (and 2 days). LC 5. – Methuselah Inc. press release

“Their nanovirus is more expensive than

Cosmetic Virus (TL10) those mythical anti-agathics you see in the sen-
sies, but at least there’s none of that nonsense
Bored with your current hair, skin or eye
color? Need to alter your appearance in a hurry, about super-accelerated aging if you stop taking
or fix pattern baldness? Try McCoy AestheTech’s the youth drug. Of course, some of the companies
viral cosmetics, and let RNA resequence your that build bioroids use a similar process to build
genes. Permanent, safe and undetectable, but in a biological suicide clock to ensure good turn-
reversible with a second dose! Each treatment around of new product. As soon as they start to
produces a single, specific change. Also avail- get old, zap! Cells start to die, resulting in mas-
able: eyelash and fingernail modifications – your sive, multiple-organ cell failure, and they’re
choice of length and color! Now available in dead in a few weeks. Bioroids get a little morbid
handy tablet or ointment form – see your phar- about this, so few companies actually tell them
macist today! their exact termination date.”
– McCoy AestheTech promotion – Dr. Sayyid Iqbal, interviewed on Cyberia
Beat
Statistics: The effects of a cosmetic virus are
Statistics: Halts aging (no aging rolls, and no
usually 0-point features, but viral dyes that cure
growth if still growing) for about a year after
or produce Albinism (-10 points) also exist. At
undergoing the process. A perversion of this
TL11, exotic colors are also possible; e.g., blue
process can also be used to artificially shorten a
skin, metallic nails or green hair. If unusual, these
lifespan, giving someone the disadvantage Self-
may count as Unnatural Features (-5 points). A
Destruct, set to trigger after a predetermined
cosmetic virus can also produce the same effects
point in their future.
as a hair graft (p. 62).
Availability: $100,000 (and 4 weeks). LC 6.
Availability: $200 (and 1 day) for a batch of
virus that can produce a single cosmetic change;
e.g., turn eyes green or hair metallic pink. Skin Transformation Virus (TL10)
Multiply the cost and time by the number of fea- So you’re dating Lilith, huh? Isn’t she that
tures it produces. The occasional bad batch of exotic dancer transform at Club Naga – the
viral dye may cause a piebald look, hair to fall brunette with the red and gold scales?
out, and other minor nuisances. LC 6. – Streethawk, alt.bio.upgrade.samurai

78 BIOMODS
 Statistics: Select any one of the xeno-skin advantages listed Last year, Evolutionary Liberation Front terrorists hacked
on the Xeno-Anatomy table (p. 50). into the mainframe controlling the labeling on 2,000 vials of
Availability: Cost is (TL-8) × $20,000, and it takes (TL-8) Chinju-Gentek RNA virus. 127 people who hoped to become
weeks for the skin transformation to take effect, where “TL” is musicians, many of them children, were instead transformed
the minimum TL for gengineering that advantage. Thus, Fur (4 into mathematical geniuses, and 1,873 would-be Einsteins were
points, TL9) would take one week to grow and cost $20,000. left to sing the blues. The relationship between mathematical
Undergoing a skin transformation process is extremely uncom- and musical talent was close enough that the quality-assurance
fortable. For the duration of the process, the subject will be at -2 software missed it. Bio-terrorism aside, this is obviously anoth-
DX and IQ (which affects skills) due to the constant itching and er example of the need for tighter controls in the civilian RNA-
irritation as the fur or scales grow. nanovirus sector.”
– Tatiana Belenko, Genetic Regulatory Agency
High-Biotech Fur (TL11) A “neurovirus” is a specialized form of proteus virus, opti-
Colonial Genetics’ ShonTec/Mars division announces the mized for performing subtle changes in personality and mental
arrival of viral-grown high-biotech fur, the ultimate in stylish structure by altering the connections between neurons and
thermoregulation! Features fully-retractable, sub-dermal, self- adjusting the neurochemical balance of the brain and body.
regenerating pseudohairs. Choose no or short fur for indoors or Statistics: A neurovirus can modify IQ up to the technologi-
summer, but lengthen it as night begins to fall, then retract it as cal limits given for Gengineered Attribute Modifiers (p. 30),
temperatures return to normal. Why bother with bulky thermo- grant any of the advantages described under Brain
suits or even outmoded clothing? Perfect for outdoor condi- Modifications (p. 32) and Sleep-State Modifications (p. 33), and
tions, and presently available in numerous attractive patterns, add any of the genetic mental disadvantages from the Mental
including tabby, mink, panda, leopard and Disadvantages table (p. 53). It can also duplicate
tiger! effects of Psychosurgery (p. 71) or Hotshotting (p.
– Colonial Genetics press release 71). Where they contradict, more recent neuroviruses
overwrite previous ones.
“My sources at ShonTec say they origi- Availability: $10,000 × (TL-7) per advantage or
nally designed this feature as a post-natal disadvantage, where “TL” is the minimum TL
upgrade for the 6th Mountain Division’s required for that procedure. Requires 1/2 day to take
bioroids, so it’s probably pretty reliable. It’s effect. LC 5.
also available on their second-generation
pleasure ‘morphs. Have you seen those ads?
‘Stay warm at night: Take a Kitsune to bed.’”
– Captain (ret.) Dana Martello, Marine
Metamorphosis Virus (TL12)
“Captain’s Log, 18-11-2447. It’s been six days
Force Recon
since our landing party was exposed to the nanovirus
Statistics: Thick Fur (variable length, while exploring the ruined alien city. All remain in
+5%, 31 points). Length can voluntarily drop comas, within the cocoons their bodies have some-
to that of normal Fur (two seconds), Very Thin how secreted. Sonograms taken by Dr. Pretorious
Fur (four seconds) or completely retract (eight show significant anatomical changes, of which the
seconds), or vice versa. Remember, PD, DR most advanced are in Officer Melinda O’Reilly. Her
and Temperature Tolerance vary depending on legs have fused together into a tail, and wing buds
length. Very Thin Fur counts as light clothing. are forming on her shoulder blades. I can no longer
Availability: $40,000 (and 2 weeks), LC 5. deny it; she is beginning to resemble the creatures
Side-effects of the high-biotech fur transfor- depicted in the wall paintings we found. In an earlier
mation are the same as for other skin transfor- log entry, I expressed my sadness at finding the aliens
mations. long dead, and being denied a chance at first contact.
It appears I spoke too soon.”
Neurovirus (TL11) – Captain Zeke Morrigan, free trader Antares

“I was having trouble getting on with my A metamorphosis nanovirus is a highly advanced

comp study, until I bought a Chinju-Gentek proteus virus. Like a proteus virus, it can resequence
neurovirus and reconfigured my brain. Now DNA, switch genes on or off, and take over cell
I’m earning 20K a month in my summer job nuclei, replacing entire genomes.
training AIs! Jump on the bio-logic bus with Unlike more primitive proteus viruses, it can also
Chinju-Gentek, and take a ride to success.” actively alter the gross structure of existing cells,
– Chinju-Gentek commercial using physical or chemical means to simultaneously

BIOMODS 79
herd cells around the body, kill off existing
ones, and force new ones to grow. This allows it
to break down or build up connective tissue and
The Transformation
The nanovirus takes the indicated number of
bone. Using a metamorphosis virus, new organs days to transform its subject. If the subject has a
can be grown within the body, existing organs particular feature, it won’t need to grow it, so
and limbs can be transformed, and new limbs reduce the transformation time accordingly (i.e., as
and appendages can be grown. A metamorpho- if the virus didn’t include that particular trait).
sis can even reduce body mass (leaving a gooey This also applies to attribute bonuses or
puddle of unused cells after the change). penalties that were created via gengineering (as
In game terms, a metamorphosis virus opposed to those native to a particular race). If the
effectively allows the type of human genetic nanovirus adds a bonus and there’s already a
engineering described in Chapter 2 to be per- bonus, use the higher number; if the nanovirus
formed on a living person rather than an egg adds a penalty and there’s already a penalty, use
cell. The virus is described as adding or remov- the lower value; if the nanovirus adds a bonus
ing a specific set of attribute modifiers, advan- where there’s a penalty or vice versa, use the sum.
tages, disadvantages and features – a “metamor- Thus, if someone already has ST +2 as part of a
phosis template.” Select from those modifica- gengineered racial template, then a nanovirus that
tions that are possible via germline gengineering gives ST +1 to ST +2 will have no effect, one that
(Chapter 2) or surgery (Chapter 3). The time gives ST +3 will change his racial template from
and cost of a metamorphosis virus depend on its +2 to +3 (the character gains +1 ST), and one that
complexity: gives ST -1 will alter his racial template from ST
+2 to ST +1 (the character loses one point of ST).
Time: This is (TL-8) days per advantage, While the metamorphosis is occurring, the
disadvantage or feature added or removed, patient may experience “nanofever” – itching, sud-
where “TL” is the minimum TL required to pro- den sweats, hunger pangs or other odd sensations.
duce that change through gengineering or Often, he sees odd shapes and patterns forming on
surgery. For this calculation only, treat any TL his skin, or suddenly feels hungry, thirsty, hot or
below 9 as TL9. Purely cosmetic traits that are cold. This is distracting (-1 to IQ-related tasks dur-
part of an advantage or disadvantage don’t ing the entire process).
count; otherwise, they count as a single, TL9 If the change is radical, defined as any
feature. process that takes more days than the nanovirus’
For example, a “cat-girl nanovirus” might TL, or which induces significant alterations in
have seven traits which require up to TL9 (e.g., body shape or mass, the subject will fall into a
Acute Hearing, Beautiful Appearance, Claws, coma after 1d days. This lasts for the remainder of
Fur, Perfect Balance, a male-to-female sex the transformation. If this happens, the nanovirus
change and transgenic cat features) and one that will often secrete a caterpillar-like chrysalis from
needs TL10 (e.g., DX+4). It would require [(9 -
8) × 7] + (10 - 8) = 9 days. Note that in practice,
the patient’s skin pores or other orifices, cocoon-
ing his body. When the transformation is com-
time may be reduced if the subject already has plete, he will wake up and break out of it.
certain traits; e.g., if the cat-girl nanovirus were A metamorphosis nanovirus is not always
used on a woman, it would take only 8 days. safe. If the virus takes more days than the sum of
the user’s HT and the virus’ TL, there is a chance
Cost: Calculate time as above, then multiply the number of that something will go wrong. Each day after this period, roll vs.
days by $50,000 to get the cost. Thus, a virus that requires 9 the user’s HT. Failure means some sort of accidental defect.
days would cost $450,000. Keep track of the number of failures. Each one inflicts -1d
points worth of unintended disadvantages on the subject (GM’s
TL: The basic TL of a metamorphosis virus is the greater of option; see Gengineered Disadvantages, p. 51, for a list of suit-
TL12 and that of the highest-TL modification that it adds or able possibilities). For example, failing three HT rolls would
removes. inflict -3d points of disadvantages.
Any critical failure means the subject dies – often very
A “dose” of the virus can be delivered by injection or oral messily, as the patient transforms into a mass of cancer cells, is
tablet. The rules for administration, HT rolls to resist and acci- cooked in his own blood by excess heat from over-worked
dental infection used for other proteus viruses (p. 77) also apply nanomachines or whatever.
to a metamorphosis virus. Any of the proteus virus options Cybernetics or biomod implants that would be incompatible
described on p. 82 can also be applied to it, altering the final with the new form are excreted from the body or result in death
cost, time and TL. or injury to the subject – details are up to the GM.

80 BIOMODS
Sample Metamorphosis Word of warning: If you become pregnant in
female mode, you’ll automatically switch back and
be locked into female morphology about a week
Transformations into the pregnancy unless you voluntarily choose to
reabsorb the fetus, like I did.
Practically any transformation is possible with
the aid of a metamorphosis nanovirus – for – Chance Mackintosh, Posthuman Consumer
instance, it could turn a human into any of the vari- Review
ant races described in Chapter 2, make him into an
alien, transform an alien into a human, or give Statistics: Hermaphromorph (2 points) plus
someone any of the biomod surgeries or transplants Reproductive Control (2 points). 4 points.
in this chapter. This section provides additional Availability: $150,000 (and 3 days). LC 5.
examples of complex anatomical modifications
that might be produced through metamorphosis. Skeletal Strengthening (TL12)
The time listed for metamorphosis transforma- “Tisephone Logos, if you closely look at the
tions assumes that the subject does not have any of image produced by my T-ray scanner, you will
the traits that the nanovirus produces. clearly see the changes the nanosurgeons have pro-
duced in your body. Note the semi-fullerine skeletal
Aquaskin (TL12) structure and extra muscle attachment flanges,
while the dark shading is the denser bone tissue.
Who needs a breather, wetsuit or clumsy arti-
ficial gill? Glide like a dolphin through the blue None of this will be visible unless your skeleton is
infinity while clad in GenTec Pacifica’s Aquaskin, physically examined or scanned, although you will
a smooth, high-biotech epidermal graft derived notice a minor gain in mass due to the heavier
from marine mammal DNA. The skin is modified to structural tissues you now possess.”
selectively absorb and filter oxygen into the blood, – Medical biocomputer Raphael-3000
bypassing the lungs and acting as a full-body gill.
Available in several elegant shades of gray, brown Statistics: Extra Encumbrance (5 points) and
and black. Extra Hit Points +9 (45 points). 50 points.
– GenTec Pacifica promotion Skeletal strengthening increases actual body
weight by 10% without increasing height or appar-
Statistics: Amphibious (10 points) and Gills ent bulk. The redesigned bone structure will also be
(10 points). 20 points. noticeable on medical scanners, and by any doctor
The smooth, monochrome skin and webbed trying to set a broken bone. Skeletal strengthening
fingers and toes may count as an Unnatural Feature does not increase ST. However, if someone has
(-5 points). skeletal strengthening, then muscle reinforcement
Availability: $150,000 (and 3 days). LC 5. or muscle grafting can add double the usual amount
of ST for their TL, since the biomod skeleton can
Chloramorphosis (TL12) support it. The effects are cumulative with bone
stimulation (p. 74).
The green-skinned woman lay naked in the Availability: $250,000 (and 5 days). LC 5.
forest clearing, as if basking in the warm, noonday
sun. I walked over and knelt beside her. If she was
breathing, I couldn’t tell. An ant walked across her
Smart Cardiovascular Net (TL12)
face. She didn’t react. I looked closer. Fine tendrils Next, the nanites construct smart, switchable
connected her body to the soil. She was rooting. arterial bypass networks to allow blood flow to be
– Derin Skay, Life Among the Dryads rapidly shut off to traumatized areas. As high-grav-
ity accelerations cause blackouts when the blood
Statistics: Decreased Life Support (breathe pools in the lower body rather than reaching the
carbon dioxide rather than oxygen when sleeping, brain, the arteries feeding the lower body have
10 points), Deep Sleeper (5 points), Dependency been redesigned to react to g-forces by pinching off
(lie in fertile soil and sunbathe for at least eight blood flow to legs and abdomen while enhancing it
hours; common, daily, -15 points), Doesn’t Eat or to the brain. The same modification also produces
Drink (10 points), green skin (racial feature, 0 faster recovery from unconsciousness.
points). 10 points. – from FM-592, Military Biomedical
Availability: $400,000 (and 8 days). LC 5. Enhancement

Hermaphromorphic Surgery (TL12) “This is one thing those Marine jar-heads

don’t get. When I joined the Navy, I knew I’d get a
Gender is obsolete with Matsai’s latest bio- neural jack – but I never figured becoming top gun
engineered marvel. Creation of a fleet of sphinc- would mean being dumped in a vat of nanosur-
ters, voluntary muscles and hormone pumps allows geons, dismantled and rebuilt. There’s rumors that
fully functional sex-switching in a matter of hours, the spacekorps are working on bioroids born with
as well as full fertility control. these things.”
– Matsai Corporation advertisement – Lt. Majid Asad, VF-17, USSN

BIOMODS 81
 Statistics: Acceleration Tolerance (+5 HT bonus from it
may also be applied to HT rolls to stop bleeding, +40%, 14
points) and Recovery (10 points). 24 points.
Proteus Virus Options
There are lots of ways that the basic proteus virus technolo-
Availability: $150,000 (and 3 days). LC 5.
gy can be modified.
Solarskin (TL13) Accelerated Nanovirus (TL12)
Freedom is the gift our Icarus-type symbiotic solarskin
gives when you merge with Avatar Klusterkorp’s gengineered “You mean I’m going have to wait days or months for the
ecosuit to become a true spacedapted form. Features closed- nanovirus to grow my new face and improved heart? I got tick-
ecosystem waste-product recycling, solar wings and vacuum- ets to go skiing on Nix Olympica two weeks from now – but I
sealed skin designed for protection against ultraviolet radiation. can’t go like this – I’m not in shape! What the fooz am I going
– Avatar Klusterkorp advertisement to do?!”
“Well, if you’re that desperate, there’s a black clinic that
Naked, space-black dolls with enormous pseudo-wings, might be able to help you . . .”
drifting through the vacuum on light pressure like dark angels: – Dr. Lucien Locke, Nanovirus for Dummies
Avatar’s latest vision of humanity, I guess. The one disadvan-
tage is that you croak in a gravity field. You aren’t anaerobic, A nanovirus normally takes it slow and easy, because herd-
though, so you can hang with your buddies inside the null-G ing all those cells around and forcing growth is a major strain on
section of a ship or station when you aren’t “breathing vacu- a living being’s metabolism. It doesn’t have to be this slow.
um.” At least they designed it so you can fold up your solar sail At double cost, and a minimum TL12, an accelerated pro-
when you don’t need it – makes a hump on your back. teus nanovirus is available. An accelerated nanovirus takes
– Copernicus Jones, Beyond Pluto hours instead of days. For example, if it normally took two
days, the accelerated virus would do it in two hours. At TL15+,
Statistics: Flight (Requires Low Gravity: 0 G, -50%; Space it may be even quicker, taking as many minutes as days.
Acceleration: 0.001 g, +5%; 22 points), Vacuum Support (40 If using any proteus virus, the accelerated growth process is
points), Weakness: 0.05 g or higher gravity field, very common, stressful. The user will experience “nanofever” symptoms, as
1d/minute (-60 points). 2 points. described for metamorphosis virus (p. 80). In addition, the user
Availability: $500,000 (and 10 days). LC 5. will suffer one point of fatigue each hour, until he passes out
(he’ll be unable to rest to regain this until after the virus has run
its course).
If using a metamorphosis virus, it’s often dangerous as
well. Use the same rules for side effects (p. 80) as for a normal
metamorphosis virus, but occurring if the virus takes more
hours (rather than days) than (HT+TL-5). In addition, HT rolls
to avoid suffering side effects are made at HT-3 rather than HT.
Get too ambitious, and there’s a good chance of a messy death.

Clinical Metamorphosis
“Uh – a messy death? ’Scuse me, Dr. Luce, I’m outta here.
Isn’t there a way the virus can grow a new part safely?”
“It isn’t the virus that doing the growing, livewire; it’s
directing things. It’s your cells that are doing the work.
Remember, it’s got to keep you alive. Imagine trying to do
repairs on a car while the engine is running – heck, while
you’re still driving the thing around.”
“Okay, okay – so why not stop the engine first? Or do the
work from outside the car – I mean, the body?”
“Ooh, good one. Let’s try it.”
– Dr. Lucien Locke, Nanovirus for Dummies

A metamorphosis nanovirus can work a lot faster if it has

help from outside. This is clinical metamorphosis. First, the
patient is placed in a life-support environment, usually a growth
tank, automed or (at TL13+) a chrysalis machine (p. 23).

82 BIOMODS
 Next, the patient is put into a state of complete bio-stasis,
similar to suspended animation. A solution of specialized
nanomachines is pumped into the tank with him. Some of these
“nanobots” may be similar to a nanovirus, while others might be
actual robots, either autonomous models or guided externally by
a controlling computer, perhaps using acoustic pulses. These
nanomachines are in charge of keeping the subject alive and
speeding up the transformation by working both internally and
externally.
Once the patient is in bio-stasis, more radical nanosurgical
procedures can be used. If body mass is to be altered, intra-
venous tubes may be attached to the body and the necessary
materials carted in or out by transport nano. Some tubes, made
of nano-active material, may penetrate directly into the patient’s
body without breaking the skin. In radical transformations, the
patient may actually be dismantled on the cellular level, turning
him into a loose “puddle” of cells, then reassembled.
The process takes the same amount of time as an accelerat-
ed nanovirus – or half the time, if using a chrysalis machine –
but it’s completely safe (assuming no sabotage and no glitches
in building and programming the nano). After the operation is
over, the nanomachines will break up; their debris leaves the
body via sweat or excretion. However, while it may be safe, this
process isn’t cheap: in addition to the usual price quoted for
metamorphosis nanovirus, the life-support system and special-
ized nano used cost a minimum of $3,000 a day. Delayed: The nanovirus is designed with a time delay.
Instead of taking effect within a few minutes of infection, it
Other Proteus Virus Options remains dormant for a pre-set time period after infecting some-
“Hey, Doctor Luce – this proteus nanovirus stuff – isn’t it one – anything from hours to years. This option has no effect on
supposed to, you know, go out of control infecting and trans- cost or TL, but the dormancy period must be chosen when that
forming everyone, and like that?” particular batch is designed.
“Of course not. Not unless you design it to. Here’s how.” Heredity-Changing (TL-1): The nanovirus has no effect on
– Dr. Lucien Locke, Nanovirus for Dummies the person it transforms – no twinges, sweats, coma or biomodi-
fication! However, it does alter genetic heredity, and the effects
Various options are available to change the way in which a will be passed on to the subject’s children. Since children have
particular nanovirus works. Unless noted, these may be applied genes from both parents, inheriting virus-induced traits is much
to all procedures that use proteus virus, including metamorpho- more likely if both parents have been infected by the nanovirus.
sis virus. These will modify the price and tech level of the Inorganic (TL+1): The “virus” is composed of inorganic
nanovirus, as shown in parentheses. nanobots rather than biological machines. HT rolls to resist
Note that a change in TL also has an indirect effect on infection are made at a -2 penalty. Panimmunity, Disease-
price. For example, if a neurovirus is normally available at Resistant, Immunity to Disease and similar measures intended
TL11, but is modified with the Plague option, then it is TL12; to defeat biological pathogens have no effect against it!
therefore, the price of that particular neurovirus would be halved Plague (TL+1, 10 times price, or 100 times price if
at TL13 and again at TL14, rather than at TL12 and again at Inorganic): The virus can spread through skin contact and via
TL13. breathing infected air. Anyone in direct skin-to-skin contact
with a person who has been infected but not yet transformed can
Aerosol (10 times price): The nanovirus doesn’t require catch it on a HT-3 roll, or HT-6 if they exchange bodily fluids.
injection. It can be used in a chemical warhead or aerosol spray. For close proximity, use the rules from the Contagion sidebar,
It uses the normal rules for biochemical weapons, and affects p. B133. Plagues are LC 0.
anyone who breathes it and fails a HT-6 roll. At TL+2, it may Random Metamorphosis (TL+2, special price): This has a
be a contact agent, penetrating the skin of anyone exposed on a semi-random series of effects on different subjects. It may give
HT-3 roll, or HT-6 if also breathed. An aerosol can will spray 1 one person an exotic biomod, transform another into a different
dose at a time and holds five; 10 doses fill a chemical grenade, form, change a third person’s sex, and so on. The GM should
30 fill a mortar shell. Halve LC (round down). decide what percentage of victims suffer what type of effects,

BIOMODS 83
whether there are any other side effects, and the maximum pos-
sible character points of change. Cost is up to the GM, but
should be based on the maximum number of points that can
Nano-Symbiotes
Symbiotic, pseudo-living nanomachines or genemod pro-
potentially be changed. The Wild Cards shared world series
(edited by George R.R. Martin) features a good example of such teus cells can be introduced into the body, usually by injection.
a virus. Instead of being used to build or alter something, they take up
Species-Crossing (TL+1, 10 times price unless Inorganic, housekeeping.
then double price): Nanoviruses are generally effective only on The process of administering nano-symbiotes is identical to
a single species (and any variant races thereof) or a few closely- that for proteus virus: an injection or tablet – ideally, one that is
related ones – this is more a matter of programming in the case matched to the person’s metabolism. There are no side effects,
of inorganic nano. A virus that works on humans won’t affect since they don’t alter the body, but simply exist within it. Here
cats or dragons, for instance. This modification makes it pan- are few possible examples of nano-symbiotes:
specific, capable of affecting multiple species provided they
share the same basic biochemistry. Thus, a nanovirus designed Panimmunity (TL9)
to affect terrestrial life probably won’t work on aliens, unless Panimmunity injections contain artificial organisms, tailor-
there’s a good reason (e.g., if by sheer coincidence or design, made for each individual. They recognize friendly cells, and
we are amazingly genetically similar to them). attack others. Panimmunity is permanent.
Target-Specific: A nanovirus can be designed to target specif- Statistics and Availability: Depend on the bioengineering
ic characteristics; see Target-Seeking Pathogens (p. 89) for possi- techniques of the society:
ble designs. A Plague may still be target-specific – people other Level 1 Panimmunity (TL9): Gives +3 to HT to resist any
than the target(s) will become carriers if they fail HT rolls, but disease. $1,000. LC 6. 2 points.
suffer no other effects. This option has no effect on cost or TL. Level 2 Panimmunity (TL10): Gives +8 HT to resist any
Temporary: A neurovirus (p. 79) can be designed to pro- disease. If this is not universal, cost is $5,000. Citizens in TL12
duce only temporary effects by interfering with neurochemistry societies may receive Level 2 panimmunity free through gov-
and hormonal balances rather than altering the structure of the ernment or corporate health plans. LC 6. 5 points.
brain. The effect will last for a number of hours equal to twice Level 3 (Total) Panimmunity (TL12+): Gives the recipient
the amount the initial HT roll to resist was failed by (maximum the equivalent of the Immunity to Disease advantage, with no
one day). This sort of nanovirus is often used as a form of brain- minimum HT required. It costs $20,000 – although it might be
washing or biochemical weapon. This option has no effect on provided free in organizations like the Survey Service. LC 6. 10
cost or TL. points.
Xeno-Species Crossing (TL+2, 20 times price, Inorganic
only): Capable of crossing between extremely different forms of
life, such as terrestrial and alien life forms. Xeno-Species
Blood Cops (TL12)
Crossing nanoviruses may still not work if the aliens are very In my darker moments, I feel my bloodstream has turned
alien; e.g., a virus designed to work on carbon-based life into an arms race. They told me this is like Panimmunity 3 but
wouldn’t affect silicon-based “living rocks.” Given the (proba- more expensive: Inject a few trillion gengineered macrophage
ble) drastic differences expected between human and alien life, cells into your body, and these “active shields” will hunt down
a Xeno-Species Crossing nanovirus is more cinematic than real- and dismantle anything that looks threateningly pathogenic or
istic, but is nevertheless very common in science fiction. toxic before it can do much in the way of damage. It seems to
have worked – I haven’t aged or gotten sick since the proce-
dure. Considering some of the places I’ve been, this is surely a
Nanowarfare miracle.
The ability to create plague proteus viruses raises the spectre – Tisephone Logos, >warangel>heavenweb>solnet
of exotic nanoplagues that transform rather than kill. For
example, imagine spreading one that turned humans into
compliant sex bioroids (like the Eros, p. 37). The threat
of proteus plagues is somewhat lessened by the avail-
ability of sophisticated Panimmunity treatments,
although these are ineffective against inorganic
nanoviruses. However, humans don’t have to be the tar-
get – imagine the havoc that even a “benign” intelli-
gence-boosting neurovirus could cause if a species of
pets, farm animals or wild animals became more intelli-
gent! In fact, targeting nanoplagues at animals may be a
viable surprise attack strategy, if humans have gengi-
neered defenses.

84 BIOMODS
 Statistics: Immunity to Disease (10 points),
Immunity to Poison (15 points) and Longevity (5
points). Costs 30 points.
Availability: $30,000, LC 6.

Cell Surgeons (TL13)

Hey, more nanoguys! These are programmed with
details of your anatomy, and form a distributed, multi-
cellular neural-net throughout the body. Most of the
time, they just drift around, powered by your blood-
stream. But when you get hurt, they’ll shift into high
gear and start fixing things, herding cells into place
with tiny manipulators or sending signals that stimulate
regrowth, while clearing away damaged tissue before it
can get infected. These symbiotic cell-sized nanocritters
let you heal real fast, but you sweat like the dickens, and
afterwards you’ll need to eat like a horse.
– Dr. Lucien Locke, Symbiotes for Success!

Statistics: Fast Regeneration (Costs Fatigue: 1

point/minute, -5%; Nuisance Effect: sweat heavily for
-1 reaction, -5%; regaining any fatigue lost this way
requires hearty meal, -10%; 40 points) plus Regrowth
(small extremities only, -50%, 20points). 60 points.
Availability: $60,000, LC 6.

Cell Communion (TL12/13)

I know why the NSA never caught them. Why the
wiretaps and the laser mikes found nothing. I know the
truth, because I borrowed Doctor Avery’s scanning,
tunneling microscope and used it on the sample.
That’s how I figured it all out – how the UFO people,
the Men in Black and the True Illuminati communi-
cate. It’s their cells that are talking. Not talking exact-
ly. Hormones? This is much more sophisticated, doc-
tor. Not just emotions. More like images, concepts,
memories, all at once. It’s exchanged by sweat, saliva,
blood, when they shake hands, touch, kiss. Don’t you
get it? Can’t you see? They can conspire in crowds, in
broad daylight!
– Statement by Walter Jorgenson, BSc in molecular
biology, now a patient at Kingston Psychiatric Hospital

Statistics and Availability: Depend on the level of

cell communion symbiosis:
Surface Communion (TL12) is Secret Communica-
tion (Touch Only, -20%, 16 points). $32,000, LC 5. 16
points.
Deep Communion (TL13) is Mindshare: Racial
Memory (40 points), Intelligent Drone (25 points),
Touch Only (-15 points), 10-99 drones (0 points).
$100,000, LC 4. 50 points.
GMs should adjust the point cost, depending on
how many have this ability, which determines the num-
ber of drones (see p. CI61).
Note that cell communion only allows communica-
tion with someone else who has the symbiotes. Some
types of cell communion are actually contagious – the
communion can spread out from the infected individ-
ual’s body. Just buy this as a proteus nanovirus plague
(p. 83) that grants these advantages.

BIOMODS 85
4 MAN’S BEST
FRIENDS
 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our
likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea,
and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the
Exotic Industrial Bacteria (TL7/8)
Not all “working bacteria” are involved in fermentation or
earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the protein farming. There are bacterial species which are naturally
earth. capable of metabolizing metals or chemical waste, are resistant
– Genesis 1:26 to heat (even living in ocean vents) or are anaerobic (don’t
require oxygen). These have various applications, such as:
Human gengineering is controversial, but the modification
of plants and animals is much less so. We’ve been doing it for
millennia; genetic engineering just lets us do it more rapidly. Fuel Production
Some bacteria or archaea (p. 7) can produce methane gas.

Gengineered Microbes
Microbes range from simple bacteria to more complex
These could be used as a renewable energy resource and source
of industrial chemicals. Natural bacteria capable of performing
these activities are in limited use today. At TL8+, gengineered
bacteria capable of much higher performance will be intro-
algae and fungi (such as yeasts and molds). They are living
duced.
chemical factories, taking in specific raw materials and convert-
ing them into the proteins their metabolisms require.
The advantage of gengineering microbes is that their sim- Mining and Refining
plicity and short generation length enable projects to proceed on Bacteria exist whose proteins can bind to and concentrate
a scale of months rather than years. Once microbial products traces of metals from mine shafts, industrial wastes or sea water.
have been developed, industrial biotech processes enable them The biomass can then be collected and refined. More complex
to be cultured in giant fermentation vats that can hold thousands (TL8) versions of these bacteria can excrete the minerals them-
of gallons. With the right nutrients, such a biomass can grow selves, reducing the cost of downstream processing.
very quickly, increasing its total mass eightfold in an hour!
Pollution Control
Microbes at Work
For thousands of years, people have used microbes to man-
Bacteria can be designed to break down plastics that have
been properly treated, while those that metabolize hydrocarbon
molecules can mop up oil spills. Often, bacteria of this sort
ufacture products such as beer, bread and cheese. Beginning in
don’t even have to be genetically engineered. Instead, biotechni-
the mid-19th century (TL5), and continuing into the 20th centu-
cians look for sites that have been contaminated for years by
ry (TL6-7), scientific techniques were applied to the study of
(for example) an oil spill, and then isolate the microorganisms
microbes to find natural strains that performed new tasks or did
that are thriving there. These may also be designed as weapons
old ones better. In this way, microbes usable in improved food
– see Anti-Material Bacteria (p. 90).
and beverage products, industrial chemicals and medicine (see
Antibiotics, p. 92) were produced, most notably penicillin.
Late-20th century (TL7) advances in biotechnology have
largely relied upon gengineering specialized microbes, using the
Terraforming Microorganisms (TL9)
techniques of gene cloning and “protein farming” described in Gengineered algae and bacteria will play a major role in
Chapter 1 (see Gene Cloning, p. 8). With genetic engineering, any planetary engineering program. For example, in a Mars
organisms can produce or extract a wider range of products, terraforming project, they would be released a decade or so
ranging from drugs and fuel to industrial chemicals. after ice asteroid or comet strikes had provided water, but
Fermentation industries, like brewing and the manufacture before organisms are added to the ecosystem. Hardy anaero-
of bread, cheese, yogurt and soy sauce, rely on the action of bic bacteria would perform the critical task of releasing nitro-
microbes such as yeasts, fungi and bacteria. Much of the late- gen locked beneath the planetary surface. Within a decade or
TL7 industrial biotech effort – especially in Japan – has been two, they would be followed up by gengineered lichen and
devoted to the task of finding and mass producing fermentation fungi. In a generation or two (25-50 years), the soil may be
enzymes or genemod microbes to make the process more effi- fertile enough that simple oxygen-producing plants can be
cient or the product more attractive or flavorful introduced.
For microbes to thrive, they need nutrients (such as sugars)
for growth, as well as a carefully-regulated pH (acid) balance.
Some microbes also require a narrow range of temperatures;
because the temperature within a vat can change as the amount
Germ Warfare
Not all microbes are busy little workers. Pathogenic
of biomass increases, most TL7+ fermentation vats possess microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses, have a long histo-
sophisticated temperature-regulating equipment. As the opti- ry as weapons. Even before people had an inkling of the germ
mum combination of temperature, acidity and nutrients varies theory of disease, medieval siege engines lobbed disease-ridden
from species to species, and the right or wrong choice can carcasses into fortified cities. During the conquest of North
greatly affect yields, experimenting to find the correct vat envi- America, smallpox-laden blankets may have been employed to
ronment is a major element in industrial biotech research. decimate Native American tribes. In the 1930s and 40s, Japan

MAN’S BEST FRIENDS 87

experimented with the use of plague in its con-
flict with China.
Modern science has made it possible to
Popular Biological Agents
The most popular biological weapons are
prepare stockpiles of actual germ cultures, and pathogenic bacteria and viruses. In addition,
to arm spray tanks, bombs and missile war- some types of bacteria can also be used to man-
heads with disease-carrying bacterial spores. ufacture poisons (just like they can make useful
However, science has also alerted us to the dan- proteins). An effective germ-warfare agent
gers of these weapons. No weapon is more should be lethal, or at least incapacitating, and
uncontrollable than a plague, capable of cross- easily spread. If you can only catch the disease
ing borders with impunity to scythe down from sexual contact, for example, it is less dan-
friend and foe alike. While limited numbers of gerous than one that will contaminate an area
people can be given preventive treatments in and whose spores can be inhaled.
advance (perhaps even secretly, disguised as a In general, bacteria are easier to work with
routine flu vaccine), germs also have a distress- than viruses and, because they can survive as
ing tendency to mutate. spores outside a host and contaminate an area
Society bans weapons when they are for long periods. On the other hand, viruses are
simultaneously difficult to control, imprecise in harder to treat (being immune to antibiotics).
their effects and capable of exciting moral out- Biotoxins are not contagious, but can be used to
rage. Germ warfare falls into all three cate- contaminate food or water supplies – the usual
gories, and so international efforts to outlaw terrorist scenario is dumping a large dose into a
microbiological weapons have been relatively city water plant.
successful. While stocks of bioweapons existed Since germs are difficult to control as a
at the height of the Cold War, most nations at weapon, it is often a good idea to choose a
least claim to have destroyed their germ-war- pathogen that can be treated (e.g., anthrax), as
fare arsenals today – although several are sus- this gives you time to secretly prepare for the
pected of having secret bioweapons programs. disease, while your target may be caught by
Note that some cultures have been preserved so surprise. Some favorite biological agents are
that they can be studied for disease prevention listed below; GURPS Compendium II
and treatment. describes other diseases that could conceivably
Current (1997) fears of biological weapons be used as bioagents – see pp. CII167-174.
are centered on their use by terrorists, such as
the Aum Shinrikyo cult, which released nerve
gas in Tokyo’s subways in 1995 and which was Anthrax
also developing biological weapons, and by This disease is caused by a bacterium
desperate “outlaw regimes,” such as Iraq under (Bacillus anthracis); people can catch anthrax
Saddam Hussein. by touching or inhaling its spores. Use the
Unfortunately for human survival, the Illness rules (p. B133), but with a -2 on HT
international consensus that has banned rolls for contagion. Anthrax can contaminate an
bioweapons could come to an end some time in area for about 40 years before the sun and rain
the next century. Biological weapons are far break it down. If the disease is caught, symp-
cheaper than nuclear weapons; with the end of toms appear in two or three days, including
the Cold War leaving the U.S.A. as the only coughing, shortness of breath, fever and vomit-
global superpower, some nations may feel that ing, followed by internal and external bleeding
germ warfare offers an affordable counter to lesions if the disease worsens. Use normal rules
U.S. nuclear might. Another culprit is genetic for “generic” diseases, but with a -3 to daily HT
engineering, which threatens to make possible rolls. Anthrax has been cultured by several
“smart” microbiological weapons that are far nations since WWII, and is easy to load into
more controllable than nature’s plagues. bomb and missile warheads. Vaccines exist,
Soldiers and politicians might find such tools and antibiotics are effective against it.
too useful to be suppressed.
Fortunately, the mechanics of epidemics
make it difficult to kill off an entire natural Botulinum Toxin
species with a single disease. A germ that is An example of a biotoxin, this is a poison
“too successful” and kills off all exposed tar- that is manufactured by a bacteria (Clostridium
gets leaves behind no reservoir of disease botulinum). It can be manufactured in fermenta-
organisms to infect isolated victims who tion vats, and may be a favorite of terrorists. As
escaped the initial outbreak. A disease that is it isn’t a germ, it is not contagious – but it is
less lethal will leave a population of survivors very lethal, and can be used to contaminate
immune to it, lessening the disease’s future food or water supplies. If it enters the body
impact. Deliberate or accidental germ warfare (usually via contaminated food or water) it
might kill off most – even 95% – of a particu- causes 4d damage after 2d hours. A HT roll
lar species, but probably won’t wipe it out halves damage; an antitoxin ($10) halves dam-
entirely. age again. Each dose is $200. See also p.
CII139.

88 MAN’S BEST FRIENDS

Bubonic Plague Enhanced Germs (TL7)
The “Black Death,” caused by the bacterium Yersinia This is the biowarfare nightmare scenario – the use of
pestis, devastated Europe in the Middle Ages. Bubonic plague genetic engineering to produce an “improved” pathogen.
cultures exist in research labs around the world, making it rela-
Treatment-Resistant Germs (late TL7): The simplest kind
tively easy to acquire. The plague is spread by rat-borne fleas; a
of gengineered germ warfare is to modify a virus or bacteria so
related disease, pneumonic plague, is spread by contact or air-
that it does not respond to known vaccinations. While a new
borne spores, making it more suitable for dispersal in warheads.
vaccine may be developed against it, it could be too late by the
See p. CII168 for details. Vaccines exist, and antibiotics are
time it is ready.
effective against it.
Increased Infectivity (TL8): Designing a more infectious
strain. A -1 or -2 on the HT roll for contagion (see Contagion, p.
Ebola B133) is possible at TL8, a -3 or -4 at TL9+. The rapid onset of
symptoms (in hours rather than days) may also be possible.
An extremely lethal virus – although ebola Zaire is not as
contagious as some “scare stories” have portrayed it to be, as it Species-Jumping (TL8): While some lethal germs harm
seems to spread to humans only through direct contact with multiple species, many diseases that are very lethal against cer-
blood, rather than through inhalation of viral particles. There is tain animals have no effect on humans, and vice versa. In
no chance of contagion if all contact with victims is avoided, nature, this can change through mutation, allowing a virus or
but HT rolls are at -5 if in physical contact with a victim’s blood bacteria to “jump the species barrier.” This might also be done
or bodily fluids. artificially, so that a disease known to be a very efficient killer
Symptoms occur 2-3 days after exposure, and include high of monkeys, sheep or Alpha Centaurans (for example) could be
fever, joint pain, delirium and destruction of internal tissue. altered into one that kills humans. Modifying terrestrial diseases
Daily recovery rolls are made at -4, with critical failure meaning to affect aliens (or vice versa) requires at least TL9; having live
loss of 1 HT per hour until death, failure meaning 1d lost HT, subjects to experiment on is usually necessary.
success meaning loss of 2 HT, and critical success meaning loss Tailored Lethality (TL8): Designing a more (or less) lethal
of 1 HT, but the disease is thrown off. The disease requires a strain. Ordinary illnesses work as described on p. B133, while
critical success or two consecutive successes to highly lethal ones like ebola or bubonic plague
shake off. Loss of half of original HT means the allow recovery only on a critical success or con-
disease affects the brain, causing Bad Temper (or secutive normal successes, or do more damage.
Berserk, if already bad-tempered) and causing At TL8, modifications to recovery rolls (e.g., an
further failed HT rolls to result in -1 IQ as well. extra -1 to -3) or to the severity of symptoms
If HT drops below 1/4 normal, the victim also (e.g., doubling HT loss) are possible; at TL9+,
suffers Hemophilia and begins to bleed from more drastic modifications can take place (e.g.,
bodily orifices. Death comes with convulsions, increasing the lethality of influenza to that of
which can splatter blood around the immediate bubonic plague).
area. There is no known vaccine, and antibiotics Vector Modifications (TL8): Some of the
are ineffective. most lethal diseases (like AIDS or rabies) spread
only through contact with bodily fluids. This
Influenza means that they can be contained by taking the
proper precautions. However, gengineering
The “flu” virus, in various strains. Influenza might be used to alter a particular agent so that it
is spread by contact with infected individuals. A can be airborne – e.g., redesigning ebola so it can
typical example uses the generic illness rules (p. be spread by coughing, or carried by mosquitos,
B133). It is very infectious (an extra -1 on HT fleas and the like. Of course, this might not
rolls to avoid catching it, unless all contact with always be desirable, since it makes it much hard-
victims was avoided), but treat it as a generic dis- er to control. This will modify the circumstances
ease for symptoms and recovery rolls. Vaccines under which a contagion roll is required.
are available, but antibiotics are ineffective.
GMs should feel free to customize the ill-
Rabbit Fever (Tularemia) nesses in GURPS Compendium II and this chap-
ter, as described above. GURPS Reign of Steel
Believed to have been used in some germ- (pp. RS111-112) also gives examples of
warfare programs, this resembles a mild form of “improved,” gengineered versions of influenza
bubonic plague. In nature, humans can catch it by and ebola.
eating infected rabbits, but the bacterium can be
cultured so that contact with its spores causes
infection. Treat it as a generic illness (p. B133)
for contagion. If caught, symptoms appear in 3-5
Target-Seeking Pathogens (TL8)
days, including head and body aches, fever, “Uh, Michelle – what’s with the mask and
ulcers and swollen glands. To recover, roll vs. gun? Have you gone Howard Hughes on me?
HT each day, with failure causing the loss of 1 Okay, I’ll take off my clothes – hey, that spray
HT and success recovering 1 HT. Recovery of all stings! That’s my best outfit! Don’t burn it!
HT doesn’t end the disease; rather, it progresses What’s going on?”
until 2d+10 days have passed or a critical success “It’s the Russki-Yak, Tommy. They’ve sicked
is rolled. See also p. CII171. a smart superflu virus on me, tailored to my

MAN’S BEST FRIENDS 89

genetic code. They don’t know where I’m hiding, but it doesn’t
make a difference. Anyone in town could be a carrier – you, the
dog, the landlady – it’s not important, ’cause it won’t do a thing
New Germs
Even more frightening than simply tinkering with existing
to them. It has my name on it.” germs is the prospect of an entirely new “designer plague.” This
would probably be produced by extensive modification of an
This genetic modification is one of the more exotic poten- existing (even harmless) bacteria or virus, perhaps combining
tial spin-offs of gengineering and genome mapping. With this genetic material from multiple different organisms into one.
know-how, a microorganism (most likely, a virus) might be New germs should be designed using the guidelines on p.
modified so that it will only attack individuals who possess cer- B133 or by modifying the various diseases described in
tain genetic markers. Compendium II. The best way to “personalize” new diseases is
At TL8, a virus can be modified so that it affects a fairly to select disadvantages that occur in addition to HT loss, usually
clear-cut set of genetic traits; e.g., blond hair, men only, women after 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 3/4 HT has been lost to that disease.
only. People possessing recessive genes may be vulnerable to Especially appropriate disadvantages include Blindness,
target-seeking viruses without obviously exhibiting those traits. Sterility or even Bad Smell (from rotting flesh). More exotic
At TL9, a virus can be modified to attack individuals with diseases might even cause mental disadvantages by attacking
more complex combinations of genetic traits – for example, brain tissue.
those that make up a particular racial group, or even traits
known to be common to a particular family.
At TL10, even more discretion is possible. A virus might be
Sample New Bacteria – Oedipus-5 (TL9)
targeted specifically at an individual – it would affect him, or This is a terrifying bacteriological weapon that attacks the
his clone or twin, but no one else. nervous system and strips away neural sheathing. The bacterium
At TL11+, target-seeking viruses can be a lot smarter, using also has a special affinity for attacking eye tissue. Oedipus-5
biological nanomachines rather than simple engineered viruses; does not always kill, but survivors are often left uncoordinated
if the genome information is correct, they are reasonably fool- and blind, posing additional problems for treatment.
proof. Infection: Spreads normally, as described on p. B133.
Symptoms: These develop in 24 hours, and consist of
blurred vision and dizziness. Loss of more than 1/3 HT causes
“I didn’t mean it! It was a mistake! How was I supposed to -1 DX. Loss of more than 1/2 HT results in -2 DX, Bad Sight
know the sequence I picked to target that Michelle woman was and the Total Klutz disadvantage (p. CI82). Loss of more than
also found in the capo’s wife and daughters?” 2/3 HT causes -3 DX, and adds the Blindness and Confused (p.
– Doc Hobo, street splicer CI88) disadvantages; the eyes turn into weeping sores filled
with pus, and the body shakes constantly.
It is absolutely vital to have acquired accurate information Progress and Recovery: A HT-4 roll is required every day.
on the genetics of the intended target group before the virus is A critical failure means loss of 1d+1 HT. A failed roll means
created! The would-be viral warrior should exercise great care loss of 1 HT. A success lets you regain 1 HT. Three consecutive
in specifying what traits the virus will target. For instance, sup- regular successes, or a critical success, means the disease is
pose a white-supremacist terrorist group wants a virus that will shaken off. HT is recovered normally, but any disadvantages
target non-whites. Unfortunately for genetic Nazis, in all but the gained are permanent.
most isolated countries, there have been centuries of racial mix- Treatment: Antibiotics have their normal effect, and
ing. As a result, the virus will probably either kill a lot of the Panimmunity will also provide a bonus. Neural and vision dam-
group’s own members, or spare many of the people they want to age may be fixed by TL8+ fetal tissue and eye transplants, but
affect, depending on how selective its designers made it. This is the process requires major transplant operations, and will cost at
even true of “simple” targets like hair color, since very few phe- least $2,000 per point of disadvantage that is to be repaired.
notypes are governed by a single gene – a competently-designed
virus intended to kill blonds will do that, but will also kill some
non-blonds and leave some blonds alive.
Anti-Material Bacteria
Halfway between killer germs and exotic indus-
trial bacteria, these are microorganisms designed to
attack nonliving things rather than animals or plants.
Some types that are already under development (mak-
ing them TL8) include:

Explosive-Eating Bacteria: Usually targeted at a

specific chemical explosive; e.g., TNT, RDX,
Plastex-B, et cetera. These will knock out explosive
warheads and chemical propellants.
Petroleum-Eating Bacteria: Based on bacteria
used to clean up oil spills, these are designed to eat
hydrocarbon-based lubricants and fuels such as gaso-
line, diesel and jet fuel.
Rubber-Eating Bacteria: These could destroy
tires, fuel lines, valves, boots, et cetera, disabling vul-
nerable equipment.

90 MAN’S BEST FRIENDS

 Other Types: At TL9+, more exotic types of bacteria (or line is set up, prices may drop to about $10/dose. A pathogen
nanomachines that work like bacteria) may become available whose purpose is relatively benign (e.g., one intended to get rid
that can rapidly degrade plastics, various biotech materials and of a certain breed of dangerous animal or to kill off insect pests)
even silicon chips. However, bacteria won’t have much chance may be LC 4 and available on the open market.
against metal, stone or most advanced composites and ceramics. Any system for delivering drugs (hypos, needler rounds, et
Other types of microbes may also be used. cetera) can carry biological weapons. A HT-4 roll is required to
If equipment or supplies that are vulnerable to a particular avoid contagion if injected or shot. Depending on the disease
anti-material bacteria are in an area that is contaminated, or vector, bioweapons may also be delivered by insects (see p. 95)
come into contact with infected material, check for infection. or other animal carriers. Bacterial spores or virus particles can
Use the Contagion rules (p. B133) as guidelines to see if the be loaded into a chemical round such as a gas grenade or bomb
bacteria infect particular material. Ignore modifiers for eating and detonated to create a plague-ridden area, or put into ventila-
flesh, but “intimate contact” would be direct physical contact tion systems, sprinkled on artifacts in tombs and so on. Usually,
with contaminated material – e.g., topping off an uninfected fuel the number of doses to contaminate a given area of effect is R ×
tank with contaminated gasoline, or spraying the bacteria direct- (R-1)/3, where R is the desired radius in hexes.
ly into a mechanism. Instead of rolling against HT, use the
TL+2 of the material the bacteria attacks, or its container,
whichever is higher.
Designing Gengineered Microorganisms
Generally, infected material will show initial signs of rot or These use a simpler version of the system for gengineering
contamination after 24 hours and become useless (eaten away, humans. See Designing Plants, Microorganisms and Insects (p.
turned to goo, et cetera) within 48 hours. During this time, the 97).
bacteria can infect other material it contacts. A roll against NBC
Warfare skill (p. CI151; biological sensors like bioscanners give
bonuses) can detect contamination early enough to treat it (using
disinfectant sprays, et cetera). A fully-airtight container or seal
Fighting Disease
What science produces, it can also cure – sometimes. In
will protect against anti-material bacteria. In the case of sealed addition to chemical treatments, bioengineering has produced
vehicles or bases, GMs can require occasional rolls vs. NBC several methods of dealing with disease.
Warfare skill, with a failure or indicating that some sort of mis-
take was made (e.g., a seal left open), which will allow a chance
of contamination. Of course, saboteurs can always open up Vaccines (late TL5)
machinery and actually spray the bacteria into it directly! A vaccine is a suspension of dead or weakened disease-
In general, anti-material bacteria are devastating against causing viral particles or bacteria. Injecting a vaccine (“inocu-
unprepared targets (especially at TL7 or less) but will be of lim- lating”) tricks the subject’s immune system into producing
ited use against targets equipped with countermeasures, such as defenses ready to fight off the real disease, should it appear.
ultra-tech military forces. See also Cleanup (p. 127). The concept originated with Edward Jenner at the end of
the 18th century and was developed by Louis Pasteur in the
19th, but only in the 20th century did vaccines become relatively
Purchasing Microorganisms
Natural bacterial or viral cultures (for existing germs) might
cheap (prices average $20/shot, but can be as little as pennies
per shot). Programs of mass-innoculation are responsible for the
virtual extinction of several diseases, including smallpox. They
be available on the black or open market. The open-market price have also spread a few diseases, when innoculations were per-
for legitimate science labs is in the $100-$1,000 range. Only a formed with unsterilized needles.
few doses of any disease will be sold, since after the sale, it is With few exceptions (notably rabies), innoculation is only
relatively easy for anyone with a genetics lab to culture the dis- effective on someone who has not yet caught that disease. In
ease extremely cheaply. For this reason, gengineered microor- game terms, a vaccine gives someone “Immunity to Disease”
ganisms with commercial or military value will often have against one particular strain of pathogen – but as viruses are
sticker prices up to a thousand times higher, in order that some constantly mutating, new vaccines may need to be created (use
profit can be realized. the New Invention rules, p. B186).
Lethal bioagents are usually LC -1 to 2, and black-market Making a vaccine is tricky: If it is too weak, it won’t pro-
prices may be a hundred times higher per dose. If a production vide immunity, while if it is not weakened enough, it may infect

MAN’S BEST FRIENDS 91

the patient. This is especially important when dealing with very trum versions, designed to affect numerous common bacteria.
lethal diseases! One solution is genetically engineered vaccines Unlike a vaccine, a specific enzyme blocker is generally effec-
(late TL7). These are made by splicing genes for a virus’ outer tive against mutant strains; a mutation is rarely drastic enough
protein coat (which is what the immune system recognizes) into to alter the fundamental enzymes that a particular virus or bacte-
bacteria. These are then cloned, and the harvested proteins used ria uses.
to make a vaccine. With no “real” virus particles, the vaccine is A specific enzyme blocker, affecting only one microbe,
both strong and safe. gives a +8 to HT rolls to resist that particular illness; broad-
spectrum agents give a +4. The effect is similar to that of an
Antibiotics (TL6) antibiotic, but is effective against viruses or parasites; HT
bonuses are cumulative with antibiotics.
Antibiotics are substances derived from microorganisms, A typical course of enzyme-blocking drugs costs about
originally mold. While non-toxic to humans (except for a few $100 at TL7, $20 at TL8, $10 at TL9 or $5 at TL10+. Some
people who are allergic to them), they kill other microbes, halt- (such as those used to treat AIDS) are far more expensive, cost-
ing infection. Antibiotics are effective against bacteria and fun- ing this much per day.
gus infections, but are ineffective against viruses and some para-
sites (e.g., malaria). The first antibiotic was penicillin, discov-
ered by Sir Alexander Fleming in 1929 and mass produced dur-
ing World War II.
Gengineered Plants
Billy Falkenburg stood by the fence post, his dog Ruff
A typical antibiotic is effective against only one type of beside him. The fields of transgenic cotton stretched for acres, a
bacteria or fungus infection. It gives +4 to HT rolls when rolling brilliant orange cloud as far as the eye could see.
to shake off whatever strain it was designed to fight, and +3 vs. “Dad’s farm’s so dull,” Billy muttered. “Good thing sum-
closely-related strains. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are also mer’s almost over. I can’t wait to get back to orbit.”
available, and provide a +2 HT bonus against most terrestrial “Me, too,” Ruff growled.
bacteria and fungus infections and +(1d-3) (minimum 0)
vs. newly-encountered germs (record that bonus). A
typical price for a course of antibiotics is $10 (halved at
TL8), though types targeted against rare diseases may
be more costly, in very short supply or still under devel-
opment.
At TL10, the wonder drug Genericillin (p. UT99)
becomes available. A single dose costs $100, and gives
+4 to HT against most Terran diseases and +(1d-1) to
HT against newly-encountered germs (again, record that
bonus). These bonuses apply for the duration of the dis-
ease; there is no ongoing “course” of treatments.
Antibiotics were the wonder drugs of the mid-20th
century, allowing doctors to treat diseases rather than
just relieving symptoms. However, we now know that
they are not a panacea. Under evolutionary pressure
from antibiotics, many strains of bacteria that were vul-
nerable to them were killed off, while new strains have
arisen (or mutated) that are far more resistant. In turn,
pharmaceutical laboratories have subjected antibiotics
to processes designed to alter and change them, in a
constant struggle to produce superior disease-fighting
weapons. GMs should decide if a particular disease is antibiotic- Genetic engineering is poised to exert a revolutionary
resistant; if so, antibiotics will provide half or no bonus (GM’s transformation on Earth’s agriculture – in fact, it has already
option). begun to do so. A variety of factors are lending impetus to
these changes. Rapid population growth means we need to
Enzyme-Blocking Medical Drugs (Late TL7) grow more food, which means either higher yields or finding
ways to grow things in barren areas. Continuing environmental
Gengineered enzyme production and gene cloning allow the degradation means we need crops that can grow in areas where
design of specialized drugs that work by blocking specific vital soil or water resources are depleted – or crops that don’t
enzymes that a particular virus or bacteria needs to replicate. deplete soil.
The key to successful enzyme-blocker design is to find an Some of the possible developments in gengineered plants
enzyme that is vital to the target virus or bacteria but which is are described below. No costs have been given, but as a general
not used by human metabolism. In a few cases, this may prove rule, the start-up costs for a genemod strain are several times
difficult. If so, the enzyme blockers may have some side effects higher than for ordinary seeds, but eventual yields will be much
– typically, each daily dose will also require a HT roll to avoid greater. In a commercial sense, this may favor corporate agribiz
taking one point of damage, whether the enzyme-blocker suc- and rich-nation farmers, who can afford the latest gengineered
ceeds or fails. Some enzyme blockers used to combat AIDS crops and thus have a competitive advantage. On the other hand,
have this problem. if gengineering technology becomes widespread (likely at
Enzyme blockers may either be targeted against a single TL9+), even poor regions could make their own bioengineered
species of virus or bacteria (e.g., influenza) or be broad-spec- crops.

92 MAN’S BEST FRIENDS

Plant Cloning Industrial Plants (Late TL7)
Plants are exceedingly easy to clone com- Researchers have already spliced bacteria
pared to animals. From a biotech perspective, this that produce normally-expensive biodegradable
means that if a single plant has been shown to be plastic into fast-growing plants; with “plas-
disease-free or unusually fertile, it can be rapidly plants,” it should be possible to harvest such
cloned, making thousands of identical copies environmentally-friendly plastics at a small frac-
without the genetic variation introduced by simply tion of their usual cost. In a similar vein, oilseed
using the seeds of that plant. A risk of doing this crops (like soy beans and rapeseed) are being
sort of thing to excess, though, is the reduction of gengineered to produce oils that can be used to
overall genetic diversity, which might make a make environmentally-friendly lubricants and
species more vulnerable to pests or disease. detergents. At TL8+, there are numerous possi-
bilities. How about two-year-growth, barkless
Growth Times trees for the wood and paper industry, or long-
fiber, seedless cotton with the dye already gengi-
The growth times listed for plants generally neered in?
assume normal agricultural practices. If forced-
growth tanks (p. 19) large enough to contain an
adult plant of the desired size are used, the time
Market-Friendly Crops (Late TL7)
required will drop to a flat 6 weeks. Food plants may be redesigned with the
supermarket shelf in mind. Short-term possibili-
ties include designer flavors, longer shelf life for
Designing Gengineered Plants fruit (adding genes designed to block enzymes
that cause over-rapid ripening), tougher skin (to
These use a simpler version of the system for
gengineering humans. See Designing Plants, reduce bruising and allow mechanical picking),
Microorganisms and Insects (p. 97). and antioxidants that would keep apples from
going brown when exposed to air. At TL8+,
shape may be modified: How about square fruit
Adventures with Seeds or vegetables, for easier packing?
While genemod crops aren’t as exciting as
killer viruses or modified animals, they could eas-
ily figure into an adventure plot. A new species or
Pest-Resistant Plants (Late TL7)
Insects lay waste to billions of dollars worth
strain of plant, or samples from an especially of crops every year, or force the use of expen-
healthy or fertile plant that is destined for cloning, sive (and sometimes environmentally-damaging)
might be the target of industrial espionage or eco- chemical pesticides. By splicing in genes from a
sabotage, since it could be worth megabucks to an bacteria or virus that makes a particular insect
agribiz corporation . . . or be a matter of life or sick (but which has no effect on other species),
death for a famine-threatened region or struggling plants can have their own, built-in insecticides,
colony world. For an interesting take on this, the targeted against their natural enemies. This has
classic Star Trek episode The Trouble With already been done with some tomato, cotton and
Tribbles is well worth viewing. potato plants, making them resistant to particular
kind of caterpillar.

Plant Modifications (Late TL7) Pharm Plants (Late TL7)

In the past, farmers and scientists have used Like bacteria, transgenic plants can be
eugenic procedures to produce crops with higher gengineered to yield medically-useful proteins
yields or faster growth rates. Gengineering will (usually, a certain amount of processing is
speed up these improvements, but it can also offer required). Already, trials are underway with
more exotic biomods. A number of these are list- plants designed to produce serum for treating
ed below. These can be combined; e.g., plant- burn victims. At TL8+, plants may produce
cloning of especially healthy, climate-adaptive, designer proteins that can be used to manufac-
nif beefapples. ture various “wonder drugs.”

Disease-Resistant Plants (Late TL7) Drought-Resistant Crops (TL8)

Gengineers have already succeeded at intro- Vast tracts of land are presently useless for
ducing genes into several crop plants to make agriculture due to insufficient water or high
them tolerant of germs and fungi. At TL7-8 these salinity. Disputes over the diversion of rivers for
are usually disease-specific, aimed at resisting irrigation purposes may lead to war in water-
common scourges. Broad-spectrum disease resis- poor regions, such as the Middle East. One solu-
tance (TL9) and disease immunity (TL10) may tion may be to make the deserts bloom without
also be possible, allowing crops to be protected extra irrigation. The osm genes (which regulate
against unknown threats or even gengineered osmosis, the loss or gain of water in plant cells)
bioweapons. may be tinkered with, based on what is known of

MAN’S BEST FRIENDS 93

species that survive in harsh climates. The result
may be strains of “drought-resistant” crops, or Manna (TL10)
crops which are adapted to a particular type of Very sophisticated gengineering may pro-
harsh climate. duce a single food crop that can fulfill all human
Other Climate Adaptations: Frost tolerance is nutritional needs! This would be a boon for any
already being engineered into crops. Tolerance of overpopulated planet, since cultivating one crop is
more water (swamp cactus, anyone?) is another easier than many. Of course, even if gengineered
possibility. Metabolic modifications could also to taste good, eating the same thing may get bor-
enable plants to cope with too little or too much ing after awhile. At TL11+, food crops become
sunlight or carbon dioxide. This may be vital if less important, as nanotech “protein factories” can
environmental catastrophe looms. synthesize food from basic chemical compounds.

Nutricrops (TL8) Residential Trees (TL9)

Plants may be genetically altered so that their
Trees could be gengineered to rapidly grow a
stored proteins (in cereal seeds or fruits) have
huge, thick trunk, with room for hollow spaces
more of the essential amino acids that humans
inside it and complex, modified roots capable of
and domesticated animals require. This would
carrying water for use by the occupants.
mean that fewer “nutritional additives” would
Gengineered seeds to grow a house-sized tree
need to be added to animal feed, or to foods that
might cost $5,000, with the tree being ready within
are packaged for human consumption, reducing
two years. Remodeling and decorating the interior
agribiz costs.
(probably installing “cybernetic” plumbing and
Exotic Flowers and Lawns (TL8/9) heating) would an extra $15,000, but even without
this, the tree would be useful as a survival shelter.
Flowers, lawn grass, shrubs, house plants or Of course, real estate to grow the tree on is extra!
palm trees may be gengineered with exotic aro- In a similar vein, “shelter seeds” which yield giant
mas (apricot blossoms), colors (electric-blue gourds in mere weeks may be available.
roses) or even shapes. Some may have biolumi-
nescent genes (from fireflies) spliced into them.
The market for exotic flowers may be huge! Plants as Bioweapons
Nif Plants (TL8/9) (TL varies, usually TL9+)
Cells require nitrogen to build proteins. While animals get Plants and fungi may be engineered for offensive or defen-
nitrogen by eating things, plants extract it from “fixed” nitrogen sive purposes, perhaps equipped with poisonous thorns or toxic
(ammonia and nitrates) in soil. A major limit on crop yields is pollen or spores. One example is given below:
infertile soil that lacks nitrogen. Fertilizers work by adding Blood Roses (TL9) are transgenic roses gengineered with
nitrogen to soil, but they are expensive, and many are dependent poison sacs and more – and tougher – thorns than usual.
on (potentially limited) oil supplies. Someone pushing through a hex of blood roses will take 1d-2
Some microbes can extract nitrogen gas from the air and cutting damage. If any damage penetrates DR, a HT roll is
create molecules of ammonia, nitrates or other compounds, thus required. Failure means taking 3d damage after 10 minutes. The
fertilizing the soil. These microbes have evolved to live on the roses retain their poison after being cut (losing one die per day).
roots of some plants (legumes), but not other species, such as Someone handling them should make a DX+1 roll to avoid
rice or wheat. This is why planting legumes helps restore deplet- being jabbed (due to the increased number of thorns). A single,
ed soil, a technique farmers have known for centuries. TL8 cut blood rose costs $50; seeds are $100 each.
gengineers may be able to develop bacteria that can colonize the
roots of non-legume species, or vice versa. A more elegant
application (TL9) would be to insert nitrogen-fixing (“nif”)
genes into crop plants themselves!
Other Biotech Foodstuffs (TL7)
Besides traditional crops, biotech can produce many cheap
Chimera Plants (TL9) alternatives:
Algae (TL7) is easily cultured in natural or artificial ponds
After crop yields are improved, further transgenic gene or lakes, and requires only very simple chemicals, as it gets
splicing and a quest for fad food may lead to exotic, cross- most of its energy from sunlight. Genemod algae could produce
species genemod plants, like bananawheat or even beefapples, yields several times greater than wheat at very low costs, and be
with unusual flavors or appearances. Another possibility is total- easily harvested and flavored.
ly synthetic species, or terrestrial/alien crop genesplices that Mycoprotein (TL7) is a high-protein, high-fiber “synthetic
taste like nothing on Earth. food” manufactured by the ton from mold cultures. Much cheaper

94 MAN’S BEST FRIENDS

than meat, but just as nutritious, mycoprotein can be grown using
simple starches, or even nutrients derived from the waste products
of pulp and paper, cheese-making and other industries. Raw
Gengineered Insects
An insect can be altered and conditioned to transform it into
mycoprotein is safe to eat but utterly bland, but it can be modified
to look and taste like a variety of foodstuffs, such as meat or fish. a useful tool, or even a form of organic robot. All references to
High production start-up costs and consumer resistance in “insects” below also refer to other small arthropods, like spiders.
favor of “real food” have limited algae’s and mycoprotein’s
acceptance as human staples, but both are in use as animal feed Designing Gengineered Insects
and food additives. If future overpopulation makes raising cere- These use a simpler version of the system for gengineering
als, fish or animals too expensive, they may take over, forming a humans. See Designing Plants, Microorganisms and Insects (p.
staple diet to feed the hungry masses. Mycoprotein may also be 97).
a good choice for spacecraft “food vats.”

Fauxflesh Vats (TL9) Insect Bioweapons

Insect bioweapons are usually stored as vials of eggs and
NAPANEE (AP) – Acting on an anonymous tip, Ontario released into still water; in a few hours, days or weeks, they will
Provincial Police raided a factory building on the outskirts of hatch into tens of thousands of insects.
An area might be seeded with biting insects, such as horse-
Napanee. They found what one officer called a “disgusting
flies or blackflies. Multiple bites cause pain (-1 on DX and IQ
scene, right out of the 20th century”: live pigs and chickens until treated) and prevent anyone from getting any sleep (result-
being slaughtered and packed by modified agribots for the ing in fatigue).
black-market meat trade. “I thought I’d seen everything in Other insect bioweapons might be given more subtle tar-
my 10 years on the force,” said OPP officer Bill Mackenzie, gets. While sending genemod moths with a programmed desire
“But this really turns your stomach, eh?” Police made six to eat the enemy’s uniforms is probably more an exercise in
arrests. whimsy than anything else, a plague of unseasonal pests that eat
crops or get into stored grain is no laughing matter, especially if
The carnivore equivalent of hydroponics, fauxflesh may they’ve been altered to resist the usual pesticides.
someday make eating meat illegal, or at least unfashionable . . . For greater lethality, insect pests could be infected to carry
Fauxflesh uses the same technology used to grow artificial specific genemod plagues dangerous to humans or other ani-
humans organs and tissues. Gengineered cells mals. Often, bloodsucking, winged insects are
made from livestock tissue are cultured in growth chosen, such as mosquitos (which can already
tanks, where they are artificially supplied with carry several diseases). In game terms, anyone
nutrients. The result is a continuously-growing traveling through an area infested with plague-
“biomass” of lean meat tissue that is periodically carrying insects is treated as being in a “plague-
harvested whenever food is required, or when it ridden” area (p. B133) or area with “special
gets too big for its vat. infection” (p. B134) if they lack appropriate
At TL9 and up, spacecraft and colonies that repellent, insect-resistant clothing or force fields.
possess full life support can be assumed to have Genetic modification can be used to make an
fauxflesh vats, providing meat even if the ship or insect bioweapon much more useful. The insects
station is too small to carry actual livestock. A could be designed so that they will not attack if
small ship (e.g., one with life support for less they detect certain chemical cues – which are
than a hundred people) may only have room for a often odors below the human olfactory threshold.
single variety of fauxflesh (“Beef again? I’d kill That way, you can protect your own people with
for lamb!”) Larger vessels may have different a specialized form of repellent.
vats growing various kinds of animal cells. For even greater precision, insect weapons
Once fauxflesh becomes available, animal could be programmed to home in on a specific
rights groups may be able to convince the general chemical cue and only attack targets that give it
public (and thus governments) to ban animal off. This is easy if the enemy are another species,
slaughter as cruel, unusual and unnecessary – but if (for instance) the enemy uses a particular
despite the difference in cost. Of course, the farm food, lubricant or laundry detergent and none of
lobby may protest – but what if someone gengi- the local civilians or your own people do, then
neers intelligence into a pig or cow, and has it you can gengineer your insects to go after them
serve as a spokesbeing? If fauxflesh does become and leave everyone else alone. For the enemy to
the rule, there may even be an illegal trade in discover what was happening, they would have
manufacturing and smuggling “real meat,” just as to first trace any plague to the insects, dissect the
there is in ivory or whale products today. insect to understand what molecules it is reacting
Shutting down (or running) such an operation to, then correlate this with the odors of all their
could be an interesting cyberpunk adventure. equipment and supplies. Even with chemsniffers

MAN’S BEST FRIENDS 95

and computer analysis, this could take A major limitation of insect agents is their
weeks. A more trial-and-error approach limited ability to recognize things. In general, an
would be to leave out certain supplies to see insect will recognize its owner and can be pro-
if the insects are attracted to them in the grammed to recognize up to two other things
absence of humans. during a mission; for instance, a target building
Another modification that could make it is to fly to and a person or object it is to find
insect weapons nastier is to redesign them to within that building. An insect director can trans-
be resistant to certain common types of mit images of specific way stations and targets to
insect repellent, or to have pan-specific poi- the insect along with mission instructions.
son resistance. A pesticide that kills any Insect agents have an extremely limited
insect can of course be engineered, but this ability to communicate with their owners. They
may fatally damage the ecosystem (killing can basically give yes-or-no answers to very
beneficial insects or plants) and have toxic simple, mission-related questions such as, “Did
short- or long-term effects on human health you complete your mission?” If in contact with
as well. the insect director, they can also upload limited
If the technology exists, the best way to sensory perceptions related to their mission,
deal with genemod insects may be microbot such as sensory “snapshots” of the seconds
swarms, target-seeking viruses (those that before, during and after the objective is reached,
kill insects are “baculoviruses”) or nano- along with a general impression of the route
machines (see p. RO69 for an example). taken to the target. These can be experienced
For more insect weapons, see the next directly by anyone accessing the insect director
section. software via neural interface, and will be
extremely disorienting – with strange insect-eye
views and olfactory cues – but perhaps useful
Insect Agents (TL9)
An insect agent is an insect or arachnid
(make an IQ-4 roll to get blurred sensory
impressions from it; robots add +4).
Alternatively, the computer software can try to
– such as a mosquito, ant or spider – geneti- overlay it on a map and thus find out where the
cally altered and implanted with biochips to insect has been.
make it an effective covert-operations
device. Insect agents are useful for spying,
sabotage and assassination. Insect Director (TL9)
The insect’s genes are tinkered with to This is a small peripheral, usually attached
make it vastly more intelligent within a lim- to a portable computer or built into a robot or
ited sphere. While it is IQ 1, it can perform suit. Using specialized software (see below), the
a specific, preprogrammed mission as if it user can key in or speak simple commands,
were IQ 6. The engineering also includes a which are translated into infrared, audio or
biological clock, which allows the insect to chemical signals that can be understood by the
be programmed to perform actions (such as gene-altered sensory and nervous systems of an
returning to its owner) at specific times. insect agent. The director can also receive
Further modifications permit it to receive chemical, audio or infrared reports from the
and transmit signals, usually via tiny insect agent, which it will translate for the oper-
infrared “pits” or modified pheromones. An ator. The communicator has a range of only 1
insect agent does not have cybernetic yard, and works best if the insect is actually sit-
implants – in fact, that is its main advan- ting on it.
tage: as a totally organic construct, it Programming an insect agent with a mis-
doesn’t show up on sensors that detect sion normally takes about 5 minutes. The GM
power sources or metal. can make a secret Computer Programming or
Insect agents are controlled by insect Electronics Operation (Security) skill roll to see
directors (see below), which provide a limit- if this was done properly, with penalties if the
ed ability to communicate with them. They instructions seem confusing. Failure means the
can be given very simple orders, provided insect does not do quite what the user intended
these are unambiguous and within the capa- (GM’s option). Critical failure means the pro-
bilities of a trained, IQ 6 animal. However, gram causes the insect to do something totally
the insect can’t be programmed with more different from what the user wanted, or causes it
than one mission at a time. In general, an to behave in a self-destructive fashion, resulting
insect can be programmed to travel to a in its loss or capture.
landmark or search for a target object it is To work, an insect director must be plugged
capable of recognizing. If it finds a target, into a computer running an “insect translation”
the insect can then follow it, mark it with program (Complexity 4, $4,000). A separate
pheromones, bite it, deposit a payload upon program is required for each brand of insect
it or, if the target is tiny enough for the agent. The director itself is $2,000, 0.25 lbs.
insect to carry, retrieve it. (computer not included).

96 MAN’S BEST FRIENDS

Examples of Insect Agents Smart Bug (TL10)
A smart ant or small spider uses the same rules as a smart
Smart Mosquito (TL10) mosquito, except that it is limited to moving on the ground at
Move 2, cannot act as a blood sampler, has Tracking-7, and can
Amongst the most common insects to be modified are
female (bloodsucking) mosquitos. A mosquito’s ability to fly, carry a little more (gives only +2 to resist any drug or poison).
its small size, its excellent sense of smell and, most of all, its While it can’t fly, it can walk up walls. Its other advantage is
ability to be modified to deliver chemicals into the blood make that it’s harder to notice, as it’s effectively silent; an IQ-4 roll is
it a highly useful organic platform for covert operations. required to spot an ant or spider sneaking up on you. On the
A smart mosquito has the usual mental and physical modifi- other hand, it’s easy to kill – just step on it.
cations common to insect agents. It also has a pheromone gland Smart ants or spiders are slightly easier to construct than
that allows it to mark objects with a distinctive scent so that it mosquitos, and cost $5,000. They can also be equipped with two
can find them later. It will always mark its owner. additional biological modifications:
The insect can fly at about 20 mph. It has an effective Hardened Mandibles (TL10): This allows the bug to per-
Tracking skill of 10, which can be used to find objects or people form sabotage, eventually chewing tiny holes in ducts, slicing
it has been programmed to recognize. It can be programmed to wires or biting for 1 point of damage per minute. Add $1,000.
scent-mark an object it has found. Provided that target is not Vacuum Adaptation (TL11): The insect’s body has been
behind a sealed barrier or more than a mile or so distant, this surgically adapted to survive for a short time (up to an hour) in
gives the mosquito +3 on any Tracking rolls to find it later on. space, or other high- or low-pressure environments. Add
The mosquito can be programmed to perform one of several $10,000.
tasks if it finds its target:
Payload: The mosquito cannot carry anything heavier than
a few grains of sand, but sometimes that can be enough! Useful
Other Insect Agents
House flies, moths, cockroaches, dragonflies – all might
payloads that it can be programmed to pick up or deposit have their own uses. The GM is encouraged to come up with
include tiny, pinhead-sized listening devices and messages that other types of insect agents for specific applications.
are coded as microdots ($1 each). These can also be deposited
on someone and scent-marked for later retrieval.
Sampler: The mosquito can draw blood from a subject and
retain it without consuming it for up to six hours. This can pro-
vide a blood sample for analysis.
Designing Plants,
Target Marking: Mark the object with a pheromone marker.
This can be combined with any other task.
Vector Attack: The insect can carry and transmit a dose of a
Microorganisms and Insects
New types of plants, microorganisms or insects, for both
germ-warfare agent or proteus virus (designed not to affect the peaceful purposes and warfare, can be created using either the
mosquito). It may also carry a drug or poison, but as it can only New Inventions rules on p. B186 or the expanded version on pp.
carry a small dose, HT rolls to resist are at +4. Delivery is by CI121-127. Use Genetics (Genetic Engineering)-15. Gengineers
biting. This won’t penetrate armor, but many people won’t even should base the design on an existing organism, splicing addi-
notice a mosquito bite (IQ-2 roll to do so). tional genes into it to produce the desired effect.
If someone is being stalked by a smart mosquito, he should Plants, insects and bacteria are usually easier to customize
get an IQ-3 roll to notice it (Acute Hearing or Vision helps, as than viruses; apply an extra -2 on all rolls to gengineer viruses.
does Alertness). A mosquito-sized insect is -12 to hit due to its Other suggested modifiers: +1 to +5 for minor variations on an
small size, but any hit will kill it. If the character has a fly swat- existing organism; +2 to copy a gengineered design if you know
ter or area-effect attack, like bug spray or a flamer, there is only it exists and have a description but not a model; -5 if trying
a -2 penalty to hit. something new (up to one TL higher may be possible) or com-
A smart mosquito has a lifespan of only two months. This plex. The GM may wish to apply an additional modifier of -(TL-
can be extended by keeping it in suspended animation when not 6) per extra modification made to the original organism, where
in use. A smart mosquito costs $8,000; it can be carried in a “TL” is the minimum TL required for that particular modifica-
matchbox-sized carrying case. Drugs that are capable of extend- tion.
ing the smart mosquito’s life span by one month per dose cost To make the “conception” roll, the gengineer requires a
$100 per dose. They are effective on a roll of 15 or less; roll Complexity 3+ computer that is running the appropriate gengi-
each month. Smart mosquitos are LC 3. neering software.

MAN’S BEST FRIENDS 97

 To make the “working model” roll, a genet- from deadly animals. These might also be used
ics lab (p. 21) and appropriate cultures (or a way in ecological warfare. Most such beasts are LC
of synthesizing them) are needed. Apply modi- 2-3; those that can breed rapidly might be LC
fiers for lab quality; this counts as a “major” 0-1.
task. If creating or modifying a disease, the GM
should determine disease statistics using the
guidelines given under Germ Warfare (p. 87).
Hardy and Pantropic Animals
Add +1 to the working model roll for every Just like plants, animals can be gengi-
assistant with either Genetics (Genetic neered for improved disease-resistance or to
Engineering) or Biochemistry skill 20+, maxi- survive changing climates (perhaps brought on
mum four assistants. by eco-disasters). More exotically, they might
A critical failure on the conception roll gen- be made to smell or taste bad to pests or preda-
erally means that the organism will either do tors, designed to survive on other planets by
something it wasn’t supposed to (for instance, a splicing in genes so that they can digest alien
germ may infect a broader or narrower range of plants or animals, or modified to survive in
targets than was originally intended) or is totally unusually harsh climates. For example, “Mars
non-viable. A critical failure on the working Goats” designed for a partially-terraformed red
model roll could mean the accidental release of a planet may possess hyper-evolved lungs, inter-
dangerous organism; how dangerous will nal water storage capacity and thick fur.
depend on what was being designed (but see
Lab Biohazard Precautions, p. 21). Even if the
intended result was non-lethal, there is a slim
High-Yield Farm Animals
By modifying genes that control growth
chance it may mutate to do something it wasn’t hormone or fat production, animals can be
supposed to – this is up to the GM. designed with leaner meat, improved milk, egg
Once a working model has been construct- or wool production, and other commercially-
ed, it can be cultured in vats and mass produced desirable genemods. Splicing in genes from
if a bacteria, or grown from seeds if a plant. related species (e.g., putting cow genes in pigs)
Insects may be cloned or hatched normally. may also produce larger – or different-tasting!
If hiring a scientist to produce work, use the – species. An advantage over post-natal growth
usual rules for hiring and salaries – see the Job hormone treatments is that the animal’s
Table, p. 133. descendants will inherit these traits, reducing
long-term costs.

Engineered Animals
Higher animals – such as fish, dogs or cows – can be bio-
One oft-suggested modification would be
to give the super-efficient ruminant digestive
system found in cows and goats (which uses symbiotic bacteria
engineered, often by adding genes from other species. Just like and a modified intestine to aid digestion) to animals such as
humans, animals can be modified using germline gengineering pigs. This would allow them to forage, which would reduce the
or through a biomod operation. The former has the potential to cost of feeding them.
create a race of modified animals (if a breeding pair is modi-
fied). The latter only modifies a single individual, but can
usually be performed at an earlier TL.
Pharm Animals
So why would someone want to gengineer animals? Some Animals can be turned into living pharmaceutical factories
possible objectives are described below. by adding genes that code for commercially-useful proteins, or
splicing in genes from humans, other animals, bacteria or plants.
Companions and Working Beasts The advantage of using animals rather than bacteria is twofold.
First, more kinds of proteins can be created, since animals have
Pet owners already enjoy exotic breeds. If laws don’t get in more than one cell to work with. Second, animals do not require
the way, we may see dogs with pink fur or strange hybrids like a the fermentation vats and downstream processing that bacteria
cat/rabbit. Even if they are illegal, there may still be a black need.
market for radically-altered pets. While society may frown on Domestic milk animals like goats or cows might be modi-
giving a cat rabbit ears and a semi-intelligent brain for no partic- fied so that their milk contains “natural” additives. This process
ular reason, genemods designed to enhance the intelligence of is underway in 1997. For instance, transgenic cows have been
working beasts like sheepdogs, police dogs or horses may be grown with genes for lactoferrin, a compound used in human
acceptable. At high TLs or in cyberpunk worlds, customized baby formula; this minimizes the need for further processing
“super pets” could be created by finding a freelance genehacker and reduces production expenses. Pigs have already been grown
and having him make a pet to order. with human hemoglobin in their blood so they can be bled for
Some societies may even permit the design of “guard- human blood substitute. Other animals are being designed to
beasts” or “warbeasts” with enhanced combat abilities, derived produce germ vaccines.

98 MAN’S BEST FRIENDS

 At TL8+, more exotic “pharm animals” are possible, A sentient animal is fully intelligent; it doesn’t have the
including ones whose organs can be harvested for use by Presentient disadvantage (p. CI103) and is at least IQ 8. It may
humans, or whose secretions and bodily fluids (such as milk, be a full citizen, a slave, or somewhere in between (e.g., a ward
blood or urine) or products (such as cheese or meat) contains of the state or a second-class citizen). It’s certainly intelligent
chemicals or even “wonder drugs” of the sort described in enough to resent being treated as anything less than human . . .
GURPS Cyberpunk, Space and Ultra-Tech. A pharm animal A near-sentient animal is either Presentient, has IQ 7 or
could be a highly complex “bio-reactor” if its own genetics were less, or both. This puts it intellectually halfway between animals
modified and its gut also played host to a variety of gengineered and humans. Near-sentients are usually not considered “people.”
bacteria. While the gengineering required is high tech, it would A typical cyberpunk society might not care how near-sentients
produce drugs and chemicals in a very low-tech fashion, making are treated – corporations could breed near-sentient workers or
pharm animals very suitable for developing nations or colony warbeasts, individuals could go to genehackers to buy upgraded
worlds. pets, and so on. A more compassionate culture might enforce
Besides their obvious commercial and medical uses, pharm laws regarding their creation, treatment and ownership, with
animals could also manufacture illegal chemicals, such as recre- stringent licensing requirements for individuals permitted to
ational drugs, poisons or even explosives. By modifying a ven- work with them. For example, near-sentient dogs might be used
omous creature into a pharm animal, it might be possible to dis- by police, scouts or rangers, but be restricted to specially-trained
pense drugs in combat as well as manufacture them. officers who know to treat them as partners rather than pets.

Reproductive Modifications Creating Biomodified Animals

Animals may be gengineered for improved fecundity (giving
birth to larger litters, for example), an altered sex ratio (usually, These rules work best with the Racial Generation rules on
more females to males is desirable), et cetera. Use the TLs given pp. CI173-180. First, define the racial template as explained
under Sexual and Reproductive Modifications (p. 47). Reduce under Unmodified Racial Templates (below), then modify it
the TL required by 1 when dealing with common lab animals – according to the guidelines under Modifying Animals (p. 100).
work on animal reproductive gengineering is well on its way,
and will precede similar work on humans.
Unmodified Racial Templates
Near-Sentient and Sentient Animals Before modifying an animal, determine its unmodified
racial template in human terms. Guidelines are provided below
Animals can be bioengineered in order to for translating the animal statistics on pp. B140-
turn non-sentient or pre-sentient animal stock 145 and in GURPS Bestiary into racial tem-
into intelligent species. GURPS Uplift (pp. U60- plates.
77) details slow-and-sure “uplift” procedures
aimed at producing stable races; in David Brin’s
universe, taking two or three hundred years to
Attribute Modifiers
These can be found by taking the species
evolve a species toward sentience is unseemly
average and subtracting 10. Thus, a species-aver-
haste! This book presents a more “cyberpunk”
age IQ 6 would give a racial IQ modifier of -4. In
approach to engineered evolution, where species
the case of split HT, calculate HT modifier by
modifications take years, not centuries.
subtracting 10 from HT, then find the difference
Possible motives for creating a near-sentient
between average HT and hit points to determine
or sentient animal include:
how many Extra Hit Points (5 points/level) or
Ethical Duty: Some societies or individuals
Reduced Hit Points (-5 points/level) it has. Thus,
may feel that it is their duty to uplift near-sentient
HT 12/5 would be HT +2 with Reduced Hit
animals.
Points -7, while HT 12/15 would be HT +2 with
Scientific Curiosity: The project is an experi-
Extra Hit Points +3.
ment. A single evolved critter may be created, or
the experiment may proceed to see what kind of
society a race of enhanced animals would pro- Advantages and Disadvantages
duce, either in isolation or in partnership with This section lists traits by name only. Point
man. If contact with aliens is expected, we might costs and detailed rules can be found in GURPS
learn a lot by making our own aliens. Basic Set and Compendium I; see the included
Subject Race: The goal may be to produce page references.
smarter domestic animals, either for a specific Animals with four or more legs have Extra
purpose (e.g., as companions or soldiers) or as a Legs (p. CI55). Those with trunks or tentacles
general servitor underclass. have one or more Extra Limbs (p. CI54) with
Animals with enhanced intelligence can be Extra Flexibility (p. CI55). Birds and bats have
classed as either near-sentient or sentient. Winged Flight (p. CI56). Some animals, like cats

MAN’S BEST FRIENDS 99

 Many animals have lifespans and sleeping
habits that differ drastically from those of humans.
In general, most (but not all!) non-human species
have one or more levels of Short Lifespan (p.
CI104). Many have either Sleepy (p. CI104) or
Less Sleep (p. CI27). Big herbivores don’t sleep
much (2-4 hours/day for cows, deer, horses and so
on), while mid-size carnivores and small omni-
vores often sleep 50-75% of the time.
Even if they were intelligent enough to talk,
most animals (with the exception of some birds
like parrots) lack the vocal equipment to produce
human speech. This is Mute (p. B29).
Most animals lack imagination and curiosity
when compared to humans. “Presentient” species
include animals with high intelligence and com-
and ferrets, are Double-Jointed (p. B20), while snakes will have plex behavior, such as monkeys, some cats and canines, rac-
Flexibility (p. CI56). Arboreal animals often have Brachiator (p. coons, dolphins and possibly other IQ 5-7 species. They typical-
CI51), Super Climbing (p. CI67) or Super Jump (p. CI68). ly have the Presentient disadvantage (p. CI103) and one or more
Many species can move faster than humans. Find the Move of Dull (p. CI89), Innumerate (p. CI91) or Staid (p. CI94). A
or Speed statistic quoted for the animal in GURPS Basic Set or Dull and Staid animal is not stupid! It just prefers to follow
Bestiary. If it is greater than the animal’s (DX+HT)/4, add instinctive behavior patterns rather than innovating, and lives
Enhanced Move (p. CI54) in half levels (+50% to Move) or full day-to-day, ignoring matters that don’t immediately affect it.
levels (+100% to Move) to approximately make up the differ- “Non-sentient” species – most species with IQ 4 or less,
ence. If it’s lower, use Reduced Move (p. CI83). For example, a and possibly some with higher IQs – also have the Presentient
cat (p. B142) has Speed 10 and average DX 14, HT 13. These and Innumerate disadvantages, but replace Dull and Staid with
attributes would only give a human Speed 6.75. Adding half a the more severe disadvantages Hidebound (p. CI91) and either
level of Enhanced Move (5 points) will result in our cat tem- Incurious (p. CI91) or Obdurate (p. CI92).
plate having just about the correct Move. Predator species usually have Combat Reflexes (p. B20),
Most animals will have some form of body covering, usual- and those that track prey may be Attentive (p. CI86) or even
ly either Fur (p. CI56, usually very light fur, fur or thick fur) or Single-Minded (p. CI30). Grazing herbivores often have Slow
Hide or Scales (p. CI57). Simply select the type that most close- Eater (p. CI104). Many wild animals, including a lot of suppos-
ly matches the animal’s description, PD and DR. Feathers can edly “fierce” predators, are Edgy (p. CI90). Pack or herd ani-
be treated as very light fur (0 points). mals are typically Chummy (p. CI87) or Gregarious (p. CI90).
Carnivores normally have sharp teeth if they do cutting Other advantages may be unique to certain species; e.g.,
damage or fangs if impaling. Claws are appropriate for some Amphibious, Catfall, Metabolism Control (Hibernation), Perfect
species, such as cats and bears; usually, these are 15- or 25- Balance, Venom and so on.
point claws. Other strikers (e.g., horns) may also be possessed.
See pp. CI66-67 for rules covering all of these natural weapons.
Animal senses are normally keener those of humans. In
general, animals should have enough Acute Hearing, Acute
Modifying Animals
Once the racial template has been determined, use the rules
Taste and Smell or Alertness to give them a roll of 14 or less to for human gengineering (Chapter 2) and biomods (Chapter 3) to
sense things. Thus, a cat (IQ 5) would need a +9 bonus. For make any modifications. The key difference is that animals may
most species, half this bonus should be Alertness, the rest already have certain attribute modifiers, advantages or disadvan-
should be levels of Acute Taste and Smell or Acute Hearing. tages without the need for gengineering.
Animals like canines, with hearing or smell that extends well Gengineers may also want to remove some disadvantages
beyond the human range, should also take Ultrahearing (p. native to animals. Some suggested modifications are described
CI69) or Discriminatory Smell (p. CI52). Several species, below. These may also have side effects (unintended disadvan-
notably cats, have Night Vision (p. B22). Refer to Sensory tages). As side effects aren’t deliberate modifications, they don’t
Modifications (p. 45) for exotic animal senses unique to certain affect the difficulty or dollar cost of the modification process,
species; e.g., snake Infravision. but they do reduce the race’s point cost.
Any animal significantly smaller or larger than a human Some special considerations that apply to gengineering ani-
should have Inconvenient Size (p. CI102; -15 points if smaller, mals:
-10 if larger). Animals that move on four legs or slither on the
ground are Horizontal (p. CI102), with primates being Semi-
Upright (p. CI104). Animal Intelligence
Species with crude hands (like non-human primates) nor- Modifications to the brain’s size or structure can improve
mally have Poor Grip (p. CI101; -5 points), while those with racial IQ. These include enlargement of the frontal lobes, modi-
grasping paws, tentacles or a trunk (e.g., raccoons, octopi and fying the language and creative centers, and other changes
elephants) have Bad Grip (-10 points). Species with walking intended to improve reasoning ability and abstract thought. Use
paws or hooves have No Fine Manipulators (p. CI103), while the rules for enhancing human intelligence (p. 30); that is,
those with no limbs (e.g., snakes, most sea creatures) have No germline gengineering can add up to +2 IQ at TL10 and +4 at
Manipulators (p. CI103). Animals restricted to water (like fish, TL11+. For biomods, see Brain Tissue Graft (p. 71) and
dolphins and whales) are also Aquatic (p. CI101). Neurovirus (p. 79).

100 MAN’S BEST FRIENDS

 The Presentient disadvantage can be bought off at TL9 if
the average racial IQ is 6 or higher. At TL10, further modifica- Enhanced Voice Box
tions can be performed to remove or buy down racial mental It’s possible to modify the animal’s voice box to make it
disadvantages such as Dull, Edgy, Hidebound, Incurious, capable of human speech. This can be added to any mouse-sized
Obdurate or Staid. or larger animal. At TL9, gengineering can upgrade the Mute
A side effect of increasing IQ is to reduce an animal’s sen- disadvantage to Stuttering (see p. B29). This represents an ani-
sory bonuses, as more of the brain is devoted to reasoning and mal that can speak, but has trouble doing so. At TL10, Mute can
language processing. For every +1 increase in IQ, reduce be completely removed.
Alertness or all Acute Senses by one level. Altering IQ or buy- A Presentient animal which has an enhanced voice box can
ing off Presentient or other racial mental disadvantages often learn a language at up to skill 8. This is an exception to the
produces Stress Atavism – see p. CI105 for details. usual prohibition against Presentient races learning spoken lan-
guages; the rule in Compendium I was written under the
Enhanced Manipulatory Ability assumption that animals were not gengineered with voice boxes!
An enhanced voice box can also be created using surgery.
The cost is $10,000 × (TL-8) where “TL” is not the current TL
The extent of the modifications possible at a given TL
depends on how promising the species is!
Modified Hooves, Flippers or Walking Paws: Species like but rather the minimum TL required. Time is 2 weeks to change
horses, dolphins or dogs that completely lack hands require fair- Mute to Stuttering, or 6 weeks to for human-level speech.
ly extensive modification to remedy this. At TL9, they can be Metamorphosis nanovirus (p. 79) can also enhance a voice box.
given grasping paws, replacing No Fine Manipulators (p.
CI103) with Bad Grip (p. CI101). At TL10, they can be given Modified Posture
crude hands, giving Poor Grip (p. CI101). At TL11, No Fine A species with legs can be modified from a Horizontal pos-
Manipulators can be bought off entirely. ture like a horse or dog (p. CI102) to Semi-Upright (p. CI104)
like an ape, or from Semi-Upright to an upright
bipedal posture like a human (0 points). This requires
spinal modifications as well as replacing front
paws/hooves with grasping paws, crude hands or
hands (see above). A change of Horizontal to Semi-
Upright or of Semi-Upright to upright is TL9. One of
Horizontal to upright is TL10.
An alternative (and somewhat cinematic) “uplift”
for horizontal posture is to radically alter their body
to create a Centauroid (p. CI101) form. This requires
the deliberate addition of two extra arms (as
described for humans, p. 40), and requires TL11.
For species two hexes or more in size, the usual
side effect of becoming bipedal is a loss of size, rep-
resented by lowered ST and hit point bonuses. It’s
suggested that both be reduced by at least one-third,
A side effect of modifying paws or hooves on a four-legged with much greater reductions being quite possible.
These modifications can also be created using surgery. The
cost is $50,000 × (TL-8) where “TL” is not the current TL but
animal is to remove its Extra Legs (p. CI55) advantage (since
they are now feet manipulators or arms) along with any
Enhanced Move (p. CI54) the animal has. This reduces its racial rather the minimum TL required. This takes 8 weeks.
cost. If it had no Enhanced Move, give it one level of Reduced Metamorphosis nanovirus (p. 79) can also improve manipulatory
Move (p. CI83). If not using a racial template, just reduce Move ability.
to (DX+HT)/4.
Modified Grasping Paws: At TL9, species like raccoons
can be given crude hands, replacing Bad Grip with Poor Grip
Pharm Animal Modifications
In game terms, pharm animals (p. 98) are created by taking
(see p. CI101). At TL10, Bad Grip can be completely bought off the Drug Factory advantage (p. CI53). The TL required should
by creating real hands. Movement effects are the same as be based on the TL of the drug (see pp. UT97-100 and CY57-59
described above. for various drugs):
Modified Crude Hands: At TL9, species with crude hands,
such as chimpanzees, can be modified to have human-like At TL8 or the drug’s TL, whichever is higher, a drug factory
hands. This buys off Poor Grip. can produce blood products, or exotic proteins that can be syn-
Modified Tentacles or Trunk: Species like octopi and ele- thesized into drugs – or perhaps other products – given further
phants can have their tentacles or trunk modified with manipula- processing (but for only 10-20% of the cost of producing the
tory ridges, buds or tendrils. At TL9, this improves Bad Grip to drug in the normal laboratory fashion).
Poor Grip (see p. CI101). At TL10, it can buy off any manipula- At TL9 or the drug’s TL+2, whichever is higher, a drug
tory disadvantages. factory can be designed to produce “ready-to-use” drugs.
These modifications can also be created with transplant
surgery. Cost is $20,000 × (TL-8) where “TL” is not the current
If the animal can produce multiple different compounds,
add +1 to the highest TL for two drugs or +2 for three or more.
TL but rather the minimum TL required. The procedure takes 6
weeks and is LC 5. Metamorphosis nanovirus (p. 79) can also At the GM’s option, it may be impossible to produce some
improve manipulatory ability. drugs using pharm animals, regardless of the TL. Alternatively,

MAN’S BEST FRIENDS 101

perhaps their production has severe side effects on an animal’s
metabolism, giving it various disadvantages (or even exotic Lab Mice (TL7)
advantages). These are mice that have been adapted to be genetically
If a drug is “ready to use” and the animal has sharp teeth or closer to humans, for use in lab experiments. Their statistics are
claws, the drug can be delivered with a normal attack. If the identical to normal mice – i.e., inconsequential – but they can
drug cannot be delivered actively, or is not ready to use (the ani- catch (and carry) the same diseases that humans can.
mal must be bled, milked or whatever, taking several minutes or
longer), this is a -70% limitation – or -75% if the drug must be
processed as well. On the other hand, some animals might be
Pharm Goat (TL8)
able to spray drugs as ink, musk or urine, or even secrete drugs ST: 10 Speed/Dodge: 9/6 Size: 1
through their skin; if so, use the special enhancements for DX: 13 PD/DR: 1/0 Weight: 50-300 lbs.
Venom (p. CI71) as guidelines. IQ: 4 Damage: – Habitat: M, P
The usual production rate is one dose every 4 hours, to a HT: 13/8 Reach: –
maximum of HT/2 doses, as described in the Drug Factory
advantage. For animals smaller than humans, GMs should base A nanny goat, modified to produce components that can be
it on the lower of HT or hit points; for creatures larger than used to make a single TL8 compound, such as infant formula, a
humans, use the higher of the two. cancer vaccine, super steroids, an enzyme blocker or maybe a
Munition Mares, Guerrilla Goats and Bomb Bovines (TL9): wonder drug (like the super clotting agent Hypercoagulin, p.
A milk-producing animal (typically a cow, nanny goat or mare) UT97). Modifications were Drug Factory (requires processing:
could be gengineered so that curd formed from its milk can, must be milked, -75%, 5 points). Unintended side effects were
with minimal preparation, be formed into a stable and potent -2 HT (not hit points) and Unusual Biochemistry (compared to
biochemical explosive. This is a Drug Factory, as above, with an average goat).
each “dose” of drug equivalent to 0.1 lb. of explosive. Assume
biological explosives that do about 6d damage per pound are
TL8 chemicals, or TL10 if they are “ready to use.”
Neo-Vampire Bat (TL9)
ST: 2 Speed/Dodge: 12/6 Size: <1
Bio-Bombs (TL10): A creature may be gengineered into a DX: 13 PD/DR: 0/0 Weight: Neg.
“living bomb” that can actually blow itself up! This costs 2.4 IQ: 4 Damage: 1 hit Habitat: J
points per 1d of explosive concussion damage (6 points/1d; HT: 13/2 Reach: C
Explosive Effect, +40%; blows self up, -100%). The maximum
number of levels is (creature’s weight/100 lbs.) at TL10-12. At An example of an exotic bioweapon that might come out of
TL13+, the creature can actually have a solid-fuel skeleton and an underground cyberpunk biolab, this transgenic vampire bat
structural tissues, allowing a maximum explosive damage of has been gengineered with poison sacs (Venom; p. CI71) and a
(weight/20 lbs.).The creature takes five times damage from its bloodhound’s sense of smell (Discriminatory Smell; p. CI52).
own explosion, with no DR protecting it. The explosion is usu- Capable of identifying and tracking down a specific target by
ally designed to take place if the creature dies violently; bio- scent and sonar, it is an exotic “black ops” weapon.
bombs can also be fitted with chemical triggers (p. 139) or
biochips (p. 138) that will activate hormones that set them off
after receiving a coded transmission, coming into contact with a
Jagrilla Hound (TL10) 37 points
particular target, et cetera. I’d heard the government was using cloned warbeasts
against the insurgents, but I’d never seen one until the general
brought his bodyguard to the cease-fire talks. It was like a 7-
Sample Gengineered Animals foot-tall gorilla, but with a jaguar’s pelt, a canine muzzle and
long, pointed ears. The eyes were the worst: glittering with
These Earth animals have been biomodified in ways that intelligence not quite human. It wore combat webbing and cra-
make them more useful to people. Animals may be purchased dled an M-22 assault cannon in its clawed hands. As I
from a biotech company as embryos, as young or as adults. If a approached them, the warbeast sniffed the air and growled
breeding pair (or herd) is acquired, they can be bred normally, something to its master. I was afraid it could smell my fear.
provided they aren’t sterile. Sterile versions of otherwise-fertile – “War in the Andes,” by Captain Dana Martello, Stars and
biomodified animals can usually be purchased at half cost or Stripes, Oct. ’53
less.
A list of the changes (in game terms) that each animal has ST +4 (45 points), DX +2 (20 points), IQ -2 (-15 points),
undergone has been appended to the description, so that GMs HT +2 (20 points).
can alter the templates to create other versions of the same Racial Advantages: Acute Hearing +2 (4 points), Combat
species. Reflexes (15 points), Discriminatory Smell (works as Empathy

102 MAN’S BEST FRIENDS

within 2 hexes, +50%, 23 points), Extra Hit Points +2 (10
points), Fearlessness +3 (6 points), Fur (4 points), High Pain Neo-Coon (TL10) -56 points
Threshold (10 points), Night Vision (10 points), Sharp Claws Missing: Two raccoons, aged 3 and 4 E-years. Gray fur,
(25 points), Sharp Teeth (5 points), Single-Minded (5 points), distinctive black mask marking over eyes, rings on tail. $10,000
Super Jump 1 (10 points). reward for information leading to recapture. Please contact
Racial Disadvantages: Appearance: Monstrous (-25 [email protected]
points), Bloodlust (-10 points),Hidebound (-5 points),
Innumerate (-5 points), Poor Grip (-5 points), Semi-Literacy (-5 “Let’s see if I understand this. Two of our Doolittle Virus-
points), Semi-Upright (-5 points), Sense of Duty (master, -5 enhanced Neo-Coons faked a stomach ache, lured you into the
points), Short Lifespan 3 (-30 points), Sleepy (50% of time, -10 cage, took your tangler and glommed you to the wall. Now
points), Sterile (-3 points), Stress Atavism (mild, common, they’re loose. Where would they go?”
linked to Bad Temper, -17 points), Stuttering (-10 points), “I don’t know, sir. These ones were being trained by the
Subjugation (-20 points), Unusual Biochemistry (-5 points). Bureau for covert ops, but we hadn’t completed indoctrination –
there were some problems in training. Anyway, after they
This is a cross-species fusion (p. 26) of gorilla and jaguar, jumped me, they used the computer to send out e-mail, then
modified for +2 IQ (to IQ 8), a near-human voice box that wiped the system.”
reduces Mute to Stuttering, and canine genes that give it a dog’s “Used the computer? How? We didn’t modify their hands!
Discriminatory Smell. Unintended defects are Monstrous, They’re supposed to look like ordinary raccoons!”
Sterile, Stress Atavism and Unusual Biochemistry. “Even normal ’coons have good grasping paws, sir. That
was the whole point of using them. Our Neo-Coons can’t talk,
K-10 (TL10) -1 point but they can type and use tools if they’re sitting on their
haunches. I just wish I knew who they were trying to get in
These are semi-sentient, domesticated canines. They resemble touch with . . .”
large dogs or wolves, but their skulls are somewhat larger, with a
higher cranium. Their voice boxes are modified to allow them to ST -6 (-50 points), DX +4 (45 points), IQ -2 (-15 points),
speak, although words have a strong, growling “canine accent.” HT +2 (20 points).
Likely owners include rich people, police, customs agents, Racial Advantages: Alertness +6 (30 points), Sharp Teeth
hunters, security agencies, farmers and exploration teams. A K-10 (5 points), Thick Fur (29 points).
would also make a good seeing-eye dog, but the technology base Racial Disadvantages: Horizontal (-10 points), Mute (-25
needed to create them can probably cure most forms of blindness. points), Poor Grip (-5 points), Reduced Hit Points -6 (-30
The armed forces might find neo-dogs useful for military police points), Short Lifespan 2 (-20 points), Sleepy (50% of time, -10
or rangers, often with added cybernetic or biomod enhancements. points), Subjugation (-20 points).
DX +3 (30 points), IQ -3 (-20 points), HT +2 (20 points).
Racial Advantages: Alertness +7 (35 points), These were modified for increased IQ +2 (to IQ 8). All
Discriminatory Smell (works as Empathy within 2 hexes, +50%, other advantages and disadvantages are native to raccoons.
23 points), Enhanced Move (Running) 1 (10 points), Extra Legs
(four legs, 5 points), Fur (4 points), Sharp Teeth (5 points),
Ultrahearing (5 points). Neo-Horse (TL10) 68 points
Racial Disadvantages: Chummy (-5 points), Color This is an uplifted riding horse. It isn’t sentient by any
Blindness (-10 points), Horizontal (-10 points), Innumerate (-5 means, and can’t talk, but it’s as bright as a chimp and can do
points), No Fine Manipulators (-30 points), Proud (-1 point), anything a “movie” horse can do, and then some. This particular
Responsive (-1 point), Semi-Literacy (-5 points), Sense of Duty model has been further redesigned so that its spleen produces
(master, -5 points), Short Lifespan 2 (-20 points), Sleepy (50% enhanced, disease-fighting leukocytes.
of time, -10 points), Stress Atavism (mild, uncommon, -6
points), Stuttering (-10 points). ST +30 (No Fine Manipulators, -40%, 108 points), IQ -4 (-30
points), HT +3 (30 points).
The K-10 is produced by TL10 germline gengineering of Racial Advantages: Alertness +8 (40 points), Disease-
canine stock. Modifications are increased IQ +2 (to IQ 7), the Resistant (5 points), Enhanced Move (Running) 1.5 (15 points),
removal of Dull and Staid, and an enhanced voice box that Extra Legs (four legs, 5 points), Less Sleep 5 (15 points),
reduces Mute to Stuttering (37 points of changes). The only Peripheral Vision (15 points).
unintended defect was Stress Atavism. All the other advantages Racial Disadvantages: Hidebound (-5 points), Horizontal (-10
and disadvantages are native to canines points), Inconvenient Size (-10 points), Innumerate (-5 points),
Larger or smaller K-10 breeds are also possible, although Mute (-25 points), No Fine Manipulators (-30 points),
further gengineering may lead to more disadvantages as well. A Presentient (-20 points), Short Lifespan 1 (-10 points),
trained “attack dog” might have Bad Temper or even Bloodlust. Subjugation (-20 points).

MAN’S BEST FRIENDS 103

 These were modified for +2 IQ (to IQ 6) and +1 DX (to DX “I had them grow Tarot for me after those parasite bunnies
10), with an augmented spleen that provides Disease-Resistant. got into the fiber optics on our last run. With Tarot on the
All other advantages and disadvantages are native to horses. prowl, no xeno-rodent’s going to run wild on my ship.”
– Captain Zeke Morrigan, free trader Antares
Octosap (TL10) -53 points ST -7 (-60 points), DX +4 (45 points), IQ -3 (-20 points),
Guys, you won’t believe this! You know we tried to scope HT +3 (30 points).
GenPacifica’s Deepstralia III, got chased off by the security? Racial Advantages: Acute Hearing +3 (6 points), Acute
Well, second time’s the charm: We got Tegan’s sonofish to dis- Taste and Smell +3 (6 points), Alertness +4 (20 points), Cast
tract their war-dops, then went to max on the aquasleds. The Iron Stomach (15 points), Catfall (10 points), Claws (15 points),
Pacifica vent mine’s as big as rumored, but get ready: Their Combat Reflexes (15 points), Discriminatory Smell (15 points),
construction workers ain’t seal bioroids – they’re genemod Enhanced Move (Running) 1/2 (5 points), Extra Legs (four legs,
octopi! I’m not raptured, gridfriends; these are definitely gengi- 5 points), Faz Sense (Eye Contact Only, -20%, 8 points), Fur (4
neered bioroids, they were working with their tentacles. And points), Immunity to Disease (10 points), Improved G-
their heads – brrr. Like, an octo with a face, you know? Check Tolerance (1 G increment, 15 points), Night Vision (10 points),
out my site for the movie! Better hurry, though. My sysop says Perfect Balance (15 points), Sharp Teeth (5 points),
she’s getting some threatening email from GenPacifica. Ultrahearing (5 points).
– Aquagrrl, alt.ocean.development.korporate.otaku Racial Disadvantages: Dull (-1 point), Horizontal (-10
points), Impulsiveness (-10 points), Inconvenient Size (-15
Octopi are among the most intelligent non-mammalian points), Innumerate (-5 points), Mute (-25 points), No Fine
aquatic creatures. I’m surprised that no one has attempted Manipulators (-30 points), Presentient (-20 points), Proud (-1
uplift before. I suspect these were surgically augmented, rather point), Reduced Hit Points -10 (-50 points), Responsive (-1
than truly gengineered, and I doubt they’re much more intelli- point), Short Lifespan 3 (-30 points), Sleepy (66% of the time,
gent than a dog. Still, a dog with tentacles? Interesting thought. -20 points), Staid (-1 point), Stress Atavism (mild, uncommon,
– DocIqbal, alt.ocean.development.korporate.otaku -6 points).

ST -4 (-30 points), DX +4 (45 points), IQ -5 (-40 points), The changes made to an ordinary cat were to raise its IQ by
HT +2 (20 points). two (to IQ 7) and add Cast-Iron Stomach, Immunity to Disease
Racial Advantages: Alertness +7 (35 points), Chameleon 2 and Improved G-Tolerance. The only unintended disadvantage
(14 points), Constriction Attack (15 points), DR 1 (3 points), was Stress Atavism. All other advantages and disadvantages are
Enhanced Move (Swimming) 1/2 (5 points), Extra Arms (six, 60 native to cats.
points), Extra Flexibility (10 points), Gills (0 points), Sharp
Teeth (5 points), Smoke (ink: only in water, -30%, 11 points).
Racial Disadvantages: Aquatic (-40 points), Bad Grip (-10
War-Dop (TL10) 32 points
“Navy’s been using conditioned dolphins since the 20th
points), Bad Sight (-10 points), Cold-Blooded (-5 points), Edgy century – and the program’s been continuing, though under
(-5 points), Hidebound (-5 points), Incurious (-5 points), pretty deep cover, mostly out of PR concerns. Some corporate
Innumerate (-5 points), Invertebrate (-20 points), Mute (-25 security outfits are also using them. Recon, mine detection,
points), Presentient (-20 points), Reduced Hit Points -6 (-30 counter-diver missions and counter-terrorist security at oil rigs
points), Short Lifespan 2 (-20 points), Stress Atavism (mild, and such. War-Dop E’s the new generation. The D-model was
uncommon, -6 points). packed full of cyberwear implants, but they were too easy to
The only change made to an ordinary octopus was to raise detect. Aside from some minor brainwork, this model’s blow-
IQ by two (to IQ 5). The only unintended disadvantage was hole’s been modified for human language, and it has a bioelec-
Stress Atavism. All other advantages and disadvantages are tric musculature based on an electric eel with built-in EM field-
native to octopi. sensing capabilities.”
– Captain (ret.) Dana Martello, Marine Force Recon
Space Cat (TL10) -46 points “Last year, Blue Shadow ecowarriors, with some inside
Order: One Felis domesticus, female siamese, with follow- help, raided the dolphin training farm at Pearl and liberated a
ing genemods: augmented intestinal fauna, boosted brain, inter- couple of E-model War-Dops before the conditioning process
nal gravity web, jacked-up immune system. could be completed. Friend of mine in the Movement says one of

104 MAN’S BEST FRIENDS

the dops has joined up with the Shadow boys, but voyage, then help build the Mars Base. They’re space
he isn’t too stable.” construction workers – astro-engineers!”
– Aquagrrl, alt.ocean.development.korpo- “Combat engineers, Judy. Get used to it. Mars
rate.otaku Base is being trimmed. The program funding might be
cut at any time. But you should see the film from Fort
ST +3 (No Manipulators, -40%, 18 points), Drum – an Ursa can hip-fire an assault cannon or a
DX +3 (30 points), IQ -2 (-15 points), HT +1 (10 Snapdragon missile! Their fur even gives them good
points). thermal camo. The Pentagon liked the Ursas. It’s a
Racial Advantages: Absolute Direction (5 big defense contract, Judy. Bigger than this Mars
points), Acute Hearing +4 (8 points), Bioelectric stuff.”
Shock (10 points), Enhanced Move (Swimming) 2
(20 points), Extra Hit Points +5 (25 points), Field ST +9 (100 points), DX +2 (20 points), IQ -2 (-15
Sense (10 points), Sonar Vision (25 points), points), HT +4 (45 points).
Ultrasonic Speech (25 points). Advantages: Alertness +6 (30 points), Claws (15
Racial Disadvantages: Aquatic (-40 points), points), DR 1 (3 points), Extra Hit Points +5 (25
Bad Sight (-10 points), Chummy (-5 point), points), Metabolism Control 4 (Hibernation, -50%, 10
Distractible (-1 point), Dull (-1 point), No points), Sharp Teeth (5 points), Thick Fur (29 points).
Manipulators (-50 points), Stress Atavism (mild, Disadvantages: Bad Temper (-10 points), Dull (-1
common, -12 points), Subjugation (-20 points). point), Inconvenient Size (-10 points), Innumerate (-5
points), Poor Grip (-5 points), Short Lifespan 1 (-10
The changes made to ordinary dolphins were points), Sleepy (50% of time, -10 points), Staid (-1
to add Bioelectric Shock and Field Sense, and to point), Stress Atavism (mild, uncommon, -6 points),
buy off Mute. The only unintended result was Stuttering (-10 points), Subjugation (-20 points).
Stress Atavism. The changes made to your ordinary bear were to raise IQ by
three (to IQ 8), change No Fine Manipulators to Poor Grip,
Neo-Gorilla (TL11) 142 points reduce Mute to Stuttering and remove Presentient and Semi-
Upright. The only unintended defect was Stress Atavism. All
“Discrimination at the construction site? Well – there were
a few banana and Tarzan jokes when I started. Yes, ma’am, but other advantages and disadvantages are native to bears.
we’re used to them. Nothing nasty. No one wants to get their
arms ripped off, see. Uh, that was a joke, ma’am. Of course I
wouldn’t do anything like that. I got along with the napes – I
mean you humans – just fine. Uh, naked apes, ma’am. You
Biogadgets
A biogadget is a living plant or animal that has been gengi-
humans. Bad habit I picked up, I admit. Yes, I won’t use it neered into functioning as a device or tool. This type of technol-
again, ma’am.” ogy is most common in cultures that possess advanced biotech,
but lack equally-advanced metallurgical and high-energy tech-
ST +8 (90 points), DX +1 (10 points), IQ -1 (-10 points), nologies (or the opportunity to develop them; e.g., a culture liv-
HT +4 (45 points). ing underwater, inside a gas giant atmosphere or on a metal-
Racial Advantages: Alertness +2 (10 points), Extra Hit poor planet). Biotechnology may also represent a deliberate
Points +4 (20 points), Fur (4 points). choice (perhaps for environmental or even aesthetic reasons).
Racial Disadvantages: Proud (-1 point), Short Lifespan 1 To foreign cultures, biogadgets may seem very alien, but they
(-10 points), Sleepy (50% of time, -10 points), Stress Atavism could perhaps be profitably traded. The creation of biogadgets
(mild, uncommon, -6 points). generally requires TL11+ biotechnology.
The primary advantages of most biogadgets are self-mainte-
Modifications make the gorilla’s crude hands into human- nance and self-repair. They heal at the same rate as living organ-
equivalent ones (buying off Poor Grip), improve the voice box isms if damaged but not destroyed. They also require minimal
to human levels (buying off Mute) and alter the spine (removing maintenance if healthy. However, the GM could always rule
Semi-Upright). Adjustments to the brain eliminate Edgy and that they can get sick or contract diseases.
Presentient, and add +3 to IQ (to IQ 9), for a total of 90 points Many of the devices described in GURPS Cyberpunk,
of changes. Side effects were mild Stress Atavism, a loss of one Space and Ultra-Tech could potentially be biogadgets (the bio-
level of Alertness and, due to the change in posture, a loss of suits on p. UT26 already are). Mostly, it’s just a matter of
one-third the gorilla’s natural ST bonus (from ST 22 to ST 18). changing their description – an exoskeleton could be formed of
living bones and muscle, a respirator might be a living creature
Ursamorph (TL11) 179 points that you breathe through, and a bug detector could resemble a
snail with big antennae that hisses when it senses electromag-
“Bob, what did you do with my Ursamorphs?” netic emissions. Biogadgets may communicate with each other
“Research program’s finished, Judy. You did your part. not via cables or communicators, but by pheromonal signals.
Your bears can talk, manipulate things and they’re mentally sta-
ble. Now we’re in the next stage. They’re at Fort Drum, with
Henderson.”
“Fort Drum? That’s–”
“Combat training, Judy.”
“You’re teaching Uther and Terri to shoot guns? Bob, it’s
wrong! I designed the Ursamorphs to hibernate during the long

MAN’S BEST FRIENDS 105

 Of course, biogadgets need not all have adventuring utility. strong artificial light. In darkness, it can work for 1% of the
People could sleep on fleshbeds – masses of living flesh which duration listed for a normal gadget of the same type before run-
function just like waterbeds. Most grow their own hair or fur, ning out of power. Double cost.
available in a wide range of styles from “traditional” motifs, like
a big cat pelt, to hair cloned from famous media stars – although Bio-Buildings: Buildings can be grown using bio-nanotech.
some people prefer the feel of naked skin. Some “deluxe” mod- At TL10, the result is an empty, unfurnished building with an
els are additionally gengineered to produce sex pheromones (HT exotic organic shape and texture, perhaps suggestive of coral,
roll to avoid temporary Lecherousness)! A fleshbed might cost chitin, a sea shell or a bee hive. At TL11+, the building can be
$1,000, or $5,000 for the deluxe model. alive, with self-healing (perhaps even edible!) walls, mutable
A biogadget probably should not have more than PD 3 or rooms that can change color, scent or texture on demand, and
DR 15 (most will be PD 0, DR 0, just like human skin). It also floors that extrude living furniture. It could even be chemically
shouldn’t be something that involves especially energetic radia- persuaded to resume its growth when more stories are needed.
tion emissions (like a beam weapon, force sword, ultrascanner (This cuts both ways, though: a growing or live building might
or laser communicator) or whose design requires the structural be vulnerable to biochemical attack.) A bio-nanotech “seed”
strength of metals or ceramics (like a chemical-propellant costs about one-tenth what the resulting building would cost to
firearm or combustion engine). build conventionally. Growth takes (seed cost/1,000) hours.
A biogadget doesn’t use power cells for energy; instead, Sentient bio-buildings are also possible – see p. 111.
pick one of the options below. Apply any cost multipliers to the
cost of the regular, unliving version of that gadget. Options
include: Bioships
“Bridge, this is Falcon Two. I have a visual on the alien
Bioconvertor Power Plant: Gadgets (especially big ones) ship, and – you’re not going to believe this, captain, but it’s
could be connected to a specialized organism designed to con- shaped like a giant eel, only covered in spines! Sort of an
sume food and produce power – a “bioconvertor.” See p. RO35 organic-looking hull, but with metallic blisters that look like
and p. VE86 for details of bioconvertor engines. turrets embedded in it. The vessel is now turning toward me – is
Body-Powered: This is available for gadgets that are worn that a mouth? My God, these things are alive!”
next to the skin (or implanted), such as suits or goggles. The – Lt. Majid Asad, U.S. Space Navy
gadget is powered by the user’s body heat, lives off his bodily
secretions, et cetera. Double cost; the gadget will cease working The biological spacecraft may be the most exotic example
when not in contact with the user’s flesh. of biogadget technology in science fiction. This section deals
Fixed: As Nutrient Bath or Rooting (below), but the device with craft whose bodies are truly alive, as opposed to those that
won’t work unless it’s within the nutrient bath or fertile soil, use only a few living, organic parts (such as a cyborg brain) or
and it can’t be removed from its bath or soil without dying. This whose organic components are dead, such as wooden or plastic
is typical of large, fixed gadgets. Halve cost if it can use normal spacecraft.
soil; divide cost by 4 if it requires nutrients. This is cumulative Living ships are the result of taking a large alien life form
with the cost modifier for Nutrient Bath or Rooting. (or less often, a big terrestrial creature), then using bioengineer-
Nutrient Bath: The gadget absorbs nutrients through its ing to adapt it to serve as a space vessel. Often, they have been
skin. It will operate for half as long as a power cell–operated gengineered to make them even larger, by modifying their genes
gadget would, but then needs to be placed in a nutrient solution to increase growth hormone production.
to recharge (takes at least 8 hours). A nutrient solution
pack can be emptied into any suitable container big
enough for the gadget. A device requires 0.1 oz. of
nutrient solution if the unliving version requires an AA
cell, 1 oz. if an A cell, 4 oz. if a B cell, 2 lbs. if a C
cell, 10 lbs. if a D cell or 40 lbs. if an E cell. A single
package of nutrient solution costs $10 per pound and
stays fresh for a month. Double cost.
Rooting: The device will operate for just as long
as a power cell–operated gadget would, but then needs
to be placed in moist, fertile soil for at least eight
hours. It will uncoil roots and suck necessary nutrients
into its body in order to recharge. Triple cost.
Solar-Powered: The gadget’s skin can convert
light to electricity. It works constantly in sunlight or

106 MAN’S BEST FRIENDS

 The advantage of gengineering animals as spaceships, rather
than as (for instance) water, ground or air vehicles, is that it is
much easier to grow things to very large sizes in zero gravity.
Bioship Design
Bioships can be designed as vehicles or robots, using the
While a living ship’s body is, by definition, primarily bio- rules in GURPS Mecha, Robots or Vehicles for biomechanical
logical, it may also be a cyborg, possessing inorganic systems structures, bioconvertor power plants and biomorphics. This is
that are grafted onto it. The TL required to create living ships most appropriate for biomechanoid designs. Alternatively, they
depends on how much modification is needed to transform the can be treated more like domesticated animals or alien races.
original organism into a vessel; usually, the degree of genetic This section has a “quick design” system for creating them in
manipulation required is TL12+. conjunction with the Racial Generation rules (pp. CI173-180).
A suitable organism should be large (at least a dozen hexes
in size and several tons in weight) and tough enough to hold
pressure or atmosphere. It may or may not be intelligent. Ideally, ST and Size
it should also possess an organic space-propulsion system, but Bioships are usually very large, which means a lot of ST
this may be too much to hope for in a “hard-SF” setting. and Extra Hit Points. As a rough guideline, the table below
It’s possible to have a humanoid bioship, but that’s rather gives a suggested ST (and its point cost) and weight in pounds
unlikely. More often, bioships resemble planetoids, streamlined for a ship of a given scale, where scale is how much larger (in
whales, eels, spined sea-beasts, spider-crabs or even trees. Ship all dimensions) the ship is compared to a human.
organisms in science fiction usually tend to fall into one of these This table could represent the same species (small ships are
categories: babies, big ones are adults) or different species. It makes the
assumption that big ships may be less agile but more intelligent.
Atmosphere Dwellers are alien life forms that resemble As a general rule, ST (human average 10) increases with
giant balloons or blimps (sometimes with tentacles). They might the square of scale, while weight (human average ~0.1 tons)
be found on any world with a dense atmosphere, including gas increases with its cube.
giants. Since they can already hold an internal atmosphere, they
have some of the traits needed in a spaceship.
Giant Trees are bioengineered to adapt them into space-
Bioship ST and Size Table
Scale ST Points Mass (tons) Notes
ships, and may be grown to enormous sizes in zero-G, inside 5 +240 285 (171) 12.5 “fighter”
greenhouse habitats or amid the life-giving gases of comets. 10 +990 660 (396) 100 “corvette”
Marine Dwellers are huge, deep-sea animals like whales or
20 +3,990 2,160 (1,296) 800 “destroyer”
– on a simpler level – coral reefs. The ability of underwater
beasts to grow to great sizes and adapt to extremes of pressure 50 +24,990 12,660 (7,596) 12,500 “cruiser”
makes them well-suited for use as bioships. While the actual use 100 +99,990 50,160 (30,096) 100,000 “battleship”
of Earth cetaceans might be impossible (or unethical), alien 200 +399,990 200,160 (120,096) 800,000 “dreadnought”
worlds might possess suitable whale-sized or larger
critters, perhaps possessing additional useful traits
like tough shells, tentacles or even bioelectric
organs.
Vacuum Dwellers are natural space-faring
creatures, sometimes even possessing their own
form of organic stardrive. Some space-faring life
may be too fragile or diffuse to make a good ship;
e.g., living solar sails, plasmas or gas clouds. Other
types might be very suitable, requiring only mini-
mal modification.
Other types of creatures could also be modified. Scale: This is the size multiplier relative to human dimen-
Biomechanoids may have started out as any of the above, sions. See Mass, (below) for typical sizes of bioships.
but have been turned into living machines. Protein-based com- ST: This is the suggested ST for that scale. Even if a ship
ponents are used to create pseudo-alive controls, space drives, has no manipulators, high ST is useful for pulling things,
computers and other systems. In some types, the ship’s body encumbrance, fatigue (for powering natural attacks and travel-
plays host to smaller, specialized organisms – a communica- ing long distances without rest) and even biting.
tor-creature, a drive-creature and so on – all fused into one Points: This is the point cost for the listed ST, assuming the
entity. bioship has fine manipulators (e.g., arms or tentacles). If it
Propulsion systems for bioships may be mundane abilities, doesn’t, use the second point cost, which applies the No Fine
such as expelling internal gases for thrust or deploying a living Manipulators limitation (-40%).
solar sail. High-speed propulsion might be achieved through Mass: This is the suggested mass in tons for the listed
biomechanical or cybernetic space-drive implants – or even psi ST. A typical bioship has a volume of about 50 cubic feet
powers, such as a form of psychokinesis or teleportation that times its mass; it might be five feet long times its scale,
can move the ship, perhaps at faster-than-light speeds. with a width and height of about one foot times its scale.
A bioship is normally somewhat cheaper than an equivalent Thus, a scale 200 bioship would be 1,000’ long, 200’ wide
spaceship, reflecting the fact that bioships can be bred or cloned. and 200’ high. Big ships have lots of hit points (see
It can usually heal itself and requires little or no fuel or mainte- below).
nance. However, it is generally more delicate (with less DR and Notes: A rough guide as to the “class” of ship. This doesn’t
fewer hit points) than inorganic vessels of similar size, due to necessarily have to be a warship – a “battleship” could actually
the simple fact that flesh is easier to damage than machinery. be a big trading or scout vessel.

MAN’S BEST FRIENDS 107

DX, IQ and HT Other Common Bioship Advantages
Select whatever attributes are desired. Most bioships will These are among the most common bioship advantages.
have DX, IQ and HT in the 7-15 range. The exceptions are non- Few bioships will have them all, and many will have advantages
sentient vessels, like space trees, which often have DX 1 and IQ that are not on this list:
1. It’s suggested that these attributes not exceed TL+2. Ships
that are larger have a lower DX but higher IQ. Absorption (generic Energy, 10 points/level, p. CI49).
Acceleration Tolerance (10 points, p. CI19).
Advantages and Disadvantages Bio-Bomb (see Bio-Bombs, p. 102).
Chameleon (7 points/level, p. CI51. Enhancements: Affects
The range of possible forms for bioships is nearly infinite, radar or infrared, +50%; both, +100%. Limitations: Affects
since they are usually gengineered from very exotic alien organ- one of radar or infrared but not normal vision, -50%; affects
isms to start with. Depending on what the original life form was, radar and infrared but not normal vision, -25%). Combat
a bioship might have practically any advantage or disadvantage Reflexes (15 points, p. B20). Compartmentalized Mind (50
described in GURPS Basic Set or Compendium I. These may points/level, p. CI52).
be due to a mix of inorganic or semi-organic implants, natural Doesn’t Eat/Drink (10 points, p. CI53). Doesn’t Sleep (20
abilities and genetic engineering. points, p. CI53).
Eidetic Memory (30/60 points, p. B20). Extended Lifespan (5
“Standard” Bioship Advantages and Disadvantages points/level, p. CI54).
Full Coordination (50 points/level, p. CI56).
Some advantages and disadvantages are more common than Hyperflight (requires Super Flight, 50/75 points, p. CI57).
others. Just about every bioship will have . . . Independently Focusable Eyes (15 points/direction, p.CI58).
Infravision (15 points, p. CI58). Interface Jack (if it has built-
• Damage Resistance (3 points/level, p. CI52). Bioships are in cyberwear, 10 points, p. CI26).
usually thin-skinned, with DR in the 10 to 200 range; tougher Laser (25 points + 6 points/extra die, p. CI73). Lightning (20
ships often have some sort of biological force field (sometimes points + 6 points/extra die, p. CI73).
bought as Ablative DR or Absorption). Peripheral Vision (15 points, p. B22). Psi Powers (see GURPS
• Extra Hit Points (5 points/level, p. CI24). Bioships should Psionics). Psionic Resistance (2 points/level).
buy Extra Hit Points so that the sum of HT plus HPs is neither Radar Sense (varies, ships often have low-res radar, p. CI63).
less than half nor more than double their racial ST. Radio Speech (25 points, p. CI64).
• Flesh Pockets. Each point buys a flesh pocket with a Sanitized Metabolism (5 points, p. CI65). Sense of Perception
capacity of (ship mass/400) tons. A maximum of 40 points of (100 points, p. CI65). Shock (20 points +6 points/extra die, p.
flesh pockets are allowed. See Flesh Pockets (p. 136). CI73). Single-Minded (5 points, p. CI30). Spectrum Vision
• Flight (40 points, p. CI56), often combined with Super (40 points, p. CI66). Strikers (varies, p. CI66).
Flight (20 points/level, p. CI67) or the Space Acceleration Teeth (sharp/fangs for 5/10 points, p. CI67). Telescopic Vision
enhancement (p. 136). The Requires Low Gravity: 0 G (-50%) (6 points/level, p. CI68). 360-Degree Vision (25 points, p.
limitation (p. 138) is often applied to Flight for bioships that can CI68). 3D Spatial Sense (10 points, CI31).
only fly in space. Unaging (15 points, p. CI69). Universal Digestion (15 points, p.
• Inconvenient Size (large, -10 points; p. CI102). CI69).
• Passive Defense (up to PD 6, 25 points/level; p. CI63). Venom (usually a corrosive spit or spray, at 15 points/level with
• Subjugation (-20 points, p. CI105). +35% to cost for spit or +100% for a spray cloud, p. CI71).
• Vacuum Support (40 points, p. CI70). Webbing (20 points + 2 points/level, p. CI71).

Notes on Advantages:
Arms: Many bioships have no arms or legs. Those that
do often seem to have tentacles, with extra hexes of reach
(10 points/yard/arm, p. CI54) and Extra Flexibility (10
points for all arms, p. CI55). If a bioship has more than
two arms, they are Extra Arms (10 points) sometimes with
Modified Arm ST (p. CI61) to reduce ST relative to the
body.
Internal Advantages: Special advantages can also be
bought that apply to the inside of the bioship. A bioship is
normally assumed to have no senses or manipulatory ability
inside it. However, it can buy the following advantages to

108 MAN’S BEST FRIENDS

manipulate internal cargo or passengers, perform Notes on Disadvantages:
repairs on cybernetic implants and the like: Initiative, Intelligence and Control: Ships
Internal Arms or Strikers (1/5 the usual cost that lack initiative, intelligence or free will usual-
of an Extra Arm or Striker), Internal Hearing (4 ly have one or more of Hidebound (-5 points, p.
points), Internal Sight (10 points), Internal CI91), Incurious (-5 points, p. CI91), Presentient
Speech (5 points), and Internal Taste and Smell (-20 points, p. CI103), Slave Mentality (-40
(1 point). points, p. CI94) or Staid (-1 point, p. CI94).
Enhancements to internal senses (e.g., A bioship usually has some kind of implant-
Internal Discriminatory Smell), new internal ed physical or biotronic system to allow its mas-
senses (e.g., Internal Radar Sense) and internal ter to communicate with and command it, espe-
weapons (e.g., Internal Venom) have 1/5 the cially if it is Presentient. If the bioship is near-
usual cost. The reduced cost is not a limitation – sentient (Presentient and/or IQ below 8), com-
these are different advantages, and actual limita- mands will be similar to those one would give a
tions and enhancements can be applied on top of riding beast. If it’s sentient, commanding the ship
internal advantage point costs. E.g., to create will be more like giving orders to a subordinate.
“horror” bioships with the bad habit of acciden- If the ship requires a human at the controls in
tally digesting passengers (or intruders), buy order to give it orders, Piloting skill can be used
Internal Teeth or Venom (corrosive) at 1/5 cost, much like Riding skill; roll vs. skill to convince the
then apply the Uncontrollable (-30%) limitation. ship to attempt difficult maneuvers. If the bioship
All of these costs assume the internal advan- requires a human at the controls to do anything,
tage is usable anywhere within the bioship. If it including traveling from point to point, it should be
can only reach certain areas, this is a -50% limi- designed with Slave Mentality (no action unless
tation. master at controls, +100%, -80 points), and the
Weaponry: Many bioships are unarmed, or pilot and any other crew will use their skills much
have cybernetic weapons (see below) or psi pow- as they would on any other spaceship.
ers. A few are capable of generating some form Otherwise, crew members serve three pur-
of biological weapon, usually a laser, electrical poses: to give the ship orders and make decisions
discharge or some kind of corrosive venom (e.g., Leadership, Strategy and Tactics skill), to
(which can also represent hungry symbiotic bac- perform damage control (e.g., First Aid, Surgery
teria, enzymes or nanomachines). For this sort of and Veterinary skill), and to man and maintain
natural attack, either the “cheap” improvement cybernetic implants,such as weapon turrets.
scheme on p. CI72 or powers from GURPS Life Support: Despite their size, bioships
Supers is recommended. rarely have Increased Life Support, since they are
usually capable of providing for their own needs
and those of their passengers internally.
Other Common Bioship Disadvantages
These are among the most likely bioship dis-
advantages. Few bioships will have them all, and
Bioship Interiors
many will have disadvantages that are not shown A bioship with flesh pockets has an internal
here: area of about 1-4 hexes of floor or corridor space
for every ton of mass (2,000 lbs.) the pocket
holds. Most ships have sphincters in their body
Anaerobic (-30 points, p. CI101). that serve as airlocks, opening up to provide
Bad Temper (for warships, -10 points, access to their interior.
p. B31). Bloodlust (for warships, -10 points, By sacrificing one ton of flesh pocket capac-
p. B31). ity, a ship has room for one passenger or crew
Disturbing Voice (-10 points, p. CI81). member in short-term occupancy (a day or so,
Lame (legless, -35 points). Low Empathy suitable for shuttles or fighters). For long term
(-15 points, p. CI91). journeys, 5 tons’ capacity can provide indefinite
Impulsiveness (-10 points, p. B33). life support for one person.
Invertebrate (-20 points, p. CI102). Some flesh pockets may be furnished cap-
Mute (-25 points, p. B29).
sules implanted into the ship, their interior little
No Manipulators (-50 points, p. CI103). different from any other spacecraft. Others may
Overconfidence (-10 points, p. B34). be disturbing places, with warm, fleshy walls,
Reduced Hit Points (-5 points/level,
pulsing internal organs, writhing cilia and strong
p. CI83).
smells – after all, the occupants are occupying
Self-Destruct (-20 points, p. CI104). Sense
the insides of an enormous creature. Ships with
of Duty (to master, -5 points, p. B39). Slow
Sanitized Metabolisms are nicer places!
Metabolism (common among “space trees,” -10
points/level, p. CI104). Sterile (especially for
biomechanoids, -3 points, p. CI84). Stress Drones
Atavism (varies, p. CI105). Stuttering (unusual Bioships occasionally have the ability to cre-
voice, -10 points, p. B29). ate and control organic drones – perhaps natural
Weakness: Gravity (very common, p. parasites that have been engineered into symbiotic
CI106). life forms. These often help keep the ship’s

MAN’S BEST FRIENDS 109

insides clean and perform repair duties, and may
also enable the ship to interact with human crew. Purchase Price
Combat-capable drones could serve as a “macro- Bioships may be priceless, but if they can be
scopic” immune system to repel boarders. A bio- easily cloned or bred, a good way to estimate pur-
ship may also carry much smaller drone bioships chase price is to multiply final point cost by $1,000
for use as shuttles, fighters or guided missiles (and add the price of any cybernetics). If bioships
(the latter should be built as Bio-Bombs, p. 102, are much harder to produce (perhaps they must be
or have a contact weapon like corrosive venom, captured wild and surgically modified), multiply
bought with Limited Uses). the cost by a factor of 10 or more.
Bioship drones are best created as an alien
race, usually with Mindshare (variable, p. CI60),
Slave Mentality (-40 points, p. CI94) or both. Sample Bioship: Voidshark (TL13)
They may count as an Ally Group (p. CI19) for ST +990 (396 points), DX +1 (10 points), IQ
the bioship, at the GM’s option. Good fictional -3 (-20 points), HT +3 (30 points).
examples appear in George R. R. Martin’s Wild Racial Advantages: Acceleration Tolerance (10
Cards: Aces High, Walter Jon Williams’ Angel points), Chameleon 4 (infrared and radar only -25%,
Station, and Bruce Sterling’s Crystal Express. 21 points), Combat Reflexes (15 points), DR 100
(300 points), Extended Lifespan 3 (15 points), Extra
Transforms Hit Points +490 (2,450 points), Flesh Pockets (25
points, 6.25 tons), Flight (1 G space acceleration,
In highly-cinematic Mecha or Supers cam-
paigns, a bioship may possess the ability to trans- +25%, 50 points), Hyperflight (75 points, 1 LY/day),
form into a much smaller “mundane” form. This Internal Hearing (4 points), Internal Speech (5
is very convenient, since it allows a huge space points), Internal Taste and Smell (1 point), Internal
battleship to hang around with other PCs. Buy this Venom (5 levels, corrosive, spray, +100%, 30
as the Transformation advantage (p. CI68). The points), Lightning (60d, Costs Fatigue: 2/use, -10%,
best fictional example of such a vessel is Ryo- 337 points), PD 4 (100 points), Peripheral Vision (15
Ohki, from the multi-media series Tenchi Muyo. points), Radio Speech (25 points), Sharp Teeth (5
points), Spectrum Vision (40 points), Super Flight 4
Tech Level (×16 move, 16 G acceleration, 80 points), Vacuum
Support (40 points), Venom (20 levels, corrosive,
Bioships are usually at least TL12-13, but spit, +35%, 405 points).
might be available at a considerably lower TL if Racial Disadvantages: Bad Temper (-10
a space-faring organism that is especially easy to points), Inconvenient Size (-10 points), No
adapt into a ship is utilized. Manipulators (-50 points), Overconfidence (-10
Gengineering Bioships: The level of gengi- points), Sense of Duty (master, -5 points), Slave
neering required varies widely, especially since Mentality (-40 points), Sterile (-3 points).
most of the more unique advantages (e.g., DR Racial Cost: 4,336 points.
and Flight) may be innate to the species – this is Price: $4,336,000.
why no TLs are assigned to them. If GMs want
to use the gengineering rules to “game out” the
The Voidshark was once a presentient water
design of a bioship, use the general guidelines
creature similar in mentality to a whale, but resem-
for gengineering animals – that is, come up
bling a giant electric eel, with a tough, spiky hide
with the original species template, then apply
and a mouth full of sharp teeth.
modifications to it. Assume that any bioship
Over a period of centuries, the species has been
advantage/disadvantage not native to the species
bred and gengineered into a living spaceship: a
and not mentioned in Chapter 2 requires TL14.
corvette-sized (scale 10) bioship. A typical adult
Bioship Cyberwear and Implants Voidshark is 50’ long, 10’ wide and 10’ high, and
masses 100 tons. Its skin has been toughened to
Various weapons and gadgets – such as resist vacuum and internal flesh pockets have been
vehicle components – could be cybernetically added. Electrical abilities and digestive enzymes
implanted into a bioship, rather than being placed have been tremendously enhanced to provide power
in flesh pockets. GMs may find it worthwhile to to internal mechanisms as well as serving as
use GURPS Mecha, Robots or Vehicles as a weapons. A family of symbiotic biomechanoid
source for possible equipment. If so, assume that organisms – a communicator beast, warp-drive beast
the ship can have a maximum of 50 lbs. and 1 cf and so on – have been implanted into its body to
of new integral components per ton of ship mass. give it extra capabilities. All these modifications
Where it matters – e.g., when adding armor or have left the Voidshark sterile – and bad tempered.
screens – assume that a ship’s overall volume It is controlled by internal mechanisms and a pilot.
(not the same as the usable interior volume!) is The interior of the Voidshark is not pleasant; it
about 50 cf per ton of bioship mass, and calculate is filled with pulsing organs, dripping ichor and odd
surface area from there. smells. It has an airlock, several corridors and inter-
Implanted systems that can be controlled nal compartments (25 hexes worth). Its 6.25 tons of
cybernetically by the ship itself cost an extra capacity are used to provide indefinite life support
$500/system for neural interface wiring. to the pilot and 1.25 tons of cargo space.
110 MAN’S BEST FRIENDS
Sentient Buildings
“Yes, children, that cross-shaped building is our very own
Other Living Structures
Spaceships and buildings are the easiest kinds of living
Dr. Raymond Garcia. His parents were Neo-Christian Hyper- structures to create. A living aircraft or land animal that is big
Evolutionists, which is why he is a sentient biomass. Dr. Garcia enough that people can ride inside is trickier, because of struc-
is very clever, with six basic patents in his field just this year. Of tural problems associated with giant creatures. Gengineered sub-
course, we shouldn’t be surprised, because his brain has a sur- marines, watercraft or perhaps blimps are more feasible. Even
face area the size our of swimming pool. Now, when we visit, though they are unlikely, feel free to create living aircraft or
we’ll have to change and spray first, because Dr. Garcia ground vehicles using these as models:
doesn’t want us tracking our germs inside his body.”
– Carmen Ortega, school teacher Bioblimps
A near-sentient or sentient “living building” should be cre- These remain buoyant due to hot air or hydrogen in internal
ated like a bioship, but without movement abilities; use the sacs. They may drift in the wind, or be propelled by gas vents,
Sessile disadvantage (-50 points, p. CI104). If it has arms, they wings or cybernetic implant propellers or jets. Some models
are usually only internal ones. Many living structures have a have manipulatory ability – for instance, alien gas-secreting
more rectangular, squat construction than bioships – for glands might be combined with cetacean or squid/octopus mor-
instance, a typical house-shaped building might be 2’ high, 2’ phology and neural structures to develop tentacles (for picking
wide and 1.25’ thick times its scale. up cargo or mooring . . . trunk-like tentacles could even siphon
Note that Sessile allows a -75% limitation on the cost of water for ballast or to drink).
Extra Hit Points (see p. 138). Bioblimps should be built as bioships, but limited to atmos-
pheric flight. Vacuum Support and more than one level of
Enhanced Move or Super Flight are inappropriate. Recommended
Dr. Garcia’s Biomass disadvantages are Fragile (double penetrating damage from
fire/heat rather than crushing attacks, -50%, -10 points; p.
Here’s a sample “living building.” In Dr. Garcia’s case, the
goal was to produce a “new evolutionary stage” for humanity. CI102) and Invertebrate (-20 points, p. CI102). Some bioblimps
have Slow Eater (-10 points, p. CI104) or Slow Metabolism (-10
ST +990 (No Manipulators, -40%, 396 points), IQ +4 (45 points/level, p. CI104). Due to the size of the gas bag, bioblimps
points). will usually have a volume many times greater than their size
Racial Advantages: Extra Hit Points +490 (Sessile, -75%, would indicate, although weight remains the same and all of the
613 points), Flesh Pockets (10 points), Injury Tolerance (No extra volume is filled with stored gas and ballast.
Neck) (5 points), 360-Degree Vision (25 points), Unaging (15
points),Universal Digestion (15 points).
Racial Disadvantages: Inconvenient Size (-10 points), No
Biosubs
These are gengineered water creatures, usually propelled by
Manipulators (-50 points), Sessile (-50 points), Unusual flippers, a fluke or tail, or a squid-like jet. Build these like bio-
Biochemistry (-5 points). ships, but without Flight and Vacuum Support. Suggested advan-
Features: Scale 10, weighs about 100 tons. tages are Enhanced Move (Swimming) (10 points/level, p.
Racial Cost: 1,009 points. CI54), Gills (0 points, p. CI56), Pressure Support (varies, p.
CI63) and Sonar Vision (25 points, p. CI66). Aquatic (-40 points,
p. CI101) is the most common disadvantage. Naval biosubs often
possess tentacles, bioelectric weaponry, an ink jet (Smoke, only
in water, -30%, 11 points; p. CI73), or small, fast drones with the
Bio-Bomb advantage that can be used as torpedoes.

MAN’S BEST FRIENDS 111

5 IMMORTALITY
INCORPORATED
 Age and Aging
In the developed countries, the popu-
lation is fast approaching the point
where senior citizens will be the majori-
ty, and far less likely to “retire” quietly
from the scene.
GURPS currently reflects aging by a
progressive decline in attributes when
“aging rolls” (vs. HT+TL-3) fail; see p.
B83. Normally, an aging roll that comes
up 17 or 18 results in the loss of two
attribute points. This is a perfectly valid
approach, but it can be made a little
more colorful: Starting at age 60, aging
rolls that come up 17 or 18 cost only
one point from an attribute, not two.
However, on a natural 17, also roll for a
disadvantage on Table 1; on a natural
Braintaping. Suspended Animation. Cryonics. These are all processes whose 18, roll on Table 2.
fundamental goal is to outsmart death in one or way or another. This chapter takes a
look at the methods involved and their implications, as well as offering alternative
Table 1: Age-Caused Disadvantages
ways of handling these technologies in different campaigns and settings. 1 . . . . Appearance*
2 . . . . Bad Sight
3 . . . . Extra Sleep (one level)
Cryonics and Suspended Animation
The goal of these processes is to use a combination of cold and drugs to slow
4 . . . . Hard of Hearing
5 . . . . Hidebound or Obdurate
6 . . . . Extra -1 to attribute
down or stop biological activity in humans, while doing as little damage to the body
as possible. * Lower Appearance by one step;
e.g., Attractive becomes Average, or
Average becomes Unattractive. Do not
Cryonic Preservation (TL7) reduce Appearance below Unattractive.
Cryonics is the practice of preserving recently-dead bodies at extremely low Table 2:
temperatures, with the hope that future medical science – especially nanotech-
nology – will be able to revive them. At present, there are a handful of corporations Severe Age-Caused Disadvantages
or societies devoted to cryonic preservation, mostly in the United States. Only dead 1 . . . . Absent-Mindedness
people are frozen, as TL7 cryonic techniques would kill a living subject. 2 . . . . Short Attention Span
3-4 . . Terminally Ill (-50 points)
If cryonic preservation is to be meaningful, it must take place as soon as possi- 5 . . . . Weak Immune System
ble after death. This is because a dead body’s tissues suffer ischemic damage (pro- 6 . . . . Extra -1 to Attribute
gressive deterioration that sets in after breathing and blood circulation cease).
Patients should be placed on a portable heart/lung machine immediately after clini- If a pre-existent or inappropriate dis-
cal death, to restore some circulation. Their corpses can then be taken to a cryonics advantage is rolled, either reroll or
facility, where the actual cryonic process can take place. assume two attribute points are lost.
Bad Sight or Hard of Hearing can be
Preservation at cryogenic temperatures prevents further tissue deterioration, but
allowed to progress to Blindness or
has its own problems. The most significant of these problems is caused by ice crys- Deafness, additional levels of Extra
tals forming in the cells. The human body, even dead, is mostly water. When it is Sleep can be accumulated, and
frozen, the water expands, rupturing the cells. This can cause cracks throughout the Terminally Ill can progress up to -75
body, including the brain. and -100-point versions, if the GM
To minimize tissue damage, a special protective solution (at TL7, a glycerol- wishes.
based solution) is slowly introduced into the subject’s tissues, using a specialized Gaining a disadvantage from old age
does not “give back” any character
heart/lung machine to pump it through the patient’s body. The patient’s brain is
points. Instead, reduce the character’s
carefully monitored during the process, which takes about four hours. Next, the point total. Likewise, characters who
patient’s temperature is gradually lowered (over the period of five days) using dry acquire disadvantages in this manner do
ice. When cold enough, he is then deposited in a liquid-nitrogen bath for permanent not have to pay points to buy them off –
cryopreservation at -320°F. At this temperature, all biochemical and metabolic dete- GMs should allow this for “free” if the
rioration effectively halts. Subjects who are maintained at this temperature can be character goes to the expense or effort of
preserved almost indefinitely. finding effective medical treatment.
GMs should define Terminally Ill as a
A person in cryonic preservation is sometimes called a “corpsicle” (a term
specific disease, and allow treatment on
coined by SF author Larry Niven), a term that advocates of cryonics may consider that basis.
to be impolite.
CHAPTER 5: IMMORTALITY INCORPORATED 113
 A typical price for “whole-body” cryonic preservation, including both the oper-
More About Cryonics ation itself and the promise of indefinite cryonic storage, is $150,000. But there’s a
cheaper alternative . . .
Since cryonic preservation costs
$50,000-$150,000, an up-front payment
is out of the reach of most people. One
Neuropreservation
solution practiced by current cryonics
This process involves preserving only the severed head (since the brain is the
corporations is to encourage their cus- seat of memory), the idea being that a technology advanced enough to revive a body
tomers to take out life insurance poli- should be able to handle a brain transplant to a clone. Neuropreservation is cheaper,
cies, payable to the corporation. For a since a head is smaller. On the other hand, this kind of “head job” is controversial, for
few dollars a week, immortality may be a couple of reasons. First, many consider the practice a little ghoulish. Second, it’s
yours. possible that a future society might have ethical qualms about transplanting a brain
Most cryonics companies take great into another body (even a clone), or might not consider a severed head to be worth
pains to ensure their financial stability, reviving. Neuropreservation (including operation and storage) costs about $50,000.
investing a portion of all fees in trust
funds. (This gives a new meaning to the
term “brain trust”!) These precautions
Cryopreservation Units (TL7)
are to ensure they can maintain their These storage units are basically giant thermos bottles designed for very low
patients and, hopefully, will have the temperatures. They don’t require electrical power, instead relying strictly on chemi-
funds to pay for whatever medical pro- cals. Since they are intended for the long haul, cryogenic preservation units are nor-
cedures prove necessary for future mally made of two layers of steel separated by multiple layers of insulating materi-
revival. al. This reduces evaporation to a minimum, but they should still be topped up with
However, there’s always a chance liquid nitrogen every 10 days or so. In an emergency, they can be left untended for a
that something may go wrong. Besides
few months before the bodies will begin to thaw. Bodies are usually stored head-
the obvious problems of fly-by-night
operations and the possibility that future down so that the brain will remain cool even if there is some evaporation.
science may not be up to the task of res- At TL8, cryopreservation units are more efficient, requiring replenishment only
urrecting people, here are a few other twice a year.
scenarios: Whole-Body Unit: A storage unit designed to preserve 3-5 whole bodies. 2,000
Financial Disaster: Someone goofs lbs., 40 cf, $10,000.
(or the entire national economy collaps- Neuropreservation Unit: A storage unit designed to preserve 10 heads. 1,200
es!) and the organization runs low on lbs., 12 cf, $6,000.
money. It’s possible that whole-body
preservations may be converted to
cheaper-to-maintain neuropreservation,
or that some or all bodies may have to
be allowed to thaw.
Problems with the Law: Preserving
corpses “without decent burial” rubs
some people the wrong way. Currently,
most cryonics firms have good lawyers
and emergency plans. But if laws or
morals change (for example, in the neo- Cryonic Revival (TL9)
fascist GURPS Cyberworld setting), A “corpsicle” frozen using TL7-8 cryonic preservation techniques may be
they could find themselves having to brought back to life with the help of advanced nanotechnology. Here’s a possible
look for new homes in a hurry, and schedule for revival:
maybe hiring some professional help.
TL9: A corpsicle’s body can’t yet be brought back to life. However, cell sam-
Smuggling a dozen steel containers out
of state may be an interesting challenge
ples are well-enough preserved to allow a clone to be made. That clone won’t have
for a group of street ops, especially if the original’s memories,but the preserved brain’s deep structure can be read using
each holds a ton or so of liquid nitrogen braintaping technology (p. 116), and that braintape can then be transferred to the
and a dozen human heads. clone. Unfortunately, the primitive freeze techniques used mean only a very low-res
Future Nightmares: Future society braintape can be retrieved (p. 117) using this technology.
may have lucrative and unpleasant uses TL10: More advanced memory salvage processes mean that low-res braintapes
for “corpsicles” – e.g., reviving the (p. 117) can be made from corpsicles.
brain, only to incorporate it into a TL11: Normal braintapes are now possible. At this point, anyone who was frozen
cyborg starship or computer matrix. In can be “brought back to life.” Of course, the result is a copy rather than the original.
several of his stories, author Larry TL13: The original body can be restored. The body is placed in a chrysalis
Niven has suggested that if freezing
machine (p. 23), where advanced nanomachines will thaw it out, place it in a form
techniques become good enough to pre-
serve bodies without much tissue dam-
of bio-stasis, and then repair any damage or disease suffered. This process takes
age, then a future society might look about one day for every hit point the corpse was below 0 HT at the time it was
upon cryonauts as a potential source of frozen. Since the body is being virtually rebuilt anyway, it’s relatively trivial to also
organ transplants. restore any losses that occurred due to aging.

114 CHAPTER 5: IMMORTALITY INCORPORATED

 Braintaping Fees
At TL9+, many commercial clinics
that have clone facilities also have
At any TL, if the brain itself was badly damaged by injury, radiation or illness braintaping equipment, and vice versa.
before freezing took place, the new body may be missing the memories or personal- Here’s a typical schedule of fees that
ity of the original. See Braintaping (p. 116), for the limitations. would be charged by a hospital or simi-
lar organization, assuming that braintap-
ing is perfectly legal:
Suspended Animation (TL9) • $2,000 to direct-program a blank-
minded clone, whether for the first time
Being able to revive a frozen corpse is one thing, but freezing people without or with a memory update. The clone
killing them requires a far more advanced technology. This process is “suspended ani- will cost extra – see Cloning Costs and
mation,” sometimes called “bio-stasis” or “freeze.” The suspended animation cham- Times (p. 16).
ber, or “freeze tube,” uses a combination of cold and drugs to preserve the occupant, • $25,000 to make a braintape copy
often with automatic drug dispensers built into the tube itself so that a person need on MMSD or digital media, or to update
only lie down and close the tube to be put into freeze within minutes. The “freeze such a braintape with more recent mem-
drugs” used may be advanced versions of current cryo-protective drugs, or biological ories. This price drops to $12,500 at
nanomachines. TL10, or $6,250 at TL11.
Whatever the means, a live person who has undergone suspended animation is
not dead. Rather, his metabolic processes have been effectively halted, but can be
restarted using the machinery contained within the suspended-animation chamber.
In this way, an injured or dying person can be preserved, perhaps long enough to Memory Storage
reach a medical facility that can cure him. If no cure is available, he can be frozen
between life and death until future science can devise one. We are our memories – but while
The obvious non-medical use of suspended animation is for space travel. If a space memory is known to be seated in the
cells of the brain, its exact workings are
voyage takes years, suspended animation may be necessary for manned flight. Even if
still somewhat mysterious. According to
it takes weeks or months, it would still reduce tedium and save on life-support costs. current theories:
Healthy people may also choose suspended animation to “time travel” into the Short-term memory is stored electro-
future. The motive could be unwillingness to wait for an event (“wake me up when chemically, and is not durable. Within
you’re ready to marry me”), boredom (“wake me up in a hundred years”) or even a a few minutes to an hour, short-term
desire to monitor a long-term process, such as a team of sociologists monitoring a memories are either forgotten or trans-
culture’s development (“wake me up when the Tang Dynasty falls”). ferred into long-term memory. In addi-
Individuals – or entire organizations – who live only for a specific mission may tion, trauma (especially a head injury,
be kept in suspended animation most of the time, being revived only when needed. and probably death followed by brain-
For instance, a super-assassin or an entire army of bio-soldiers could be too danger- taping) may result in short-term memo-
ous or expensive to maintain in peacetime. Instead, such individuals could be kept ries being lost. This means that some-
one who is revived via braintaping will
in suspended animation, to be thawed out and briefed whenever a crisis threatens,
often have no memory of the last
then put back to sleep afterwards. (This might make an interesting campaign, as moments of his life!
each adventure could be set progressively farther into the future.) Long-term memory consists of those
Finally, a dead person kept in suspended animation can be more easily brain- memories that our brain has permanently
taped. If cloning and memory transfer are feasible, a freeze tube will keep the body retained, by accident or design. Long-
“on hold” until a clone can be prepared. The occupant will not deteriorate until 1d term memories seem to exist in the struc-
hours after removal. Suspended animation is also useful for keeping spare bodies on ture and connections of the brain cells
hand (see Cloning of Multicellular Organisms, p. 14). themselves. As long as the brain has not
suffered substantial damage, this should
Freeze Tubes (TL9) survive for a few hours after death, until
the brain cell membranes themselves
Putting someone into freeze or taking him out takes one hour. Unlike nitrogen- begin to decay. Specialized freezing
based cryopreservation units, freeze tubes are electrically-powered, with a built-in E techniques (cryonics or suspended ani-
cell for backup. A freeze tube can run on this backup power for six months at room mation) may be able to preserve these
temperature. No other maintenance is needed. Freeze tube storage costs $250/day structures indefinitely.
for short periods, or $50,000 annually; discounts of 10% to 60% off the annual fee
are available for long-term storage of 50 years or more. This price includes a very
safe, well-guarded storage space.
A freeze tube, with dedicated monitoring computer, costs $55,000. Weight is
750 pounds and volume is 50 cubic feet.

CHAPTER 5: IMMORTALITY INCORPORATED 115

 Braintapes
and Realism
Earlier GURPS books made certain
assumptions about braintaping. Now
that current advances in fields such as
nanotechnology are beginning to sug-
gest ways in which braintaping may be
accomplished, GMs may wish to correct
Braintaping
Braintaping is the process of copying of a person’s mind (“memory and person-
some of these assumptions in light of
current thinking on the subject. These ality”) into some form of physical or electronic storage matrix. The usual goal of
optional rules can be used to make braintaping is to achieve a form of serial immortality. Once a body is badly dam-
braintaping “more realistic”: aged or dead, the braintape can be transferred to a new matrix, often a blank-minded
Fading Memories: The direct pro- clone of the original. If this process is carried out properly, the new receptacle then
gramming rule (p. 116) assumes that becomes the mental duplicate of the original person. Depending on the technology,
memories will fade from a clone if they it may also be possible to store copied minds (“braintapes”) in a physical or elec-
aren’t updated periodically. Actually, tronic medium so that the transfer can be made later.
there’s every reason to believe that Memories appear to be encoded within the physical structure of the brain on the
long-term memories, once programmed,
molecular level. The problem in braintaping is twofold: first, to copy all this infor-
would be permanently stored.
Freezing: The idea that freezing a mation in a usable form (that is, to make a complete blueprint of memory, not just a
corpse will buy extra time to make a photograph). Second, to use this copy to reconstruct the original’s memory and per-
braintape doesn’t hold up realistically. sonality within a new host.
Unless cryonic or suspended anima- This section presents several alternative forms of memory-transference technol-
tion technologies were used, freezing ogy. Exactly which ones are in use in a particular campaign is up to the GM.
will damage the brain, making ’taping Likewise, the TLs are completely up to the GM – there’s no reason why braintaping
harder! should not occur much later than TL9, the level that previous GURPS books have
Memory Requirements: The figure set for it.
of 100 gigs for a digital braintape is
terribly optimistic – 100 terabytes
(100,000 gigs) is more realistic. On
the face of it, this means that brain-
Braintaping Techniques (TL9)
tapes would require sizable data banks Braintaping is the standard method of memory copying and transfer in GURPS.
to store them, especially at TL9-10, It assumes that it is possible to make quick copies of a mind without damaging the
and putting braintapes on standard original or causing significant memory loss in the process.
computer disks (as in GURPS Ultra- Molecular scanning of the brain might use an advanced form of magnetic reso-
Tech’s personality implants) would nance imaging (MRI), or some other form of non-invasive scanner. However, it’s
require TL14, not TL11. However, also possible that the precise imaging required may require actual physical probes.
earlier books seem to have underesti- These might be a development of the scanning, tunneling microscope (STM – a
mated the data storage capabilities of device currently being used to study and manipulate molecules), or they may be
ultra-tech computer media by about artificial microorganisms or robotic nanomachines which replicate through the
the same factor – see DNA Computers
brain, mapping it. Such nanobots might be designed to transmit information back
(p. 13). Thus, if both optional rules are
used, we’re back to minds-on-disk
after they have permeated the brain, or it may prove necessary to send in other nano
again. to gather data from them. It’s also possible that nanobots would work in concert
Progressive Deterioration: While with external sensors; e.g., the nano might “highlight” areas of the brain (perhaps
memories may survive for hours after with isotopes) in order to make external scanning easier.
death, there may be some losses. If invasive brain probes are used, they should be designed so that they do not
Optionally, if more than 2 hours have disturb brain structures as they record them. Memory transfer probably involves the
passed since someone’s death, only use of similar active probes, but this time they would be designed to alter molecules.
low- or very low-res braintapes are pos- Programmed with the information gained during the copying process, they would
sible, and after 12 hours, only very low- rewrite the host’s brain structures to conform to the original’s.
res brain tapes can be recovered. This Here’s how it might work in practice:
assumes that the subject isn’t preserved
via cryonics or suspended animation, of
course. Direct Programming (TL9)
Direct programming is the process of mechanically copying all memories from a
person’s brain to the brain of his blank-minded clone. This does not require the actual
storage of memory. Instead, the molecular probes being used to read the memories of
one brain are directly linked to similar probes being used to program the other.

116 CHAPTER 5: IMMORTALITY INCORPORATED

 This can be visualized as two machines joined by a cable, one for scanning, the
other for programming. The original person lies in one machine, the clone in the
other. The scanner reads the original’s memory and immediately transfers the data
to the programmer, which writes it into the other brain. There is no need to translate
Alternative Braintaping
the analog data gathered by the probes into a digital medium – it’s simply going
from one biological matrix to another. If internal probes were employed, the actual
Technologies
probes themselves might even be transferred. Here are some options that change
From the patient’s point of view, he simply visits a clone storage facility and the way braintaping works in a cam-
programs his (comatose) clone with his memories. This takes one hour. If not repro- paign:
grammed within a month of the previous visit, the clone’s mind will go blank again.
See Cloning Costs and Times (p. 16) for the cost of growing and maintaining a
clone in storage.
Brainpeeling
It is also possible to program a clone from the original’s recently-dead body. If What if it were impossible to make a
molecular copy of the brain without
successful, the reawakened clone retains all the original’s memories up to his time of
harming it? If the brain is being mapped
death. While the exact moment of death will often not be recalled, circumstances lead- by nanomachines, they might destroy
ing up to it (e.g., a mortal wound or illness) can be very traumatic. Unless death was the brain’s structure even as they record
either peaceful or sudden, the GM can require the clone make a successful Will roll to it. After a braintape copy is made, the
avoid acquiring an appropriate new Phobia (p. B35) from their death experience. original person is very dead, but the
Direct programming from a corpse must be done within 24 hours of death. copy still exists. If it’s a digital copy
Sticking the body in a freezer will give up to ten days – but see Braintapes and (TL10), this means that multiple copies
Realism (p. 116) for some optional rules. Cryonic preservation (p. 113) or suspended can still be made.
animation (p. 115) techniques allow indefinite storage before braintaping, although
cryonic preservation imposes some limits – see Cryonic Revival (p. 114). The body
must also be relatively intact (no worse than -5×HT) and the brain must be in decent
Custom Brains
shape. More than 5,000 rads of radiation damage (+1,000 rads per TL over TL9) As memory is built into the structure
of the brain cells, it may prove impossi-
will prevent braintaping, as nerve tissue will be damaged beyond readability.
ble to simply write memories onto the
brain of a “blank-minded clone” or
Braintapes (Late TL9) other person. If this option is used,
instead of transferring memories to an
Rather than being stored in a clone, memories are recorded in a mechanical
existing clone, it will be necessary to
matrix, as a “braintape.” This is a non-trivial task, but has the advantage that no
grow the clone brain, layer by layer, to
clone need be kept in storage (just whatever cells are needed to grow it). match the “taped” information. This
Furthermore, multiple copies can be made as safeguards. takes the same time as growing the rest
TL9 braintapes can only be stored within a mechanical memory storage device of the clone (and can be done concur-
(MMSD): a large, specialized device that stores one person’s braintape. Unlike a digi- rently). This also means that updating
tal braintape (below), this is an analog memory storage device – possibly a semi- the memories of a “ready to use” clone
organic, protein-based matrix – which would explain why it is larger and heavier than would be impossible – you’d need an
a digital braintape. See Braintaping Equipment (p. 119) for MMSD weights and costs. entirely new brain.
TL10+ techniques store all of a person’s memories indefinitely on standard
computer media (“on disk”). This requires converting the brain’s analog memories
to a digital format. For game purposes, assume 100 gigabytes of storage space is
Low- or Very Low-Res Only
It’s possible that braintape technolo-
required for a person’s memories, allowing for data compression. gy isn’t quite up to making a completely
While a MMSD or computer disk can be stored anywhere, updating it with accurate model. If so, then normal
more recent memories requires a special clinical braintape machine or portable braintape machines all produce low-res
braintaper (usually found only in hospitals), and requires a two-hour session. See copies (at the same cost, time and skill
Braintaping Equipment (p. 119) for details. as a normal braintape), low-res
machines produce very low-res copies
(at the same cost, time and skill as a
low-res braintape) and very low-res
machines do not exist.

No Digital Braintapes
Low and Very Low Resolution Braintapes (TL9) Braintapes can only be stored in a
special MMSD matrix. This means that
These are “quick and dirty” copies of an individual’s mind. A clinical braintape they can’t be copied over and over
machine or portable braintaper can make a “low-res” braintape at +2 to skill for again, or used in ghostcomps, making it
50% of the normal time and cost, or a “very low-res” braintape at +4 to skill for easier to ensure someone “stays dead.”
25% of the normal time and cost. If stored digitally, a low-res braintape takes only
1/2 the storage space; a very low-res one takes only 1/5 the space.

CHAPTER 5: IMMORTALITY INCORPORATED 117

 If a low-res braintape is used to program a clone or is played into another body,
Persona-Napping it’s treated as a normal braintape, but there’s a loss of skills and memories. All
points put into skills are halved (round fractions of 1/4 down to 0), reducing levels
Someone who wants to abduct a per-
son in order to interrogate, hire or accordingly. In addition, the subject will often experience partial memory losses.
enslave him may find it easier to copy a The subject should make an IQ-3 roll. If the roll fails, Partial Amnesia (-10 points,
braintape and steal tissue samples than p. CI86) results; on a critical failure, Total Amnesia (-25 points, p. CI86) occurs.
to abduct the original. If done properly, The subject also has a 50% chance of gaining Flashbacks (-5 points, p.CI90), repre-
no one – including the original – may senting the brain struggling to make links to isolated pockets of memory.
be aware that a crime has been commit- If a very low-res braintape is used to program a clone or is played into another
ted. body, it’s treated as a normal braintape, with a significant loss of personality, skills
This crime may be very easy to com- and memories. The copy has -2 IQ and Total Amnesia (-25 points), but retains a
mit tracelessly if the perpetrator is an basic personality (including mental advantages and disadvantages), his life skills
official in charge of a braintaping clinic
(including native language at his new IQ) and 1/4 his points in skills (round down).
or other body that has been entrusted
with such samples. Discovering that a However, advantages based on emotional sensitivity – e.g., Charisma, Empathy,
copy of you has been made and is in Fashion Sense, Rapier Wit and Sensitive – are lost. The subject has a 50% chance of
someone else’s hands, possibly suffer- gaining Flashbacks (-5 points), as above.
ing abuse, may be a very traumatic
experience.
Game Effects of Braintaping
Multiple People Braintaping is almost totally reliable
if performed with proper hardware of the
Braintaping or similar technology sort found in major hospitals.
can create multiple copies of the same If the GM cares to roll for hospital
personality, in cloned or different bod- braintaping, use Electronics Operation
ies. (Medical) skill; a typical specialist would
In general, the GM should let a
have this at skill 1d+13. A normal failure
player control only one of them. The
others will diverge into different peo- simply results in a delay of 2 hours or so; a
ple. The GM should play them much critical failure must be confirmed by a sec-
like the original, but they will develop ond failure before an undetected problem
their own goals as they have diverse can occur. This may range from the wrong
experiences – this can happen right braintape being played into the body to a
away, if they learn that they aren’t damaged or flawed transfer, as described
unique. In fact, a copy (or the original, under Portable Braintaper and Portable
if he learns he’s been braintaped) may Programmer, below. Statistically, a clinical
deliberately want to alter his lifestyle in braintape machine can still make mistakes
order to better express his own individ- in an extremely small percentage of cases –
uality.
this could lead to an adventure, especially
If the original dies, the GM can
allow the player to switch to another if a hospital tried to cover up its error.
copy (West End Games’ Paranoia If a clone is activated after being pro-
RPG was built around the humorous grammed via direct memory transfer or a
possibilities inherent in this idea). braintape, it gains the memories and skills
Alternatively, the GM can rule that the of the original as of when his memories
player character is dead and the other were last recorded or transferred. If the
clones remain NPCs. This is suggested new body’s statistics differ from the old
if the copies have had time to diverge one’s (e.g., an old man transferring into a
considerably in terms of their life expe- young clone body), adjust as for Brain
riences. Transplants (p. 66). A recent transferee has
Depending on their personalities,
DX-6 and IQ-2 as the mind adapts to the
two “duplicates” (regardless of which is
the original and which is the copy) may new body. Make a HT roll every week:
get along, be uncomfortable with each success regains 1 point of each, while a
other, or be unable to stand the sight of critical failure is a temporary setback that
one another. However, they will have a costs 1 point of each.
close bond, and will think in much the For ethical (and possibly technical) reasons, braintaping is designed to be used
same way – if they are together, they on a “blank mind” – usually, a clone grown while comatose, which has no memories
may astound observers (and them- of its own. Programming an awakened person (including a clone who has had expe-
selves) by finishing each others’ sen- riences of his own) with a braintape may either completely overwrite his mind (cre-
tences, and will have close insight into ating a new person), rearrange brain cells so as to leave him a vegetable (IQ 1), or
one another’s feelings. result in an unstable blend of both minds – GM’s option. If the latter, assume the
Continued on next page . . . effect is a Split Personality (-10 points), with -10 to -30 additional points of different
118 CHAPTER 5: IMMORTALITY INCORPORATED
mental disadvantages for each personality. Edgy, Flashbacks, Manic-Depressive,
On the Edge and Paranoia are all appropriate.
At the GM’s option, TL10 technology may allow a braintape to be played into a
Multiple People
blank-minded clone of someone else. If this happens, use the braintape’s IQ, skills
(Continued)
and mental advantages and disadvantages, but the ST, DX, HT and physical advan-
tages and disadvantages of the clone body. Adjust all skills to conform to the new In game terms, this can be expressed
by giving each of them some or all of
DX of the body, and adjust IQ by any species modifiers. For example, if a human
Empathy (only with duplicate, -70%, 5
mind were played into an ordinary dog’s body (IQ 5), the human would be -5 on IQ. points; p. B20), Intuition (only to guess
However, while any decrease is possible, IQ can’t increase by more than +2 in this what duplicate plans, -70%, 5 points;
way. Recalculate character point totals based on the new values. p. B20) and (in some settings) Special
Rapport (p. CI46). If the original was
telepathic, the copy will be also.
Furthermore, it’s likely that their minds
will be synchronized. The GM may
allow both characters to buy the
Mindlink advantage (p. CI41), perhaps
allowing one level per level of
Telepathy Power they have.
The point value of these advantages
can be reduced by taking any of these
Braintaping Equipment disadvantages: Easy to Read (only by
duplicate, -70%, -3 points; p. CI89),
There are numerous different types of braintaping and braintaping-related Jealousy (only toward duplicate, -70%,
equipment. -3 points; p. B34) and Paranoia (that
duplicate is plotting against you, -40%,
Direct Brain Programmer (TL9) -6 points; p. B35). The limitation on
Paranoia is worth less because the
This is a machine that can directly program the brain of a blank-minded clone mental double doesn’t have to be pre-
with someone’s memories and personality. It cannot store memories on a MMSD or sent for the original to be worrying
disk. The process requires the original and the clone (who may still be in the clone about what it might be doing! The GM
tank) to be present and hooked up to the device. The transfer takes two hours and can also consider the possibility of one
requires Electronics Operation (Medical) skill. duplicate counting as an Evil Twin (p.
A direct brain programmer is 1,000 lbs., 40 cf and $200,000. Halve weight and CI77)! These disadvantages must be
cost at TL10, and again at TL11. bought off if all mental duplicates are
destroyed, comatose or otherwise dis-
Clinical Braintape Machine (Late TL9) posed of.

This is a hospital-quality device for braintaping. It resembles a double-sized

life-support bed with specialized, sophisticated cerebral scanning and diagnostic
facilities built into it, plus cables to connect to a MMSD or data bank. It is designed
Campaign Effects
to be as safe and reliable as possible.
A clinical braintape machine can record braintapes from a living person or
of Braintaping
recent corpse as described above, imprinting them into a blank-minded clone or When a clone is “activated” after the
MMSD, or (at TL10+) storing them in digital format. It can also transfer memories legally-proven death of the original,
from a MMSD or (at TL10+) digital braintape into a blank-minded clone. Either most societies consider the clone to
legally be that person, with all his rights
way, the process takes 2 hours and requires Electronics Operation (Medical) skill.
and property. Societies may pass laws
Braintaping installations at hospitals are almost totally reliable, with numerous to restrict multiple copies of living
safety interlocks and computerized tutorials. (If the GM cares to roll for hospital people, though some may allow it
braintaping, a critical failure should require a second roll, with only another critical (creating a “clone family” effect). To
failure “confirming” the error. Failure can have some of the effects described for maintain control, some societies may
failure with portable braintapers and programmers, below – GM’s option.) build braintapes so that copying them
A clinical braintape machine is 2,000 lbs., 40 cf and $1 million. Halve weight automatically erases the first tape, and
and cost at TL10, and again at TL11. A low-res clinical braintape machine (which pass laws to prevent multiple copies of
can only make low-res braintapes – see p. 117) is half the normal price. living individuals from being made.
Braintape recording and clone growth
MMSD (Late TL9) will be strictly supervised by such gov-
ernments, though bootleg labs will
This is a mechanical memory storage device, used to store a single TL9 brain- exist.
tape. (At TL10+, memories are usually stored digitally.) It weighs 800 lbs., takes up But what does braintaping mean to
54 cf and costs $40,000. If no digital braintapes exist, higher-TL MMSDs may get adventurers?
smaller. At TL10, a MMSD may be 1/10 weight and half cost. At TL11+, it might Continued on next page . . .
resemble a large video-game cartridge (8 lbs.) and cost $10,000.
CHAPTER 5: IMMORTALITY INCORPORATED 119
 Memory Integration Device (TL10)
This device is used to perform memory integration (p. 122). It resembles a dou-
ble diagnostic bed with oversized neural helmets that cover the entire head of both
Campaign Effects users. A memory integration device weighs 500 lbs., takes up 50 cf and costs
$800,000. It normally runs on building power, but a D cell will operate it for three
of Braintaping memory integrations (24 hours).
(Continued) Portable Braintaper (TL10)
This is a digital braintape recording system small enough to be carried aboard a
First and foremost, they can never vehicle or installed in a doctor’s office. This sort of system is easier to manufacture
be sure that someone is permanently than a full braintape machine, so it may be the only type that is available to illegal
dead. Cell samples can be frozen;
“black clinics,” revolutionary groups or the like. It is basically half a braintape
braintapes are easy to hide. Even if a
foe is legally dead, and no longer has machine, without the extensive safety interlocks and monitoring facilities of its larg-
access to his money or property, he er cousin. It can only record braintapes – it can’t play them into a clone’s mind, nor
can return to haunt them. As a result, can it directly program a clone.
assassins and kidnappers would try to It takes half an hour to read someone’s memory into the device, and requires a
destroy or steal braintapes as well – skill roll against Electronics Operation (Medical). Failure means that another try is
maybe even first. This also applies to required; critical failure means that the scanning has disrupted brain patterns, causing
the PCs themselves; it is quite possi- possible brain damage such as Amnesia, Epilepsy or a loss of IQ. If successful, the
ble their enemies will try to deter- device stores the person’s braintape in 100 gigs of memory on a standard mini-disk.
mine the location of their braintapes At TL11+, a disk could hold multiple sets of memories in separate files!
before going after them. And if a gov- At TL10, a portable braintaper weighs 200 lbs., takes up 10 cf and costs
ernment sentences someone to death
$110,000. It uses a D cell, good for a year or so. Weight, volume and cost are halved
or prison, they will be sure to try to
track down all of his braintapes, so at TL11 and again at TL12; a TL12+ device fits easily into a small suitcase. A low-
that his friends or followers don’t res portable braintaper (which can only make low-res braintapes – see p. 117) is half
revive him. the normal price.
One problem with braintaping is Portable braintapers are rarely available except to licensed physicians, and may be
that it diminishes the fear of death. illegal. There are too many sinister things a criminal or enemy agent can do with such
B r ai n t a p in g w o r k s b e s t a s a pl ot a device, such as stealing a copy of someone else’s mind. However, this doesn’t stop
device and “last resort” means of sav- people from making them illegally, buying them on the black market, et cetera.
ing people . . . and – at $25,000 per
update – a good way of using up
characters’ funds. The GM should
Portable Programmer (TL10)
discourage players with braintaped This system is used to program a clone directly with a person’s mind, or to
characters from casually committing update a clone using a braintape. To function, the braintape disk must be inserted
suicide rather than facing tricky situa- into the programmer and hooked up to a growth tank (p. 18), forced-growth tank (p.
tions such as being imprisoned. One 19) or portable clone tank (p. UT96) containing a clone. At TL10, portable pro-
way is to point out that the people grammers are usually only available to licensed physicians (and government agen-
back home may not know he’s dead, cies), but by TL11+, even family doctors may have one next to the automedic –
and so may never revive him. politicians often prefer to control the taping machinery while leaving the program-
Of course, instructions could be
mer legal.
left to have a copy made after the PC
has been missing for several years, Performing either programming or a clone update takes 6 hours and a success-
but his enemies or an accident might ful roll against Electronics Operation (Medical). Success means that the braintape
destroy the tapes before he can be was properly transferred. Failure means it was accidentally erased (hope someone
revived. Even worse, the original may has a backup copy . . .). Critical failure indicates it seemed to work. At least, most of
not be dead at all! A PC might return the memories were transferred. Hopefully. Or if multiple braintapes were on the
after being shipwrecked on a low-tech same disk, maybe they transferred the wrong one.
planet for five years, only to find that A portable programmer weighs 300 lbs., takes up 15 cf and costs $200,000.
his instructions have been followed This is halved at TL11 and again at TL12+. It uses a D cell, good for a year or so.
and he has been presumed dead and a
copy made – and his new self has
spent all his fortune, married or even
blackened his good name.

120 CHAPTER 5: IMMORTALITY INCORPORATED

Portable Braintape Machine (TL10)
This combines braintaper and programmer devices. It can be used for either
function. It weighs 400 lbs., takes up 20 cf and costs $300,000. This is halved at
Memory Uploads to
TL11 and again at TL12+. It uses a D cell, good for a year or so. The same legal Gengineered Clones (TL9)
controls that apply to braintapers apply to it. Here’s another way to get a radically
different body. A clone is made of the
Braincorder (TL14) subject (p. 14), but intended genetic
modifications are engineered into its
An espionage device that can make digital braintapes at a distance. See p. DNA. As it matures within its tank, the
UT96. clone is kept comatose to keep it from
developing a mind of its own. When it
reaches maturity – or before, if desired
– a braintape (see Braintaping, p. 116)
of the subject is “played back” into the
clone. The result is a clone of the user,
with his memories but a genemod body.
There are now two versions of the

Braintaping-Related Technology subject. If duplication is undesirable or

illegal, the subject could arrange for his
original brain to be destroyed or memo-
These are spin-offs of braintaping technology, or alternative versions of it.
ry-wiped after the transfer process.

Brain Editor (TL10) Then only one copy of him would wake
up. Perhaps less wastefully, the original
could be kept comatose or in suspended
Brain-editing software allows someone to use a computer to read, delete or alter
animation, in case it is ever needed as a
memories that are stored on a digital braintape. The braintape is not aware of this
backup. This brings up the main disad-
process (as a ghostcomp would be; see p. 122) – only the data on the tape are being vantage of “clone jumping” for those
accessed. who want augmentation: Is the brain-
Using a brain editor is like using the telepathic Mindwipe skill (p. B171), with taped copy really you?
a few exceptions. The user is “in contact” with the braintape once he begins to edit
it, and Psychology or Brain Hacking (p. CI160) skill is used instead of Mindwipe.
The user may search for and “read” specific memories or sets of memories (takes Copy-Protection Nano
one hour per attempt); if trying to remove or change single memories, or specific
areas of memory, he must first locate them. A failed roll does not alert the subject,
(TL10)
Not everyone wants to be copied!
since the braintape is not conscious. However, if any editing (as opposed to simply This technology is used to protect a per-
searching) was done, it will leave traces that the subject will be aware of if the sonality from being copied via braintap-
braintape is actually run – these may be a feeling that something is missing, a mem- ing technology. It “encrypts” the user’s
ory he knows he should recall but can’t, et cetera. memory and personality using decoy
nanomachines, which interfere with
The GM should secretly make all rolls for brain editing. The effects of a brain-
braintaping while not affecting the
editing job will only come to pass if that braintape is actually used (in a clone or user’s brain function in any way. They
ghostcomp). impose a penalty equal to (their TL-5)
To detect brain editing, use the Detecting Mindwipe rules (p. B171) – “the first on any roll to make a braintape of the
time you contact” means the first time you access the braintape. Ignore references user. If no roll for braintaping is
to Telereceive – if the user has reason to believe brain editing has taken place, he normally required, a roll vs. Electronics
can keep looking (roll each hour); if he doesn’t, he gets the initial roll only. Operation (Medical) must be made, with
that penalty.
Whether or not brain-editing technology exists is optional. In fact, if it does, it
A roll that fails by 1 results in a
may be secret; if it is known to exist, people may be very nervous about who they copy that is seriously “defective” – drop
store their braintapes with! A brain editor program is Complexity 6, $20,000. quality by one level: normal becomes
low-res, low-res becomes very low-res
Personality Implants (TL11) and very low-res tapes are completely
useless. A failure by 2 or more means a
These devices are cybernetic implants that allow a braintape to take over a per- fatally flawed copy was made; if pro-
son’s mind. They are described on p. UT110. grammed into in a clone or ghostcomp,
the result will be mindless. There is no
Personality Overwrite Machine (TL11) way to tell whether the copy failed or
not without actually using it in the clone
This is a refined form of mental-programming machine, developed from a or ghostcomp; the GM rolls secretly.
braintape programmer. It allows someone to “overlay” a personality on top of an If soul collectors exist, the GM
existing mind. The result is similar to the personality implants described in GURPS should decide whether or not they can
be jammed; if so, roll 3d vs. the nano’s
Cyberpunk and Ultra-Tech, but instead of the new personality being maintained by TL. On a success, the nano prevents the
an implanted (and removable) device, it produces a permanent change, imprinted soul collector from working.
onto the subject’s brain.

CHAPTER 5: IMMORTALITY INCORPORATED 121

 A personality overwrite machine weighs 300 lbs., takes up 15 cf and costs
Continued on next page . . .
$300,000. This is halved at TL12 and again at TL13+. It uses a D cell, good for a
Copy-Protection Nano (TL10) year or so.
(Continued) Uploading: Ghostcomps (TL14)
Copy-protection nano can be inhaled A digital braintape can be installed in a special-
or injected. It begins to protect against
copying within 1d×5 minutes.The nano
ized computer, known as a ghostcomp (p. UT31).
may be built with a limited lifespan (set The personality (or “ghost”) then becomes fully self-
by the designer), or may be permanent aware. It can think (as long as the computer is on),
symbiotes. A dose of copy-protection remember things, learn, and communicate with oth-
nano costs $10,000. There is no character ers through the computer.
point cost. All ghostcomps are designed to allow the brain-
tape to access the computer’s databases and to run its
Memory Integration programs. The capabilities of the ghost personality
depend on what hardware and software are available
(TL10) to the computer. Through a datalink or modem, a
braintape could reach out to other computers, control
In some societies, cloning and brain- a vehicle or spaceship, or project a realistic image of
taping technology may allow multiple his old body using a linked holographic projector. By
clones of the same individual to exist,
sharing similar memories. However, datalinking with a chrysalis machine (p. 23) or
under normal circumstances, they rapid- growth tank facility, he could even start growing a
ly become different people as a result of body!
their own, unique experiences. In cer- Some ghostcomps are designed with a safety
tain instances – for instance, after a override, which can lock out some or all databases
secret agency sent multiple duplicates and programs; thus, it is possible to keep a brain-
of the same super-agent on different taped personality “imprisoned” or controlled.
missions – it may be desirable to inte-
grate the experiences of several brain- Kidnappers might even “steal” the mind of a famous
taped clones back into a whole. scientist or skilled politician or strategist. Then, by
A memory integration device (p. 120) offering limited access or promising eventual free-
allows a person and an identical clone dom, such a “bound ghost” could be made to work
(or two identical clones, if neither is the for his captors. A person can escape that kind of dig-
original) to do just that. Both subjects ital imprisonment simply by having someone hack
must be present and hooked up to the into the computer, copy the braintape file, then
device, which uses a mix of chemical
RNA transfer, electrosynaptic brainmap- delete any copies on the machine. Of course, they
ping and braintaping to identify, transfer may have backups . . .
and integrate their differing memories. A ghostcomp is identical to any Complexity 8+
The process takes 8 hours, during which computer, except that it costs 10 times as much; this
both copies are unconscious. When it is includes making the computer a neural-net type design. By default, ghostcomps are
over, both share the same set of memo- TL14, with the braintape program being Complexity 8. However, it’s quite possible
ries. that ghostcomp technology may be no more difficult than regular braintaping. If so,
The memory integration process also
acts as a form of “quick teaching.” GMs may wish to make ghostcomp technology only Complexity 6 and/or TL10.
Skills are partly transferred. If one clone LC 4.
has more character points than the other If ghostcomps are widespread, an entire community of recorded personalities
in a specific skill, half the difference is may exist. In a sense, they could be “mobile,” surfing the net and manifesting as
transferred if it is a mental skill, or one- holograms, or within dreamgames or virtual reality simulations.
quarter the difference if it is a physical
skill. Round fractional skill points
below 1/2 point down. Unfortunately, Global Soul Collectors (TL15)
newly-gained mental disadvantages What if science discovers that memory and personality also exist as an energy
(e.g., from failed Fright Checks or other form independent of (but perhaps created by) brain chemistry, which can (at least
causes) are also transferred!
Recovery from the memory integra-
briefly) survive the death of the body? If so, it may be possible to create a machine
tion process can take some time. The that will snatch this “energy soul” as it escapes and transfer it to a new body, permit-
process stirs up a lot of old memories ting resurrection! This is definitely “psionic technology,” and more fantasy than sci-
and images (even ones shared by both ence fiction, but devices of this sort have appeared in several SF novels, notably
clones). Each user will suffer from the Philip Jose Farmer’s Riverworld series, Tanith Lee’s Don’t Bite the Sun and Roger
Flashbacks disadvantage for at least 1d Zelazny’s Creatures of Light and Darkness. Here’s how they might work:
weeks afterward. The global soul collector is an area-effect device that can collect energy souls
Continued on next page . . . as they leave bodies after death and store them in some kind of matrix. Depending
on the size of the soul collector, it can snatch energy souls throughout a building,
122 CHAPTER 5: IMMORTALITY INCORPORATED
 Memory Integration (TL10)
(Continued)
During this time, the user will expe-
rience flashbacks of both his own older
memories and, especially, any memo-
ries that the other clone had that he did
not previously have. After 1d weeks,
the user gets an IQ-2 roll each week to
shake off the flashbacks.
Memory integration requires
Electronics Operation (Medical) skill to
city or planet-sized region. A soul collector is usually designed to gather only the perform, and the process must be moni-
energy souls of intelligent beings, either because non-sentients lack souls, or simply tored by a human or a computer. Roll
to prevent it being from becoming overloaded. separately for each person being inte-
The physical requirements of a global soul collector are really up to the GM. grated. A success indicates that the trans-
Here are some suggestions: fer process went off without a hitch, with
the effects described above. A failed roll
Size Radius Weight Cost Power indicates that memory integration was
only partially successful. Everything
Building 7 yds. 1 ton $1 bil. 1 MW (Megawatt) seems right, but the memories (and any
Block 70 yds. 3 tons $3 bil. 3 MW newly-gained character points) will only
Neighborhood 0.5 mi. 10 tons $10 bil. 10 MW last for as long as the flashbacks do.
City 5 mi. 30 tons $30 bil. 30 MW A critical failure indicates that the
County 50 mi. 100 tons $100 bil. 100 MW wash of new memories and the stirring
Regional 500 mi. 300 tons $300 bil. 300 MW up of old ones caused a mental imbal-
Continental 5,000 mi. 1,000 tons $1 tril. 1 GW (Gigawatt) ance, resulting in the character gaining a
new disadvantage. For instance, if the
Planetary 50,000 mi. 3,000 tons $3 tril. 3 GW two users had very different experi-
Solar System 50 AU 1 mil. tons $1 quad. 1 TW (Terawatt) ences, one may develop a Split
Personality rather than integrating the
two sets of memories. Alternatively, a
At the GM’s option, larger-area models may also be possible, although it would person may remember traumatic inci-
seem more practical to build a soul collector for each planet or system. The GM can dents from earlier in his life with new
assume that a soul collector can reach “through” any solid object to gather soul clarity, resulting in a Phobia or other
mental disadvantage. Yet another option
energy. Optionally, force screens or more specialized energy fields may prevent is that the simple psychic stress brought
soul collection. If two soul collectors are operating in the same area, the soul is upon by the flashbacks results in a dis-
drawn to the nearest one. advantage such as Bad Temper or
A collector must be supported by a computer system (at least Complexity 10) Manic-Depressive.
with 100 gigs of storage space for each soul that it can store. If there is no room left, Memory integration cannot be safely
the soul collector will not function until storage space is freed by transferring out performed again until the new memories
souls. Where soul collectors are designed as resurrection machines, they are usually have been fully integrated (i.e., the flash-
backs end). If it is so used before then,
built so as to be capable of holding a sizable percentage (or even all) of the popula- any success except a critical success is
tion in the area they cover, to ensure that a major disaster does not overwhelm their treated as a failure, and any failure
storage capacity. becomes a critical failure.
Energy souls can be transferred to blank-minded bodies (usually clones of the Use of memory integration may cost
original, but transfer to other blank-minded bodies is possible). Use the rules for character points, at the GM’s option.
programming clones, treating the energy soul exactly as if it were a TL10+ brain- The suggested point cost is equal to the
tape. Soul collector installations are normally equipped with clone tanks and hospi- character point value of any skills that
were gained through the process, minus
tal facilities of some sort to facilitate such transfers. the cost of any new disadvantages
The theological implications of the global soul collector are unsettling: it might gained. The GM can either require the
prevent people from ascending to an afterlife, or “heaven” or “hell” might simply character to set aside a fraction of his
be an organization with one of these devices. Certainly, a group or individual who earned points to pay for these skills at a
controlled one would possess godlike capabilities. later date, or simply raise the point
value of the character. Availability of
memory integration is sometimes
restricted due to its potential for psy-
chological damage. If multiple braintap-
ing is legal, it’s LC 4. In societies that
prohibit multiple braintaping, it will be
LC 0. If available, a treatment will cost
$4,000 per personality being integrated.

CHAPTER 5: IMMORTALITY INCORPORATED 123

 6 CHARACTERS
AND CORPORATIONS
 “Mad? I, who have discovered the secret of life! You call me mad?”
– The Vampire Bat (1933)
To the average person, future biotech may be essentially invisible. Biotech
Panimmunity shots he had as a baby keep him healthy. He pours milk from trans- and
genic cows onto his cereal made from nitrogen-fixed grain, and complains about
how much of his salary goes toward health care plans that will keep him alive for an Cyberpunk
ever-increasing span. Perhaps his parents even had him genefixed, to remove any
genetic defects. But biotechnology won’t be invisible to everyone – there will be Truth: A lot more cyberpunk fiction
some people for whom biotech may be a business, a way of life or even a crusade. leans toward the biological end of the
spectrum than leans toward cybernetics.
It’s only because of all the netrunning
Biotech Characters that we call it “cyberpunk” and not
“biopunk.”
At this point, we should probably

Character Types
These archetypes are typical of people intimately involved in biotech and
warn GURPS Cyberpunk GMs to exer-
cise caution and avoid disrupting the
campaign with all kinds of new, cam-
gengineering. paign-destroying technology. On the
other hand, future shock is a major
theme in cyberpunk fiction! Just make
Bioengineer or Gengineer sure it’s part of the story. For instance, a
new biotech company announces a dra-
“Don’t you see? My discovery will change the world!”
matic breakthrough, things begin leak-
A scientist or engineer working in a field such as gengineering or industrial ing onto the streets, and other corpora-
biotech. Some bioengineers are employed by corporations, while others work in tions follow suit. Massive economic
university labs or even as freelance “genehackers.” A bioengineer may be anything disruption results, with protests in the
from a simple lab technician to a Nobel-prize winning researcher. street, fanatics burning themselves to
A common genre convention is the idealistic scientist who develops a process to protest the desecration of the human
benefit mankind, only to see it stolen and perverted by a rival or treacherous co-work- genome and all that.
It’s up to the GM to decide how per-
er who is in the pay of a big megacorporation’s bioweapons division. Another is the
vasive biotech really is. It can be new
obsessed genius whose cutting-edge project was so controversial that he was fired
and hard to get, or just as common as
from his job or driven out of the field. Now he lives alone somewhere and continues
cybernetics. A cyberpunk world can
his ground-breaking work in private, often without adequate biohazard safeguards. even be mostly biotech, with chrome
Common Advantages: Academic Status, Contacts, Eidetic Memory, Tenure or and silicon being rare and unusual.
Wealth (if established). For geniuses, Intuition and Versatile, and in cinematic cam- Another interesting way to handle
paigns, Gadgeteer. biotech is to have one organization,
nation or culture specialize in cybernet-
Common Disadvantages: Absent-Mindedness, Obsession, Overweight, Poverty
ics and another in biotech. Bruce
(if grad student), Shyness, Skinny.
Sterling’s Shaper/Mechanist stories
Useful Skills: Biochemistry, Computer Operation, Electronics Operation
(see Bibliography, p. 141) are a good
(Medical), Engineering (Biomedical), Genetics (Genetic Engineering), Psychology, example of this kind of cultural divide.
Research, Xenobiology and possibly other scientific skills. In cinematic campaigns, If the GM wants to keep biotech under
Science! and Weird Science. control, the most advanced biotechnol-
ogy could be limited to an outlaw
Biotech Executive group or culture.

“I’m afraid we cannot permit you to continue that research, doctor. The way
public opinion has swung, such work on human germ cells would be detrimental to
Metazyne’s corporate image.”

CHAPTER 6: CHARACTERS AND CORPORATIONS 125

 A senior manager in a bioengineering company. Small, dynamic companies are
often helmed by former or current scientists, until they make it big and get bought
Using out by or turn into huge conglomerates. Often, the new management are business-
men, pure and simple, which can lead to conflict between the scientists (who enjoy
GURPS Bio-Tech pure research projects) and the executives (who’d rather see a profit in the next fis-
cal year or two).
with It can be fun to play the head of a small, struggling
Cyberworld company, especially if the competition is doing everything
– up to and including biological warfare – to wipe you out.
As written, GURPS Cyberworld is The biotech exec also makes a good villain: He’s the guy
pretty mum about biotech, except for who orders the ruthless cover-ups when something contro-
some references to human cloning not versial or dangerous escapes from the lab, or who arranges
yet being possible, nanomachines being expeditions to alien worlds to find deadly new species for
used for cybernetics and some weird
the Bioweapons Division.
biocomputers bubbling away in a few
korp labs. Biomods? Human gengineer- Common Advantages: Ally Group, Charisma, Multi-
ing? Pharming? Not mentioned in the millionaire, Patron, Security Clearance, Status, Strong
book. Will, Wealth.
The easy answer is to assume that Common Disadvantages: Bully, Duty, Enemy, Greed,
biotech isn’t on the streets – although it
Jealousy, Obsession, Workaholic.
may exist in korporate “black projects”
Useful Skills: Accounting, Administration, Computer
somewhere. On the other hand, why be
Operation, Detect Lies, Diplomacy, Economics, Fast-Talk,
a stick in the mud? Remember, that was
in 2043! If the future keeps pace with
Intimidation, Law, Leadership, Merchant, Politics, Writing.
the present, the “new now” is nearly
five years later, and in the future-shock
world of the One-and-Twenty, five
Bioterrorist
years is more like five decades. Maybe “Listen up, pigs! Unless you free ALL the political prisoners in three hours, the
they’ve got it now. Neo-Anarchist Kommando will release a bio-engineered strain of hantavirus in New
Even so, the GM may want to limit York City.”
Cyberworld biotech to TL8-9 – muscle
grafts and implant glands are state of A terrorist or extortionist with a biological weapon. Most terrorists are extrem-
the art but available, while things like ist fanatics, but they can range from lone madmen with a grudge to highly-orga-
bio-nanotech transformations and genetic nized movements with dozens of members and thousands of supporters. Terrorists
super-soldiers are still a biokorp scien- can also represent the extremist element in causes that have some degree of popular
tist’s wet dreams. sympathy, such as environmental activism, or support for the rights of gene-altered
individuals.
Cloning in A terrorist bioweapon doesn’t have to be a lethal plague: nonlethal diseases,
nanomachines, proteus viruses, insect swarms and mutant monsters are all possible.
GURPS Cyberworld Often, these are cooked up in bargain-basement labs, or acquired through theft or on
the black market. As a result, they might be more or less virulent than the terrorist
Cyberworld indicates that human
cloning is not yet possible (p. CW106).
hoped for, or have other unexpected side effects.
“Real world” events have overtaken Common Advantages: Alertness, Ally, Ally Group, Alternate Identity, Contacts,
this. GMs may wish to modify this to
Danger Sense, Patron, Zeroed.
“human cloning is possible, but no
Common Disadvantages: Bloodlust, Enemy, Extreme Fanaticism, Fanaticism,
human clones have been brought to
Intolerance, On the Edge, Reputation, Stubbornness, Trademark.
term.” More logically, GMs can assume
that human cloning has been performed,
Useful Skills: Acting, Armoury, Bard, Chemistry, Computer Hacking,
but is illegal in many or most nations, Demolition, Forgery, Genetics (Genetic Engineering), Guns, Holdout, Intimidation,
and that forced-growth tanks (p. 19) that Leadership, Stealth, Streetwise.
allow rapid raising of clones to adult-
hood do not exist. With a clone taking
18 years rather than 6 weeks to mature, Ecological Engineer and Ecoteur
this limits the social impact of cloning “A planetary ecosystem is a complex entity, a synergistic whole. Even seemingly-
in the One-and-Twenty. insignificant changes have the potential to send shock waves that ripple across the
entire biosphere.”

126 CHAPTER 6: CHARACTERS AND CORPORATIONS

 Ecological engineers are specialists at redesigning regional or planetary ecosys-
tems for the purposes of terraforming. They also work to correct the depredations of
environmental disasters such as pollution, overpopulation, failed terraforming Experimental
experiments and deliberate sabotage by ecoteurs. They combine a knowledge of
genetic engineering with an understanding of how even minor changes can effect
Procedures
Biotech may be available at an earli-
entire planetary ecosystems.
er TL than listed, as an “experimental
Ecoteurs are the dark side of the ecological engineer – sometimes even former procedure.” This includes early human
eco-engineers “gone bad.” These are mercenary, corporate or government agents trials of specific biomod processes,
who specialize in ecological sabotage (“ecotage”) aimed at disrupting or destroying experimental gengineering projects,
the relationships between species. Ecotage is typically aimed at destroying a com- and so on. In general, an experimental
petitor’s economically-valuable crops or livestock, but it might also be intended to process will cost at least 10 times as
force the current occupants of a sabotaged region to leave or surrender. much if half a TL early; e.g., a TL8
Some ecotage activities may be very straightforward. For instance, a “rabbits in procedure at late TL7, or a late-TL7
Australia” ploy of introducing a dynamic new species into an ecosystem that isn’t procedure earlier in TL7. At the GM’s
prepared for it in order to displace existing species, or simply to kill livestock, crops option, some developments could be
or people. Ecotage can also be very subtle. For instance, an ecoteur who has been available a full TL early, at 100 times
cost or more!
hired to disrupt a region’s economy might release a bacteria that kills birds that prey
There’s a fair chance that any such
upon a species of insect, resulting in the insects multiplying rapidly and devouring newly-invented process will have bugs in
an economically-important crop. This sort of ecological sabotage can be very hard it – the GM can apply cross-tech penal-
to quickly trace back to the source, and in some cases, an enemy is not even aware ties to skill rolls (p. B185) for surgery or
that sabotage has taken place! gengineering tasks, or simply assign
additional side effects (usually disadvan-
Advantages, Disadvantages and Skills: Similar to those listed under tages) to anyone or anything that has
Bioengineer (p. 125) for eco-engineers, or to those listed under Bioterrorist (p. 126) undergone it or been created by it.
for ecoteurs. In addition, Ecology, Economics and Planetology are must-haves.
Post-Human Clothing
Gene Cop Visit Jeremy Fogg’s Vacshop on
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Jeremy Fogg: Meeting the needs of post-
A member of an agency that enforces laws human morphs everywhere.
regulating genetic engineering or other types of
biotechnology. Depending on the perceived Full-body suits, armor and clothing
threat, gene cops may spend most of their time for people who require extra sleeves,
on routine inspections of commercial and univer- legs or “tail socks” are +10% to weight
sity labs, or they might lead undercover investi- and cost per extra limb. There is no
gations or SWAT-style assaults on black market extra cost or weight if the extra arm, leg
or tail is outside it (e.g., a tail sticking
clinics, organleggers and illegal genetics labs.
through a flap) –this only applies if the
A variation of this is the “exterminator” or suit must cover it.
“bounty hunter” character, whose job is to hunt
down people or animals that have been illegally
gengineered, or bioroid slaves or experiments that Cleanup
have escaped or gotten out of control. Gene cops NBC Warfare skill (p. 134) includes
of this sort may be mercenaries or freelance knowledge of cleaning up biologically-
bounty hunters. contaminated areas. Good tools are
decontamination aerosol (p. UT79),
Common Advantages: Alertness, Combat viral solvent (p. UT84) and nan-
Reflexes, Contacts, Intuition, Legal Enforcement ocleanser (p. UTT30). Labs (p. 21) may
Powers, Patron, Unfazeable. be equipped with ultraviolet lamps that
Common Disadvantages: Bully, Duty, Honesty, Intolerance (illegal genemods), can kill germs. Ordinary disinfectants
Overconfidence. may work in some cases. The top-of-
Useful Skills: Beam Weapons, Computer Hacking, Computer Operation, the-line method is disassembler
nanomachines (p. UTT69) programmed
Criminology, Detect Lies, Diagnosis, Electronics Operation (Medical), Electronics
to destroy a particular germ and nothing
Operation (Security), Forensics, Guns, Holdout, Intelligence Analysis, else. If all else fails, fire (or nuclear
Interrogation, Intimidation, Law, NBC Warfare, Psychology, Shadowing, Stealth, weapons) can be used . . .
Streetwise.
CHAPTER 6: CHARACTERS AND CORPORATIONS 127
 Genemod Human
“In the past, one people would oppress or enslave another, especially
other ethnic groups, and justify this with lies about racial superiority or infe-
riority. In reality, the differences were essentially cosmetic and environmental.
Well, we enhanced humans are a minority, but we are different. Truly differ-
ent. We have to take this into account whenever we deal with mundanes. They
won’t let us forget it. Neither should we.”
Someone who was grown from gengineered germ cells, or who has been
cloned or biomodified. Depending on society’s views and the extent of his
modifications, people may consider him superhuman, a member of a privi-
leged class, perfectly normal, unusual, a freak or even a non-person or outlaw.
If he was born with his modifications, he may not think of himself as spe-
cial, but if the majority of the population is unaltered, the simple awareness of
difference – even apart from the changes themselves – may make a significant
impact on his life.
Advantages and Disadvantages: A variant-human racial template.
Anything else is possible, as long as it doesn’t violate any taboo traits in his
template. Social Stigma and Unnatural Features are quite likely.

Hazmat Specialist
“Seven ebola-infected, genemod alligators escaped into the sewers? Yep,
you called the right people. Have the authorities been informed? Ah, I see.
Well, that’s extra. Don’t worry. We’ve handled these things before. We’ll send
our best team.”
An expert at cleaning up hazardous materials, vat spills and other bio-
chemical disasters. Such experts may work for a fire department, disease-con-
trol center, genetic regulatory agency, police force, military unit or corpora-
tion, or be free-lancers hired to clean up others’ messes. Biohazard specialists
may also be trained to deal with hazards such as killing lab animals infected
with diseases or exotic horrors escaped from a military lab. A hazmat team
may include bioengineers or eco-engineers capable of whipping up special-
ized bacteria or counter-bioweapons to deal with a problem.
Common Advantages: Combat Reflexes, Disease-Resistant, Fearlessness,
Immunity to Disease, Resistant to Poison.
Common Disadvantages: Extremely Hazardous Duty, Nightmares,
Sterile, Terminally Ill.
Useful Skills: Animal Handling, Beam Weapons (Flamer), Biochemistry,
Demolition, Diagnosis, Driving, Electronics Operation (Sensors), Guns
(Flamethrower), Guns (Tangler), NBC Warfare, Net, Physician, Poisons,
Tracking, Traps and possibly other combat skills.

Neo-Luddite
“Storm the lab complex! Destroy the abominations within!”
An activist who opposes some or all types of gengineering on social, ethi-
cal or religious grounds. Neo-Luddites range from peaceful lobbyists or pick-
eters to violent extremists. They may be associated with or recruited from
“left wing” groups, like animal rights activists and eco-guerillas, or from
“right wing” groups, like conservative religious movements. Violent neo-
Luddites may turn to bioterrorism, either to “fight fire with fire” or to attempt
to discredit their foes. The Kung Fu 2100 setting (see GURPS Martial Arts
Adventures) has kung fu neo-Luddites fighting the sinister Clone Masters!
Common Advantages: Ally Group, Charisma, Clerical Investment, Strong
Will, Voice.
128 CHAPTER 6: CHARACTERS AND CORPORATIONS
 Common Disadvantages: Fanaticism, Gullibility, Intolerance (genemod peo-
ple), No Sense of Humor, Sense of Duty (humanity), Stubbornness, Technophobia.
Useful Skills: Bard, Brawling, Computer Hacking, Demolition, Ecology, Fast-
Talk, Intimidation, Law, Lockpicking, NBC Warfare, Philosophy, Stealth, Theology,
The Organ Trade
Video Production. Medical transplants can save or
extend lives, replacing lost and dam-
aged organs. Until synthetic or cloned
Organlegger replacements are both available and
cheap (which might not happen until
“19 years old, good heart and lungs, healthy kidneys, no diseases . . . a jogger, late TL8) donated organs, especially
huh? Good choice, Charlie. Problem with snatching street people, they’ve got so hearts, kidneys, livers and lungs, may
many retroviruses and defects, it’s not worth the trouble these days. Now this is be in great demand. See Medical
prime stuff: at least $200,000. Break her up, and burn the brain.” Transplants (p. 65) for details of the
transplant procedure.
Organleggers (a term coined by Larry Niven) kidnap people and break them In most places, organs and other tis-
down for spare parts or – more subtly – loot the organs of sick or dying patients sues can be legally taken from a recent-
during hospital visits. ly-deceased person only if he agreed to
As the populace ages and immunosuppressant drugs improve, the correct types be a donor beforehand (often indicated
of organs sell for huge profits on the black market, to people desperate for trans- by a donor card), or if his relatives
plants. The demand may slacken after bionic or cloned organs become available at make the decision. For personal or reli-
TL8-9, but organleggers can still turn a profit by offering their wares at lower gious reasons, many people are unwill-
prices. At TL9+, a potential market for adult human brains to be enslaved inside ing to make that decision. Others die in
circumstances (old age, disease, major
cyborg spaceships, biocomputers or factories could keep organleggers busy.
trauma) where their organs are damaged
Common Advantages: Alertness, Alternate Identity, Danger Sense, Wealth. or unhealthy. A supply of suitable organ
Common Disadvantages: Callous, Enemy (law enforcement), Greed, Low transplants requires finding people who
Empathy, Solipsist. died in good health. As this is almost a
contradiction in terms, locating organ
Useful Skills: Beam Weapons, Diagnosis, Electronics Operation (Medical),
donors can be difficult.
First Aid, Forgery, Guns, Holdout, Merchant, Physician, Streetwise, Surgery. At present, the number of altruistic
people who die healthy is insufficient to
Senior Citizen meet the demand for new organs. This
will probably get worse as transplants
“Well son, I’m 97, and most of the last 15 years have been spent in hospitals become more common around the
like this one. Now you’re telling me that if I let you pump that million dollars worth world. (It may get a lot worse if cryon-
of nano-gook through my body, there’s an even chance it’ll either make me fifteen ics becomes popular, since if you hope
again or kill me. Gotcha, son. Where’s that consent form?” to be frozen after you die, you may need
those organs later!) While this demand
The desire of elderly people to escape death may be the driving force behind may be mitigated if bionic organs
radical advances in human biotechnology. The aged will actively follow the latest become cheaper and smaller, it may not
life-extension treatments (and vote more money for health care subsidies, if these go away entirely.
exist). The extremely rich can afford to sponsor competing lines of cutting-edge Because of this demand, hospitals
research, ranging from anti-agathic drugs and brain or organ transplants to cryonics, often have to put needy patients on
month- or year-long waiting lists for
nanotechnology and braintaping. When it is a question of trying out these treat-
high-demand tissues, such as the body’s
ments or dying, they may well be the guinea pigs for experimental therapy. vital organs or eyes. The GM can
Sometimes even illegal therapy . . . decide how long a wait is necessary, or
Common Advantages: Allies (younger relatives), Common Sense, Contacts, roll randomly. Before cloning is wide-
spread (reducing the demand), a 1-in-6
Multimillionaire, Reputation, Wealthy.
chance of matching major organs being
Common Disadvantages: Absent-Mindedness, Age, Bad Sight, Disembodied available might be typical, with a fur-
Brain, Enemy (including younger relatives!), Extra Sleep, Hard of Hearing, ther chance rolled each month. After
Hidebound, Obdurate, Poverty (spent it all on health care), Short Attention Span, cloning, artificial organs or bionic
Stubbornness, Terminally Ill, Unattractive, Weak Immune System. replacements become common – a 1-in-
Useful Skills: High levels in former job skills. Research (for diligent study of 6 chance per week is more likely.
cutting-edge health care and life extension plans). Things like fingers or limbs will be in
less demand, and may be available
without a wait in most cases.
Splicer Scarce transplants can also mean a
black or gray market trade in organs and
“Welcome to the Clinic Rouge, monsieur. Our discretion is assured.”
other body parts.
Outlaw medics. Street docs. Genehackers. These “splicers” range from unli-
censed or defrocked physicians to the staff of ultra-tech “black clinics” (see p. 135).
Many are simply out-of-work or struggling students moonlighting for extra cash.

CHAPTER 6: CHARACTERS AND CORPORATIONS 129

 Some splicers are as ethical as any licensed physician, while others will do almost
Black Market anything for money. A few enjoy working in the shadows, for it gives them an
opportunity to test cutting-edge procedures on live subjects, or perform experiments
Organ Prices that would never be approved by government regulators.

Common Advantages: Alternate Identity, Contacts, Immunity to Disease,

Typical Costs: $10,000 for a healthy
Wealth.
vital organ (heart, lung, kidney). Arms
and legs are half that price, since there Common Disadvantages: Callous, Enemy (law enforcement), Greed.
usually isn’t as much demand for them. Useful Skills: Diagnosis, Electronics Operation (Medical), First Aid, Forgery,
Eyes, genitalia and other secondary bits Genetics (Genetic Engineering), Merchant, Physician, Streetwise, Surgery.
are about $2,500 each, with tertiary bits
like fingers or ears going for about
$500-$1,000. A recently-dead corpse, in
good shape (no diseases, not riddled
Acquiring Biomods
Biomods (see Chapter 3) that a character starts the game with cost points rather
with bullets, et cetera), may sell for any-
than cash. But what about characters who want to gain biomods in play?
where from $10,000 to $30,000 depend-
ing on supply and demand, while a live
Each biomod’s availability (TL, LC and means of acquisition) is summarized in
body sells for $50,000. its description. In theory, one simply has to locate someone who can make or install
These prices assume that cloned or it, pay them, then undergo the operation. This might be as easy as visiting a neigh-
bionic parts are widely available. If not borhood clinic and plunking down a credit card, or as complex as finding an out-
(e.g., at TL7), all prices should be dou- lawed scientist who’s the only one who can perform the operation. Usually, it
bled or tripled due to increased demand! depends on the TL and LC of the biomod.
These are retail prices – organleggers, And the point cost?
hospitals and so on purchase bodies or The GM may insist that PCs have the requisite character points before acquiring
body parts for only about 10-60% of new biomods. If a character has an upgrade operation anyway, the GM can hold
this. back future character points until the modification is paid for. However, some bio-
mods are expensive – it’s not much fun to stall all development for a year or two
while paying off that new hyper-lung. One approach is to require a fraction (e.g.,
50%) of earned points go toward paying off the biomod, while the rest are free to
use.
Alternatively, the GM may choose not to charge character points for biomods
under certain circumstances – or at all. The money or effort spent to acquire a bio-
mod, or the risk of the operation itself, might be seen an adequate balancing factor.
Extenuating circumstances could also affect this decision. For instance, if all the
player characters join the Imperial Marine Corps, which routinely gives its recruits
biomods worth 50 character points, then there is less of a game-balance issue –
every character has undergone the same procedure, and the GM might as well sim-
ply increase each PC’s point total by 50 points.
Biomods that are net disadvantages work the same way: They reduce the char-
acter’s point total, but don’t give any new points to spend. If Eden Harrier is a 120-
point character when the Dragon Lady of the Yakuza uses a neurovirus to make him
Lecherous (-15 points), then he simply becomes a 105-point character.
If a character already has a lower level of the advantage or disadvantage granted
by the biomod (e.g., a biomod grants Very Beautiful appearance and the character is
already Attractive) the point cost is based on the difference.
Sensa-Skin and Point Costs: A sensa-skin graft is treated as equipment, not an
advantage or disadvantage, unless the graft is left on long enough to become a per-
manent part of the body. Only then should points be charged for it.

Advantages and Disadvantages

This section describes advantages and disadvantages that require special consid-
eration in a biotech-rich campaign setting. For new advantages, enhancements and
limitations that apply to biomods, see the Appendix (p. 135).

Advantages
Alternate Identity p. B233, p. CI20
At TL8+, an alternate identity will normally include your genetic pattern as well
as finger and retina prints.
130 CHAPTER 6: CHARACTERS AND CORPORATIONS
Unusual Background: Gengineered 5 points
You are the living product of germline gengineering (or other genetic modification).
If the genetic engineering gives you positive attribute modifiers, or racial or super
Universal
advantages that an ordinary human cannot take, then the suggested cost is 5 points.
Exceptions: If genetic modification of this sort is not unusual in a TL8+ society
Donors
(GM’s option), the cost should be 0. If the genetic engineering is simply a special Human genome mapping (p. 14) is
effect explaining why you haves certain attributes, advantages or disadvantages an important component of TL8+ organ
within the human norm (e.g,. Beautiful appearance, Combat Reflexes or Immunity transplants, as it allows the genetic pat-
to Disease), it is also worth no points. terns of donated tissues to be matched
precisely with those of recipients.
Disadvantages In some SF backgrounds, rare geno-
types may be discovered that make
Hereditary Disadvantages excellent “universal donors.” This is
the case in the GURPS Cyberworld set-
In a society that practices genetic selection and gene therapy, certain disadvan- ting (p. CW77). Tissue from a “univer-
tages are probably very rare at TL8 and nonexistent by TL9. sal donor” has no chance of being
These include Bad Sight, Bad Smell, Color Blindness, Dyslexia, Hemophilia, rejected.
Migraine, No Sense of Smell/Taste and Tourette’s Syndrome. In addition, Albinism, The fact that a person is a universal
donor would be known to his doctor and
Dwarfism, Fat and Gigantism are likely to be almost unknown, unless one’s parents
probably his insurance company. This sort
or creator deliberately wanted such a disadvantage. of genetic information is, of course, confi-
A character born into a society like this should justify any such disadvantages dential. On the other hand, genetic records
in his character story. For example, his family might have been poor, or their reli- can be illegally stolen, hacked into or oth-
gion forbade gengineering, or he could have been subjected to some mutagenic or erwise disseminated – and once word gets
nano-tech bioweapon, et cetera. around that a person is a good source of
spare parts, he may be in trouble.
Intolerance p. B34 Possible dangers include being kid-
napped by organleggers (p. 129) or
Intolerance toward gene-altered people may become a common form of racism. fetus farmers (see Fetal Tissue
The reverse is also possible, with gene-altered people being prejudiced against Transplants, below), or being besieged
unmodified humans. by desperate people who want to offer
lots of money in exchange for a lung or
Reputation p. B17 kidney. If cloning exists or is under
development, a lab might also want to
“Mass produced” bioroids or clone families may have to live down reputations take (or steal) tissue samples for
based on what other examples of their type have done, due to a public perception cloning, in order to make “generic”
that they are a puppets to their genes. This is especially likely if they are treated as cloned tissue available to its clients.
products or slaves. For example, if it made the news that a Tiger Lily-series plea- Someone who is a universal donor
sure bioroid killed her owner and ran away, all Tiger Lily models may get a reputa- may have a Secret or, if word gets out, a
tion as “dangerously unstable,” regardless of the events (e.g., that particular bioroid Reputation.
was being abused by her owner, and acted to save her life).
In a society where genetic testing is common, those known or believed to have
a genetic defect may also face prejudice, even if they look perfectly normal. This Fetal Tissue Transplants
differs from Social Stigma, where the stigma must be obvious to anyone (see p. Fetal tissue is extremely adaptable
B27) for it to be worth points. and capable of very rapid growth. As it’s
unlikely to be rejected, it makes useful
Secret p. B238, p. CI78 transplant material. Fetal tissue may be
acquired from legal abortions or miscar-
If a society has laws or prejudices against gengineered people, someone with riages. At TL9+, it can also be vat-
hidden modifications will have a Secret. grown.
At TL8, the demand for fetal tissue
Social Stigma p. B27 may exceed the supply. As a result, ille-
gal means may be used to procure fetus-
People who are visibly gene-altered – especially those who are very exotic,
es, such as enslaving healthy women,
such as anthropomorphic animals – may suffer a Social Stigma in some societies. If impregnating them, then aborting the
gengineered exotics are uncommon and the unaltered majority is prejudiced against fetus – over and over again. See p.
them, they will be classed as second-class citizens or a minority group. If genemods CW77 for a graphic description of this
are illegal, an exotic may be an outlaw. An exotic who is the result of an experiment kind of fetus farming.
is probably valuable property. Even if he’s legally a person rather than an animal or
slave, people will want to study him, protect him, et cetera.
Of course, in a world where gengineering is the rule rather than the exception,
visibly unaltered people may suffer from a Social Stigma!
CHAPTER 6: CHARACTERS AND CORPORATIONS 131
 About Our Skills
The following skills are especially relevant to biotechnology:
Commentators
“Aquagrrl” is the alias of amateur
marine biologist/ecologist Cherry Lake. Genetics/TL p. B61
Aquagrrl denies rumors that she was This skill has been revised heavily from its original form.
once a member of the outlawed eco- The capabilities and prerequisites of the Genetics skill (p. B61) vary consider-
warrior group Blue Shadow.
ably with TL. Its prerequisites are Botany at TL3-4, Zoology or Botany at TL5,
Lt. Majid Asad is a biomodified FS-
26 Black Widow 2 driver, serving with
Physiology at TL6, and Biochemistry at TL7+.
Navy squadron VF-17 aboard the space Specialization is required (p. B43), in one of two areas:
cruiser USS George W. Bush. Genetic Engineering: The manipulation and modification of genes. This spe-
Tatiana Belenko is a Special Agent cialization is normally only available at TL7+. All gengineers should know this
with the Genetic Regulatory Agency, skill.
based in Geneva, Switzerland. Heredity: The study of inherited traits and the mapping and sequencing of
Dr. Tse Chang was Senior genomes, as described on p. B61.
Academician of the Transpacific Socialist These specializations default to one another at -2.
Alliance’s Genetic Planning Council. In both cases, the skill must be further specialized to a particular type of
Cody Chase is a detective with the biochemistry; e.g., Genetics (Genetic Engineering, Terrestrial). A separate spe-
Nevada Police Department, where she
cialization must be learned to engineer organisms from alien biospheres, but a
has dealt with a wide variety of genetic
code violations and surgical assault
default at -4 or worse may be allowed if the alien biology is quite similar; e.g.,
cases. terrestrial biochemistry is similar to other biologies that are based on proteins,
Marie Detroit is an aspiring pop- water and nucleic acids. Within the realm of a particular biochemistry, knowl-
singer working as a hostess at the Club edge of a specific species’ genetics is a familiarity (p. B43), not a specializa-
Kitsune in Tokyo, Japan. tion.
Genosibyl is the alias of a well-
known poster to alt.bio.upgrade.samurai.
Professor C. Eric Gideon of the
Antarctic School of Economics is a
Nuclear-Biological-Chemical Warfare/TL p. CI151
Genetic engineers who work with dangerous or contagious microorganisms
genome-preservationist and profession- may have NBC Warfare skill. So will “hazmat” or “disease-control” teams sent to
al gadfly.
clean up biological disasters.
Eden Harrier is an expatriate New
Zealander, the owner/operator of Harrier At TL9+, the “chemical warfare” element of this skill also covers operations in
Exports. His firm has been investigated nanomachine-contaminated environments, and techniques used to avoid or clean up
for biohazard and customs violations in nanomachine contamination.
Asia-Transpacific.
Noriko Hayakawa is an Ishtar-
sequence genetic upgrade who hosts the
popular talk show, Cyberia Beat.
Dr. Sayyid Iqbal is a scientist at
Biotech Euphrates’ Human Genetic
Engineering division. He is a frequent
talk show guest.
Copernicus Jones was born in a
growth tank on the moon, but is now
bumming around the solar system as a
travel writer for the best-selling Lonely
System guidebook series.
Walter Jorgenson was a brilliant
young student in molecular biology,
until he developed a series of delusions
relating to alleged paranormal activity.
Surgery/TL p. B56
At TL7+, a surgeon may optionally specialize in cosmetic surgery (called
Arrested in connection with a burglary
and arson at a Dogstar Genetics, an “bodysculpting” at TL8+) or transplant surgery. (These can also be performed by
Ottawa genetic engineering company, he unspecialized surgeons.)
claimed that the company was a front for
“ETs” and “Men in Black.” Found not
guilty by reason of insanity, he is now
confined in an Ontario mental hospital.
Biotech Jobs
Individuals involved in the biotech field may have one of these jobs. See pp.
Continued on next page . . . B192-194 for instructions on how to use a job table.

132 CHAPTER 6: CHARACTERS AND CORPORATIONS

Job Table About Our
Job (Prerequisites)
Monthly Income Success Roll Critical Failure Commentators
Average Jobs: __________________________________________________________ (Continued)
Bio-Terrorist (Fanaticism)
$1,000 IQ-2 -2i, 2d/-3i, 4d, arrested Dr. Lucien Locke is the president
Hazmat Specialist (NBC Warfare 11+) and sole employee of Genehackers Inc.,
$1,000 PR -1i, 2d/-1i, 4d or infected an R&D firm specializing in customized
Lab Assistant (Computer Operation 10+, Research 11+, any Science skill 10+) biomodification for private clients, and
$100×(worst PR-6) Worst PR -2i/LJ, 2d author/star of a number of interactive
Surrogate Mother (HT 11+) sensies, including Playing God for Fun
and Profit: Home Study Gengineering
HT×$200 HT LJ/LJ, 3d
and Nanovirus for Dummies.
Tisephone Logos serves the Church
Comfortable Jobs: ______________________________________________________ of Seventh Heaven (an L-5 colony) as
Biotech Executive (Administration 13+, 5+ yrs. business experience, Status 0+) one of their elite “warrior angel”
$3,000 PR -2i/-4i, LJ biosoldiers. Although born human,
Eco-Engineer* (Ecology 15+, Genetics 15+) Tisephone has been continuously
$300×Ecology skill Worst PR -2i/-3i, 3d updated with the latest combat bio-
Ecoteur* (Ecology 15+) mods, and is equally at home stalking
$400×Ecology skill PR -1i, 2d/-2i, 4d, arrested criminals and genetic heretics in the
Genehacker (Computer Operation 12+, Genetics-14+, Research 13+) decadent bubble cities of Luna or the
$300×Genetics skill Worst PR -3i/LJ, 3d wildzones of post-Nanoclysm Earth.
Despite her youthful appearance, she is
Genetic Regulatory Agent (Criminology 12+, Law 12+, Legal Enforcement Powers)
at least a century old.
$2,500 Worst PR -3i, 2d/LJ, 4d Chance Mackintosh speaks her mind
Splicer or Organlegger* (Streetwise 11+, Surgery 10+) in Posthuman Consumer Review, a vir-
$500×Surgery skill Worst PR -1i, 2d/3i, 4d, arrested tuality infodump covering the latest
trends in elective surgery from a trans-
Wealthy Jobs: __________________________________________________________________ gendered perspective. Now in her fourth
Biocorp CEO (Administration 13+, Leadership 12+, 10+ yrs. business exp., Status 3+) consecutive clone, she plans to live for-
$175,000 Worst PR -4i/-5i, LJ ever.
Corporate Genetic Engineer (Genetics-16+, Status 0+) Charlie “Big C” Magaddino is an
$1,000×PR PR -3i/LJ, 3d * Freelance job alleged La Cosa crime boss, presently
under indictment for numerous state and
federal felonies, including tax evasion,

Biotech Businesses
Do you want to risk losing that beloved pet? Companion Veterinary Services
conspiracy, surgical assault and kidnap-
ping.
Captain Dana Martello is a former
Marine Force Recon medic, presently
offers a full range of cloning, longevity processing and braintaping facilities. pursuing a career as a defense analyst.
Specialists in dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, ferrets, octopi. (No robopets, please.) Twice decorated for bravery under fire
during the Andes conflict, she is assis-
Various types of businesses may specialize in biotechnology. These can include: tant editor of Jane’s Fighting Bioroids.
Captain Zeke Morrigan is a gengi-
Biotech Corporations neered spacer parahuman, and master of
the free trader Antares.
These include companies (or divisions of larger corporations) that specialize in NB-SEK-0172-BUR84 is a Felicia-
gengineering, protein engineering, biomimetics, genome mapping, genemod drugs, series combat bioroid. She is assigned
tissue engineering and other processes. to the Indian Army’s elite 152nd
Some biocorps are large enough to cover the entire field, but most specialize in Paratroop Regiment, with a rank of cor-
a particular area, such as gengineered crops, industrial bacteria, improved animals, poral.
bioroids, terraforming or adapting alien plants and animals. Biotech corporations Dr. Mara Omokage is the mysterious
may also specialize in developing biomodification procedures for use by hospitals and seemingly ageless founder of
Omokage Labs, and a specialist in exot-
and clinics – if a process isn’t yet available on the street, someone with contacts in a
ic bioweapon design.
corporate lab may be able to arrange for it anyway. Raphael-3000 is a vatbrain computer
Small corporations are often undercapitalized “whiz-kid” operations. These installed in the Sisters of Mercy hospital
develop a single brilliant idea . . . and are then bought out by a bigger company, on Seventh Heaven.
usually to market their new invention – but sometimes to suppress it! A certain
Continued on next page . . .
amount of research may also be contracted out to university labs, in exchange for
grants and funding.

CHAPTER 6: CHARACTERS AND CORPORATIONS 133

 If conflict between nations, corporations or star cultures is still an issue, the big
research bucks are often in military biotech. “Bioweapon” projects may range from
About Our killer viruses to cloned combat bioroids. In a space-faring culture, captured alien life
Commentators forms may also be studied and modified for military purposes.
Because of the high value and complex nature of many biotech products, indus-
(Continued) trial espionage is very common. Defense contractors normally have truly paranoid
security, since they are worried not just about industrial espionage but also foreign
Madeleine Rouge is one of the own-
spies and saboteurs. It’s possible that corporations which develop military
ers of the Clinic Rouge, “the finest
underground clinic in Marseille.” bioweapons may have examples of them deployed to defend their own facilities – or
Derin Skay, a writer, was one of the might use them (often without the actual military’s knowledge) in corporate espi-
few humans to be unchanged by the onage or warfare.
Antarctica Nanoclysm.
Streethawk, an outspoken ex-gang
member turned self-proclaimed merce-
nary, is known for his frequent postings
Black Clinics
on alt.bio.upgrade. samurai. In the future, designer drugs aren’t the only things being made in secret labs –
Tizbeth Sung-Morton is a Camazotz so are designer bodies, animal or human, as well as customized life forms. “Black
parahuman. She grew up on a seedship clinic” is the common nickname for a laboratory, clinic or hospital that performs
in the Darktree Colonization Fleet. illegal, unregulated or ethically-dubious biomod and gengineering procedures. If
Ensign Chun Yuan was a soldier in cyberwear exists, some may specialize in cybernetics, others in biological proce-
the People’s Self-Defense Forces of the dures, and many in both. Some black clinics are also “body banks,” involved in ille-
Transpacific Socialist Alliance, assigned gal organ theft (see Organlegger, p. 129).
to the Bio-weapons Directorate. His war Black clinics may range from basement or mobile labs to full-fledged hospitals.
diary was one of the few primary The latter are usually disguised as legal body parlors, clinics or biotech companies,
sources within PSDF-BWD to survive but offer extra services to special clients. A black clinic may be able to dispense
the Pacific War.
with secrecy entirely if it can find a location beyond the reach of the law. For exam-
Yukio is an Alpha-series genetic
upgrade working as an agent for Gomi ple, a black clinic may be based in an orbital habitat, or in a country (or planet) not
Crash, a company specializing in signatory to international or interstellar regulations on bioengineering ethics.
macro- and micro-biohazard extermina- Security and intelligence agencies may maintain secret black clinics to provide
tions, and the tracking, recapture or ter- assistance to their agents – often, these also do freelance work on the side.
mination of escaped or outlawed The biggest danger of going to a black clinic is the risk of shoddy work, closely
genetic constructs. followed by being made a guinea pig for some experimental process that hasn’t
been debugged. Finding a disguised black clinic requires appropriate Contacts or
Streetwise skill; a critical failure might lead to a police sting operation, or worse, a
clinic that looks good but is incompetent, or enjoys experimenting on its subjects or
using them for spare parts.

Bodysculpt Clinics and Parlors

These are clinics that specialize in legal bodysculpting jobs (p. 61), although at
TL9+, they also carry cheaper proteus viruses, such as metabolic reset (p. 76) and
cosmetic virus (p. 78). Some are large, upscale establishments catering to the middle
and upper class, often with on-staff psychological counsellors as well as surgeons to
ensure smooth integration.
Others are walk-in places that specialize in generic face jobs based on knock-
offs of the latest vid star or virtual soap opera character. Those that offer the most
radical mods may be descendants of tattoo and body-piercing parlors, catering to
subcultures that want to physically distinguish themselves (counter-culture, sailors,
yakuza, et cetera). Of course, in some cultures, an “original human” body may be
radical, in which case places might specialize in modifying people back to “nor-
mal.”
Most clinics will only perform LC 5-6 procedures.

Hospitals
At TL8+, major hospitals may perform elective biomodification procedures,
such as transplants, as well as things like braintaping and cloning. Alternatively,
specialized private hospitals that provide these services may develop.
Most hospitals will only perform LC 5-6 procedures.
134 CHAPTER 6: CHARACTERS AND CORPORATIONS
APPENDIX
 EXAMPLE: A bioship that weighs 25,000,000 lbs. could
Biotech Advantages, have pockets with a total capacity of up to 2,500,000 lbs. and
would pay 2 points for every 125,000 lbs. of pocket capacity.

Enhancements and Limitations

GURPS Bio-Tech uses many advantages, disadvantages,
Pockets may be installed in places other than the stomach,
but these are more expensive and have less capacity. Pockets in
enhancements and limitations that are not described in GURPS a limb have only 15% of the maximum capacity and cost 2.5
Basic Set. Except for a few new ones described in this chapter, times as much. Pockets in a head have a maximum capacity
all can be found in GURPS Compendium I, and many are 1/80 as great (4 oz. in humans) and cost 8 times as much (1
described in other GURPS books, notably Fantasy Folk, point per oz. in a human) but are harder to detect: +2 to
Robots, Supers and Uplift. Holdout.
In addition to the advantages, enhancements and limitations Pockets are only an advantage for living creatures, where
listed here, Chapter 2 has several very minor features worth 0-2 they are unexpected; machines built using the GURPS Robots
points (e.g., Sexual and Reproductive Modifications, p. 47); or Vehicles system don’t pay points for cargo holds.
since these are highly specialized, they’re discussed only as they
are introduced.
Fur p. CI56
New and Modified Advantages Soldiers operating in the arctic report that animals with
thick fur are hard to spot on infrared. Optionally, in sub-zero
temperatures, the GM may subtract the level of Temperature
Extra Arms p. CI54 Tolerance that fur provides from rolls to spot fur-bearing tar-
gets via Infravision or infrared goggles: -2 if thick fur, -1 if
Someone with multiple arms should move better and faster normal fur, 0 if very thin fur. This doesn’t cost any extra
than an unimpaired human in microgravity or zero gravity. Add points.
+1 to Move for each full-sized extra arm possessed. See pp. Someone with spiny fur can’t wear tight clothing or armor.
CII140-144 and p. S73 for low-gravity movement rules.
This isn’t worth any points – it’s a natural benefit of having
additional arms in a space environment, and in any case is bal-
anced by the need for custom-tailored suits and armor.
Low Rejection Threshold 1 point
Your body can easily accept foreign tissue transplants,
with no roll for rejection required. This advantage is worth
Flesh Pockets Variable points only in TL7+ settings, and only if cloned or synthetic
organs are unavailable or are significantly more expensive than
This is an expanded “racial” version of an advantage that
first appeared in GURPS Cyberpunk. other types.
You possess hollow cavities within your living flesh: hid- Someone with Low Rejection Threshold may have HT no
den “flesh holsters,” natural pouches such as those possessed by higher than 12 and may not buy Disease Resistant or Immunity
marsupials, or a modified stomach. If the capacity of a flesh to Disease.
pocket is great enough, it can even be used to carry passengers!
Pockets and their contents are almost impossible to find
(Holdout-20), even with a full-body search, but they can be
spotted with appropriate scanners. A doctor specifically search-
New Enhancement
Several enhancements can be found on p. CI109.
ing for flesh pockets rolls at Physician-6 or Surgery-6, with a +1
per extra 10 minutes of searching, to a maximum of +5.
Flesh pockets are usually in the stomach. The total capacity Space Acceleration Variable
of all flesh pockets in a person’s stomach should not exceed 20 This enhancement can only be taken for the Flight advan-
lbs. For races whose average weight is below 100 lbs. or above tage. You can use your Flight to accelerate in space like a rock-
200 lbs., the maximum capacity should be racial average et, and have a space acceleration (sAccel) rated in gravities (G),
weight/10 lbs. This limit is modified as follows: -50% if Skinny, as described in GURPS Space or Vehicles. This means that in
+50% if Overweight, +75% if Fat or +100% if Very Fat. space, you can accelerate past your normal Move, given enough
Pockets in the stomach cost 2 points per pound if the user is time. For +5%, your sAccel is 0.001 G, limiting you to very
human-sized. For races with average weight over 200 lbs. the gradual velocity changes. For +10%, it is 0.01 G, for +15%, it is
point cost paid for each flesh pocket is 2 points per (racial aver- 0.1 G, for +20%, it is 0.5 G and for +25%, it is 1 G.
age weight/200) storage capacity. Each level of Super Flight doubles your space acceleration.

136 APPENDIX
 Mitigator Variable
A mitigator is something that cancels the effect of a specific
disadvantage without actually buying it off. This is a limitation
on the disadvantage: The more effective the mitigator, the
greater the limitation, meaning the character receives fewer
points for the disadvantage.
The mitigator is worth . . .
-60% if vulnerable and can be easily stolen, broken or mis-
placed, such as a pair of glasses. This mitigator also includes
drugs or other treatments that must be taken daily.
-65% if a weekly treatment is required.
-70% if a monthly treatment is required.
Drug treatments are assumed to cost about $20-$100 per dose
and be available at pharmacies. Those that cost over $100/dose
and require special prescriptions are +5% less (e.g., -70% would
become -65%). Those costing $1,000+ per dose and only avail-

New Limitations
These new limitations are often applied to advantages or
able from specialized sources like hospitals or experimental drug
programs are +10%. People may carry a supply of drugs with
them, but these can be stolen, lost or turn out to be impure.
disadvantages that are the result of biological engineering. More
limitations can be found on p. CI110-112. EXAMPLE 1: Mr. Duncan has Sadism (Mitigator, -60%, -6
points). As long as he takes a special pill ($20, daily) to adjust
his neurochemistry, he is an upstanding citizen . . but if some-
Cardiac Stress Variable one steals his pills, an enemy substitutes aspirin for them, or he
forgets them on a long trip, society is in deep trouble.
This limitation can be taken on any advantage that is used for
a short period of time and then turned off. While in use, the
EXAMPLE 2: Sharra has eyeglasses. Bad Sight is normally
advantage places undue stress on the character’s heart, and the
-25 points, but her glasses are a -60% limitation: -10 points.
character must make periodic HT rolls (a roll of 14+ always
This is a mitigator built into the GURPS Basic Set. The same
fails). Failure means loss of 1d fatigue; critical failure means a
rules can be used for things like hearing aids.
heart attack due to stress and heightened blood pressure. A heart
attack reduces the victim to HT 0 if still at positive HT. He passes EXAMPLE 3: Jan is Terminally Ill with AIDS, and will die
out and will die in HT/3 minutes – regardless of wounds – unless in a month (-100 points). Fortunately, he is on an experimental
he receives CPR (which requires a First Aid-4 or Physician roll, drug plan that is holding him in remission. The treatments are
and can only be performed by a character trained at TL7+). weekly (-65%) and cost $1,000 per week (+10%) for -55%, so
The value of this limitation depends on how often the HT Jan’s Terminally Ill is now worth -45 points. As long as he stays
rolls are made: with the program, the countdown toward his death will be halted.
Every second: -50%
Every 10 seconds: -40%
Every minute: -30%
Every 10 minutes: -20%
Nuisance Effect:
Every hour: -10% Temporary Disadvantage Variable
This limitation can be added to any advantage that can be
Chemical Trigger Variable switched “off” and “on” at will, and which takes at least one
turn to switch. When the advantage is switched on, one or more
This limitation means that an advantage only functions after
disadvantages are suffered by the user until it is switched off
the character has taken a particular drug. In general, this means
again. This limitation is worth -1% per point the temporary dis-
the character must inject, swallow or inhale a drug to trigger the
advantages are worth, to a maximum of -75%.
advantage. For instance, Matsai Accelerated Reflexes need an
inhaled dose of the Dash IV hormone to trigger them. The cost EXAMPLE: A character has sonar, but can’t talk when
of the trigger determines the value of the limitation: he’s using it because he’s sending out ultrasonic pulses. This is
Under $10 per dose: -10% Sonar Vision (25 points) with Nuisance Effect: Mute (-25%),
$10-99 per dose: -20% for 19 points.
$100-999 per dose: -30%
$1,000+ per dose: -40% The point break due to a Nuisance Effect: Temporary
Multiply the value of the limitation by 1.5 if the chemical Disadvantage limitation cannot exceed 80% of the value of the
trigger is illegal, addictive or otherwise dangerous. original disadvantage.

APPENDIX 137
 EXAMPLE: A character has Altered Time Rate 1 (100
points) with Nuisance Effect: Bad Temper (-10%). Since Bad Requires Biochip -5%
Temper is worth -10 points normally, the most it can be worth A tiny biocomputer chip must be implanted into the body to
as a Nuisance Effect is -8 points. Thus, it reduces the cost of make the advantage or disadvantage function. This is a limita-
Altered Time Rate by 8 points (to 92 points) and not by 10 tion because the chip can sometimes be detected (requires a
points (to 90 points), as most -10% limitations would. Diagnosis roll at -10, using a medscanner, diagnosis bed or the
like) and removed (a normal use of Surgery skill) relatively eas-
Only disadvantages that could logically inconvenience the ily, neutralizing the advantage or disadvantage. The biochip
character for the period of time the advantage is normally on may also malfunction if subjected to radiation or the like.
should be permitted. In the case of mental disadvantages (e.g., A biochip might be remotely controlled by someone other
Berserk, Bloodlust, Lecherousness, et cetera), if the character than the subject! If they do not always have the subject’s best
loses control of himself due to a failed Will roll, the associated interests at heart, this would be an +5% enhancement to the
disadvantage will not “turn off” until the GM rules he has value of a disadvantage, not a limitation.
regained his composure.
If the GM agrees, a Nuisance Effect can also temporarily
remove some other advantage instead of bestowing a disadvan-
Requires Low Gravity Variable
This limitation means that an advantage does not function
tage. This would be worth -1% per point the negated advantage
in gravity fields over a certain, maximum strength. It is worth
is worth. The value cannot exceed 80% of the deactivated
-5% for every 0.1 G this maximum is under 1 G, as follows:
advantage’s cost. Only one of the involved advantages can take
maximum 0.9 G is -5%, 0.8 G is -10%, 0.7 G is -15%, 0.6 G is
this limitation – one may not take two advantages, both with
-20%, 0.5 G is -25%, 0.4 G is -30%, 0.3 G is -35%, 0.2 G is -40%,
this limitation, each of which negates the other when used.
0.1 G is -45% and 0 G is -50%.
Off-the-Shelf Looks -50% Requires Low Gravity should be applied to humans gengi-
neered with Clinging (usually maximum 0.6 G), Gliding (usual-
This is a limitation on Appearance; it can be taken on either ly maximum 0.4 G) or Winged Flight (usually maximum 0.2 G).
Beautiful/Handsome or Very Beautiful/Handsome. Your looks It can also be an appropriate limitation for some super or psi
are a variation on a standard type or famous person rather than a powers – like Body of Air, DR, Insubstantiality, Telekinesis or
customized design. You’re as beautiful as ever, but with anyone Teleportation – if a gravity field might disrupt fragile force
from your own culture, you get only half the usual reaction fields.
bonus, because they’ve seen it all before! (“Oh, look! Another
Mr. Universe 2023!”) Scent-Based -20%
Only vs. Pheromones -75% This limitation represents an advantage (usually one that
allows a reaction bonus or “mind control”) that operates using
This limitation is usually taken with Weak Will, represent- specialized airborne chemical cues – perhaps modified
ing someone gengineered to have a strong reaction to human pheromones. It only works within 2 yards of someone, and only
pheromones; see Restored Vomeronasal Organ (p. 37). if they have a sense of smell and neither they nor you are using
A variant of this is “Triggered By Pheromones” (-75%), gas masks, sealed suits, et cetera.
which can be taken as a limitation on other behavioral disadvan-
tages. For example, someone exposed to Pheromone Control or
another source of tailored pheromones would suffer another dis-
Sessile -75%
Characters with the Sessile disadvantage (p. CI104) may
advantage (e.g., Cowardice) in addition to the normal effects
buy Extra Hit Points with this similarly-named -75% limitation
(usu. Lecherousness).
to partially compensate for the fact that they are easier targets.
Only With Duplicate -70% Unsupported Strength -25%
This limitation can be taken on advantages or disadvantages
This limitation can be taken on some or all of any ST
that apply only toward a braintaped double (or, less realistically,
increase of +3 or more that’s due to biomods or gengineering. It
with an identical twin or clone). For example, someone may
represents a shoddy job of muscle attachment, or not bothering
have Empathy, Only With Duplicate for 5 points. In some cases,
to take the time to build up bone mass first. This will result in a
this limitation may be worth less – see Multiple People (p. 118)
split ST, with the second, higher (“unsupported”) ST being
for details.
bought with this -25% limitation. Normal ST is used for encum-
Post-Emergencies Only -50% brance, fatigue and most other purposes. However, for any tran-
sitory feat of strength – including lifting, jumping, grappling,
This limitation means that an advantage or, more often, a throwing or attacking – you can choose to use your unsupported
disadvantage, only comes into play after a stressful event like ST. No roll is required to use the strength, but in the following
combat has occurred. The effects will last for about 10 minutes turn, roll vs. HT. Success means no problem occurs, but a fail-
or so (GM’s option). Typically, this limitation is applied to a ure causes 1 point of damage; critical failure, or two failures on
behavioral disadvantage – e.g., “Gluttony (Post-Emergencies consecutive turns, does 1d damage and causes any one limb you
Only)” – to simulate glandular reactions following stress. are using to be crippled.

138 APPENDIX
GL OSSAR Y
This section defines both scientific and fanciful terms found Gene-Cloning: The process of duplicating genes inside mod-
in this book and in biotechnology literature. ified bacteria.
Gene Therapy: Genetic engineering performed on a fetus,

Technical Terms child or adult to repair defective genes.

Genetic Engineering or Gengineering: Deliberate manip-
Amino Acid: An organic compound that is an essential com- ulation of DNA and genes in order to alter an organism’s
ponent of protein molecules, and thus of life as we know it. genome.
Archaea or Archaebacteria: An ancient form of microbial Genetics: The study of the patterns of heredity, the traits that
life, related to but distinct from bacteria. an organism inherits from its ancestors.
Bacteria (sing. “bacterium”): A class of single-celled organ- Genome: The sum total of all the genetic material carried by
isms. There are countless species of bacteria. the chromosomes of a particular organism, containing the blue-
Biomimetics: Engineering designs that are patterned on or print of what the organism will become.
inspired by living things. Germ Cells: The basic reproductive cells of a multicellular
Bioprocessing: Using bacteria, gengineered plants and ani- organism; see gametes.
mals or other biotech processes in manufacturing. Germline Gengineering: Genetic engineering of the germ
Biotech or Biotechnology: A set of biological engineering cells so that an organism will develop in a different way than its
techniques, such as biomimetics, bio-nanotech, bioprocessing, unmodified genome would have indicated.
cloning, gengineering, and transplants, applied to research and Hormone: A protein that acts as a chemical messenger with-
product development. in the body. They are many different hormones, each with its own
Blastocyst: A very early stage of a developing embryo, with function.
only 32-64 cells. In vitro: Taking place outside a living organism, usually
Cell: The smallest part of an organism that is capable of inde- used when referring to “test tube” fertilization or to the process
pendent function. Cells are microscopic entities that consist of a of growing an organism in an artificial womb, clone tank, et
nucleus and various organic and inorganic components, surround- cetera.
ed by a membrane. Intron: “Junk” DNA code that has no apparent purpose.
Chromosomes: The self-replicating structures within cells Ligase: An enzyme that can rejoin DNA fragments together,
on which the genes are located. used as a tool in genetic engineering.
Cloning: The technique of asexually producing a group of Microbiological: A single-celled organism, like a bacterium
cells or complete organisms, called clones, which are all geneti- or alga. Usually microscopic, but colonies of single-celled organ-
cally identical to a single ancestor. isms can be large enough to see.
Cryonics: The practice of freezing the dead in hope that Nanomachine: A microscopic organic or inorganic robot,
future science will be able to revive them. usually cell-sized or smaller.
DNA or Deoxyribonucleic Acid: The double-helix-shaped Nanotech or Nanotechnology: An emerging technology
molecule that encodes genetic information. based around the manipulation of atoms and molecules using
Enzyme: A protein that serves as a chemical catalyst, accel- microscopic machines. In biotechnology, nanotech promises the
erating the rate at which a biochemical reaction occurs. ability to precisely manipulate cells and genes.
Eugenics: The study or practice of human improvement Nucleotides: The basic molecular subunits of DNA or RNA.
through genetic control or genetic engineering. Thousands of nucleotides make up DNA molecules; their
Eukaryotes (“true nucleus”): Organisms whose DNA is sur- sequence determines the genetic code and the function of each
rounded by a membrane and which possesses organelles. gene.
Eukaryotes are a “superkingdom” of life forms that include most Organelles: Structures bound by the cell membrane in
terrestrial plants and animals other than bacteria. eukaryotic organisms, such as the mitochondria (which perform
Gamete: A male or female reproductive cell (sperm or ovum). energy-releasing chemical reactions).
Gene: A sequence of DNA nucleotides, located in a particular Plasmid: A ring-shaped structure of DNA, found in bacteria.
spot on a particular chromosome, that encodes a specific instruc- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): A means of rapidly
tion to a cell. copying DNA using specialized enzymes and equipment.

GLOSSARY 139
 Prions: Pathogenic proteins linked to various brain diseases Forced-Growth: A way of hyper-accelerating the develop-
such as BSE (“mad cow disease”) and kuru (“laughing sickness”). ment of someone within an artificial womb so that maturation
Prions are also associated with various diseases of aging and senil- from a germ cell to a developed adult takes months, not decades.
ity. Their exact nature remains controversial. It may use massive doses of growth hormones or other methods.
Prokaryotes (“before the nucleus”): Single-celled organisms Genefixed: Used to describe someone whose genes were
with little internal complexity, such as bacteria, whose DNA is not manipulated at conception to fix or screen out genetic defects.
surrounded by a membrane and which lack organelles. Genemod: Short for “genetically modified.” Someone or
Protein: A big molecule made up of long chains of amino something that has undergone genetic engineering. Also refers to
acids. Proteins are formed by cells as directed by their genes, and a genetic modification.
are the basis for the structure and function of living things. There Genesplice: To perform genetic manipulation.
are countless different kinds of proteins, each with its own spe- Ghostcomp: A computer capable of housing a self-aware
cialized function. braintape.
Protozoan: A single-celled microscopic animal somewhat Growth Tank: An artificial womb.
more complex than a bacterium. Korp or Korporate: Cyberpunk slang for “corporate.”
Recombinant DNA: The basis of genetic engineering, this is Metamorphosis (Nano)Virus: A nanovirus capable of per-
the technology of cutting DNA molecules into discrete pieces and forming radical changes in a living being’s anatomy.
recombining them with other DNA molecules to form new genes. Nanite, Nano and Nanobot: Slang terms for nanomachines.
RNA or Ribonucleic acid: A chemical found inside cells that Nanovirus: A swarm of nanomachines designed to transform
is similar in structure to DNA. Different kinds of RNA exist, such a living organism or perform gengineering tasks.
as messenger RNA, which relays the orders from genes to the Parahuman: A variant human who has undergone species
molecular machinery of cells. Because of its ability to tell a cell modification.
what to do, RNA is a primary tool of gengineers. Polykeratin: A form of artificial tissue that is capable of
Ribosome: Parts of the cell’s molecular machinery, these are changing its shape.
“factories” that create proteins under orders from the genes. Proteus Virus: Another name for a nanovirus.
Tissue Engineering: The design of artificial organic tissue. Sensa-Skin: An ultra-tech form of artificial tissue.
Transgenic: A transgenic organism is one that has genes Species Modification: Genetic modification that inserts new
added to it from outside its original species. genes not native to a species’ original genome.
Virus: A non-cellular biological organism that can reproduce Uplift: The process of modifying animals to improve their
only within a host cell. Viruses consist of RNA or DNA covered intelligence, communications or tool-using capabilities, often with
by protein. RNA viruses are especially useful tools for gengineer- the goal of creating a sentient or near-sentient race. A term coined
ing. by SF author David Brin.
Uploading: Slang term for transferring a mind onto a digital
Science-Fiction Terms braintape, especially when the braintape is self-aware in a ghost-
comp.
Android: A completely synthetic humanoid. An android may
Variant Human: A member of a human variant race.
be biological or robotic in nature. Some androids have non-human
Variant Race: A subspecies that has been adapted from the
features, while others look exactly like people.
original species through genetic engineering. Depending on the
Biomod: A biological modification made to a living person
extent of the gengineering, it may be similar to or very different
for non-medical purposes. At TL7, the only biomods are cosmetic
from the original.
surgery. At TL8+, biomods become the organic equivalent of
cybernetics, giving people many new abilities.
Bio-Nanotech: Nanotechnology that relates to biotech-
nology — for example, a nanovirus.
Bioplastic: A pseudo-organic TL10 material. Not to be
confused with certain kinds of plastic made from organic
materials like starch, which are also called bioplastics.
Bioroid (“biological android”): A variant human (or
humanoid) who was force-grown to maturity in a clone tank.
Braintaping: A means of recording memory and person-
ality, for immediate or later transfer to another body.
Clone Tank: An ultra-tech artificial womb equipped to
force-grow organisms (not necessarily clones) to adulthood.
Corpsicle: A corpse that has undergone cryonic preserva-
tion. A term coined by SF author Larry Niven.
Eugeneering: Genetic engineering for eugenic purposes.

140 GLOSSARY
BIBLIOGRAP HY
There are far too many works of fact and fiction to cover in Weaver, Michael D. Mercedes Nights (St. Martins, 1987).
this brief space – instead, this bibliography concentrates on books
especially useful in inspiring adventures and game settings. The Nonhuman Biotechnologies
categories given below are to make research easier – most books Butler, Octavia. Xenogenesis (Warner, 1987).
will overlap into several topics. Harrison, Harry. West of Eden (Bantam, 1984).
Niven, Larry. World of Ptaavs (Ballantine, 1966).

Fiction
Altered People and Posthuman Societies
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Williams, Walter Jon. Angel Station (Tor, 1989).

Banks, Iain M. Culture series, especially Excession (Bantam- Organ Transplants

Doubleday-Dell, 1996). Niven, Larry. The Long ARM of Gil Hamilton (Ballantine, 1976).
Bear, Greg. Queen of Angels (Warner, 1990). ———. A Gift From Earth (Ballantine, 1968).
———. Slant (Tor, 1997).
Blish, James. The Seedling Stars (New American Library, 1957). Uplifted Animals
Brin, David. Otherness (Spectra, 1984). Brin, David. Startide Rising (Spectra, 1983).
Di Filippi, Paul. Ribofunk (Four Walls Eight Windows, 1996). ———. The Uplift War (Bantam, 1987)
Dixon, Dougal. Man after Man (St. Martins, 1990). Crowley, John. Beasts (Bantam, 1976).
Evanier, Mark. DNAgents comics (Eclipse). Gallacci, Steve. Albedo series (Antarctic).
Egan, Greg. Quarantine (Harper, 1992). Smith, Cordwainer. Norstrilia (Nesfa, 1975).
Hansen, Karl. War Games (Berkley, 1983). Smith, L. Neil. The Probability Broach (Tor, 1980).
Heinlein, Robert. Friday (Ballantine, 1982). Swann, S. Andrew. Forests of the Night (DAW, 1993).
Herbert, Frank. Hellstrom’s Hive (Bantam, 1973). Wells, H.G. The Island of Dr. Moreau (Everyman Library, 1993).
Kress, Nancy. Beggars in Spain (Avon, 1993). Zelazny, Roger. The Dream Master (Ace, 1966).
———. Beggars and Choosers (Avon, 1994).
O’Donohoe, Nick. Too, Too Solid Flesh (TSR, 1989).
Shirow, Masamune. Appleseed graphic novels (Dark Horse).
Popular Science
Benyas, Janine M. Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature
Sterling, Bruce. Holy Fire (Bantam-Doubleday-Dell, 1996).
(William Morrow, 1997).
———. Schismatrix Plus (Ace, 1996).
Conick and Wheelis. The Cartoon Guide to Genetics (Harper, 1991).
Stirling, S.M. Drakon (Baen, 1996).
DeSalle and Lindley. The Science of Jurassic Park (Basic Books,
Varley, John. The Persistence of Vision (Ace, 1978).
1997).
———. Steel Beach (Ace, 1992).
Drlica, Karl. Understanding DNA and Gene Cloning (Wiley, 1992).
Warren, Adam. Dirty Pair graphic novels (Dark Horse).
Downer, John. Supersenses: Perception in the Animal World (BBC
Bioengineered Plants or Animals Books, 1988).
Crichton, Michael. Jurassic Park (Ballantine, 1990). Drexler, E., Peterson, C. and Pergamit, G. Unbounding the Future: the
Martin, George R. R. Tuf Voyaging (Simon & Schuster, 1986). Nanotechnology Revolution (Quill, 1993).
Easton, Thomas A. Sparrowhawk (Ace, 1990). Grace, Eric. Biotechnology Unzipped (Trifolium, 1997).
Lee, Thomas F. Gene Future (Plenum, 1993).
Biological Weapons and Disasters McKim, William A. Drugs and Behavior (Prentice-Hall, 1986).
Bear, Greg. Blood Music (Ace, 1985). Pinel, John. Biopsychology (Simon & Schuster, 1990).
Shirley, John. Eclipse: Corona (Popular Library, 1990). Regis, Ed. Great Mambo Chicken and the Transhuman Condition
Clancy, Tom. Executive Orders (Berkley, 1996). (1990).
Herbert, Frank. The White Plague (Putnam, 1982). Steen, R. Grant. DNA and Destiny (Plenum, 1996).
Kress, Nancy. Oaths and Miracles (Avon, 1997). Watson, James. The Double Helix (Penguin, 1969).

Cryonics Many magazines and web pages have articles on biotech and related
Bear, Greg. Heads (Tor, 1990). technologies.
Niven, Larry. A World Out of Time (Ballantine, 1976).
Braintaping, Body Transfer and Uploading Games
Chadwick, Miller, Brown and Smith. 2300 (GDW, 1992).
Egan, Greg. Permutation City (Harpers, 1995).
Farmer, Philip Jose. To Your Scattered Bodies Go (Berkley, 1971). Farshtey, Gordon, Stark and Bambra. Space Gods (West End, 1991).
Lee, Tanith. Don’t Bite the Sun (DAW, 1976). Jones, Stefan. GURPS Uplift (Steve Jackson Games, 1990).
Varley, John. The Ophiuchi Hotline (Ace, 1984). Kidd, Paul. Albedo (Chessex, 1988).
Williams, Walter Jon. Voice of the Whirlwind (Tor, 1987). Laker, Laker, and Pevs. Skyrealms of Jorune (Chessex, 1985).
Zelazny, Roger. Lord of Light (Avon, 1967). Sheeley, Craig. “Exotics,” Chromebook 2 (R. Talsorian Games, 1992).
Pulver, David. “The Medusa Sanction,” GURPS Cyberpunk
Human Cloning Adventures (Steve Jackson Games, 1992).
Cherryh, C.J. Cyteen (Warner, 1988). ———. Ultra-Tech II (Steve Jackson Games, 1997).
———. Serpent’s Reach (DAW, 1980). Winters and McLaughlin. Technocracy: Progenitors (White Wolf, 1993).
Levin, Ira. The Boys from Brazil (Bantam, 1976). Wu, Karl. Shadowtech (FASA, 1992).

BIBLIOGRAPHY 141
INDEX
3D Spatial Sense advantage, 33, 71. Bioblimps, 111. Breath Holding advantage, 44, 68. Containment tube, 22.
Absent-Mindedness disadvantage, 53, 72, Biochemistry skill, 59, 77, 98. Breeding programs, see Eugenics. Cool advantage, 36, 72.
74, 113. Bioconvertor, 106. Bully disadvantage, 53. Copy-protection nano, 121-122.
Absolute Direction advantage, 45-46, 71. Bioelectric, organ, 49-50; Shock advan- Callous disadvantage, 53, 72. Corpsicle, 113-114, 139.
Absolute Timing advantage, 45-46, 71. tage, 49-50. Camazotz-series parahuman, 47. Cosmetic, modifications, 34-35; surgery,
Acceleration Tolerance advantage, 34, 82. Bioengineer, 125. Cannot Learn disadvantage, 53, 72, 76. 61; virus, 78.
Acute, Hearing advantage, 46, 64, 100; Biogadgets, 105-111. Cardiac Stress limitation, 137. Cowardice disadvantage, 53.
Taste and Smell advantage, 46, 100; Bioglue, 12. Cardiovascular modifications, 33-34. Crick, Francis, 6.
Vision advantage, 46, 67. Biohazard safety, 21. Cast Iron Stomach advantage, 35. Crops, drought-resistant, 93-94; market-
Addiction disadvantage, 71. Biological warfare, 87-91. Catfall advantage, 42, 63, 100. friendly, 93.
Advantages, animals, 99-100; biotech, Biological weapons, 88; examples, 88-90; Cell, 5, 139; communion, 85; differentia- Cryocase, 22-23.
136; gengineered, 31-59; see also insects, 95-96; plants, 94. tion, 14, 75; stem, 14; surgeons, 85; Cryonics, 113-115, 139; revival, 114.
advantage name. Biomass, 87, 95. transplants, 75. Cryopreservation unit, 114.
Age and aging, 113. Biomechanoids, 107. Centauroid feature, 42, 101. Cultural Adaptability advantage, 72.
Aggressiveness, 56. Biomedical facilities, 22-23. Chameleon advantage, 50. Curious disadvantage, 53.
Albinism disadvantage, 53-54, 78. Biomimetics, 12-13, 139; products, 16. Characters, 125-134; advantages, 130- Damage Resistance advantage, 108.
Alcohol Tolerance advantage, 39, 68. Biomods, 60-85, 98, 139; acquiring, 130; 131; disadvantages, 1313; skills, 132; Darwin, Charles, 5.
Alertness advantage, 33, 71, 100. dollar cost, 61; organ transplants, 67- types, 125-130. Deadheading, 71-72.
Algae, 87, 94-95. 69; point cost, 130. Charisma advantage, 69, 71-72. Deafness disadvantage, 54.
Aliens, 58. Bioroid, 28, 139; see also Variant Human. Chemical, enhancements, 73-75; trigger, Decreased Life Support advantage, 39, 44,
Alpha-series upgrade, 36. Bioscanner, 10. 137; see also Drugs. 68, 81.
Altered, appearance, 61-62; bulk, 62; Biosculpting, 61. Chemsniffer, 16. Deep learning, 20-21.
height, 63. Biosensors, 12, 16. Chimeras, 26-27, 41; plant, 94. Deep Sleeper advantage, 33, 71, 81.
Altered Sex Ratio feature, 47, 49. Bioship, 106-110; advantages, 108-109; Chloramorphosis, 81. Defects, intended, 51-53; unintended, 51-
Alternate Identity advantage, 132. attributes, 107-108; controlling, 109; Chromosome, 5-6, 10, 139; artificial, 8; 54, 59.
Ambidexterity advantage, 33, 71. design, 107-110; disadvantages, 108- manipulation,25. Delicate Metabolism disadvantage, 27, 53-
Amnesia disadvantage, 72, 118. 109; dollar cost, 110; drones, 109- Chronic Depression disadvantage, 52-53, 54, 59.
Amphibious advantage, 49-50, 81, 100. 110; implants, 110; interiors, 109; 72, 76. Delusions disadvantage, 52.
Anabolic steroids, 73. internal advantages, 108-109; life sup- Chronolocation advantage, 33, 71. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), 6-9, 11,
Angelic wings, 41. port, 109; ST and size, 107; trans- Chronos-series bioroid, 48. 13-15, 139; computers, 13; forensics,
Animals, companions and working beasts, forms, 110; weaponry, 109. Chronowomb, 20, 22. 10; junk, 10-11; mitochondrial, 9;
98; creating, 99-102; examples, 102- Biosubs, 111. Chrysalis machine, 23, 82-83, 114. recombinant, 7-8, 25, 139.
105; high-yield farm, 98; modifying, Biotech, 4-23, 139; advantages, 136; busi- Chummy disadvantage, 100. Dependency disadvantage, 81.
100-102; pantropic, 98; pharm, 26, nesses, 133-134; corporations, 133- Claws and talons, 50, 69, 100. Devolutionary modifications, 41-42.
98-99. 134; cyberpunk and, 125; enhance- Cleanup, 127. Dexterity (DX), 30-31; factors modifying,
Anthrax, 88. ments, 136; executive character type, Clinging advantage, 50-51. 75.
Antibiotics, 92. 126; facilities, 20-23; jobs, 134; limi- Clinical, braintape machine, 117, 119; Digitigrade Posture, 39-40.
Antigens, 17. tations, 137-138. metamorphosis, 82-83. Direct brain programmer, 119.
Appearance, 35, 54, 62, 64, 113. Bioterrorist, 126. Clone, 11, 14-17, 19, 116-119, 121-123; Direct programming, 116-117.
Appendix, 137-138. Biotoxins, 88. cross-sex, 16; identification, 16; mem- Disadvantages, animals, 99-100; gengi-
Aquaform, 41-42. Biotronics, 12. ory upload to, 121; spare parts from, neered, 51-54; hereditary, 132; men-
Aquaskin, 81. Black clinics, 135-136. 17; tank, 20, 139; uniqueness, 15-16; tal, 52-53; physical, 53-54; see also
Aquatic disadvantage, 42, 54, 100, 111. Black Death, 89. see also Cloning. disadvantage name.
Arachnoweave armor, 16. Black market, 131. Cloning, 21, 139; costs and times, 16; Discriminatory, Smell advantage, 45-46,
Archaebacteria (archaea), 7, 12, 139. Blastocyst, 6, 26, 139. embryonic cell, 14, 16; gene, 8-9, 87, 100; Taste advantage, 46.
Archwork, 63. Blindness disadvantage, 54, 67. 92; macrobiological, 14-17; plant, 93; Disease, fighting, 91-92.
Arm blade, 69. Blood cops, 84-85. post-embryonic cell, 15-16; see also Disease-Resistant advantage, 37, 69.
Arms to wings, 41. Blood roses, 94. Clone. Disposable test kit, 19.
Artificial womb, 17-19, 57. Bloodlust disadvantage, 52-53. Clothing, post-human, 127. Distractible disadvantage, 53, 72, 74.
Attentive disadvantage, 53, 100. Bodysculpting, 61-64; clinics, 136. Clueless disadvantage, 72. Disturbing Voice disadvantage, 54, 64.
Attributes, animal, 99; bonus table, 31; Bone, decalcification, 42, 74; marrow Collected advantage, 36, 72. DNA, see Deoxyribonucleic Acid.
modifiers, 30-31, 80; penalties, 31; see upgrades, 76; stimulation, 74. Color Blindness disadvantage, 54, 67, 76. Doesn’t Breathe advantage, 49.
also Dexterity, Health, Intelligence Boosted heart, 67-68. Combat Paralysis disadvantage, 52-53, 72. Doesn’t Eat or Drink advantage, 49, 81.
and Strength. Botulinum, 88. Combat Reflexes advantage, 36, 43, 71, Doesn’t Sleep advantage, 33.
Autotrance advantage, 33. Brachiator advantage, 42, 100. 100. Double-Jointed advantage, 42, 63, 100.
Auxiliary heart, 67. Brain, custom, 117; editor, 121; Hacking, Commentators, about, 132-134. Dreamer disadvantage, 53.
B-cells, 37. 121; modifications, 32-33; pod, 23; Common Sense advantage, 33, 71-72. Dreaming skill, 33.
Bacteria, 11, 87-89, 91-92, 139; anti-mate- tissue graft, 71; transplant, 23, 66. Compartmentalized Mind advantage, 33, Drug Factory advantage, 51, 101-102.
rial, 90-91; industrial, 87. Braincorder, 121. 70. Drugs, 73-74, 101-102.
Bad Grip disadvantage, 100, 101. Brainpeeling, 117. Composed advantage, 36, 72. Dull disadvantage, 72, 74, 100-101.
Bad Sight disadvantage, 54, 67, 76, 113. Braintape machine, portable, 121. Computer programs, braintape, 122; Dwarfism disadvantage, 53-55, 63, 76.
Bad Temper disadvantage, 53, 76. Braintaper, portable, 117-118, 120. genetic replication,12; gengineering, Dyslexia disadvantage, 52-53, 72, 76.
Bases, 6. Braintaping, 116-123, 139; alternative 58, 97; genome database, 22; insect Early Maturation advantage, 36.
Battle jaw, 69. technologies, 117; campaign effects, translation, 96; teaching, 21. Easy Childbirth advantage, 48-49.
Berserk disadvantage, 53, 76. 119-120; death and, 117; equipment, Computer Programming skill, 77, 96. Ebola, 89.
Bibliography, 141. 119-123; fees, 115; game effects, 118- Computers, 97, 122-123; biocomputers, Ecological engineer, 127.
Bio-bomb, 102. 119; low-res, 117-118; realism and, 13; DNA, 13. Ecoteur, 127.
Bio-booster, 67. 116; techniques, 116-118; very low- Confused disadvantage, 47, 53, 72, 74. Edgy disadvantage, 52, 100-101.
Bio-stasis, 115. res, 117-118. Constriction Attack advantage, 41. Eidetic Memory advantage, 33, 71.

142 INDEX
Elastic Skin advantage, 49, 70. Genetic engineering, 5-7, 9-11, 14, 21, Inconvenient Size disadvantage, 100, 108. Metamorphosis, 23, 80; clinical, 82-83;
Electronics Operation skill, (Medical), 26, 28, 139; aliens, 58; at conception, Increased Fecundity feature, 48-49. examples, 81-82; nanovirus, 77, 79-
118-121, 123; (Security), 96. 25-30; bioships, 110; humans, 24-59; Increased Speed advantage, 36, 43, 73. 83, 139; transformation, 80.
Embryo, 6; division, 14. in play, 58; insects, 95-97; macrobio- Incurious disadvantage, 53, 72, 100-101. Methuselah program, 78.
Emotional regulator, 76. logical animals, 98-105; microbes, Indecisive disadvantage, 53, 72, 74. Microbes, 139; designing, 97-98;
Empathy advantage, 71. 87-92; objectives of, 27-28; plants, Influenza, 89. enhanced, 89; gengineered, 87-92;
Endocrine system, 36. 92-95; sex and, 26; table, 59; tech- Infravision advantage, 45-46. new, 90; purchasing, 91; see also
Enhanced Move advantage, 39, 41, 70, niques, 6-11. Injury Tolerance advantage, 63. Bacteria and Virus.
100-101, 111. Genetic testing, 9-11, 21; privacy issues, Innumerate disadvantage, 100. Microinjection, 7.
Enhanced Time Sense advantage, 43, 71, 10-11; procedures, 10. Inoculation, 91. Microsurgery, portable, 23.
78. Genetics, 139; skill, 58-59, 77, 97-98, Insect, agents, 96-97; designing, 97-98; Migraines disadvantage, 47, 54, 76.
Enhancements, 3, 136; see also enhance- 132. director, 96; examples, 97; gengi- Mimicry advantage, 44.
ment name. Gengineer, 125. neered, 95-97. Mindshare advantage, 85.
Enzyme, 6, 9, 92, 139; blockers, 92. Gengineering, see Genetic Engineering. Insulin, 8. Miniature humans, 33-35.
Epilepsy disadvantage, 54, 76. Genome, 14, 22, 139; human, 25-26, 32; Intelligence (IQ), 30-31; animal, 100-101; Mining, 87.
Eros plus, 64. library, 22; mapping, 132. factors modifying, 32, 53, 70-71, 74, Mitigator limitation, 137.
Eros-series bioroid, 37. Genotype, 12. 79. Mitochondria, 8-9, 16, 30.
Erythrocytes, 34, 76. Germline genetic engineering, 8-9, 25-27, Interface Jack advantage, 77. MMSD, 115, 117, 119.
Estrus feature, 48-49. 57, 77, 80, 98, 139. Intolerance disadvantage, 131. Modified limbs, 39-40.
Eugeneering, see Eugenics: germline engi- Germs, see Microbes. Introduction, 3. Mold, 87.
neering. Ghostcomps, 122, 139. Intron, 7, 10-11, 139; messages, 35. Monoclonal antibodies, 17, 32, applica-
Eugenics, 5, 25-30, 139; germline gengi- Gigantism disadvantage, 53-54, 63, 76. Intuition advantage, 33, 71. tions, 17-19.
neering, 25-27, 139; society and, 27; Gilgamesh-series parahuman, 50. Intuitive Mathematician advantage, 33. Morph advantage, 49.
vs. species modification, 32. Gills advantage, 44, 81, 111. Invertebrate disadvantage, 111. Morphological changes, 39-42.
Eukaryotes, 7-10, 139. Glandular modifications, 35-37. Ishtar-series upgrade, 42. Multiple people, 118-119.
Eunuch disadvantage, 53-54. Glossary, 139-140. Jagrilla hound, 102. Muscle, grafts, 61, 63; reinforcement, 72.
Eve, 8-9. Gluttony disadvantage, 52-54, 76. Jenner, Edward, 91. Musculo-skeletal modifications, 42.
Evolution, 28-29. Gregarious disadvantage, 100. Job Table, 133. Musical Ability advantage, 33, 71.
Exocrine glands, 51. Growth tank, 18-19, 22, 139; fees, 20; Jointwork, 63. Mutation, 18.
Extended Fertility feature, 48-49. forced, 19-20, 22, 139; portable, 19; K-10, 103. Mute disadvantage, 53-54, 64, 100-101.
Extended Lifespan advantage, 38. portable forced, 20. Killjoy disadvantage, 70, 72. Mycoprotein, 94-95.
Extra Arms advantage, 39-41, 99, 136. Guardbeasts, 98. Lab mice, 102. Nano-symbiotes, 84-85.
Extra Encumbrance advantage, 42, 81. Gullibility disadvantage, 72. Labs, 21, 57-58; biohazard precautions, Nanofever, 80.
Extra Fatigue advantage, 34, 44, 68, 76. GURPS Cyberworld, 126. 21. Nanomachines, 9-10, 13, 19, 77, 83, 90-
Extra Flexibility advantage, 42, 67, 99. Hair graft, 62. Language Talent advantage, 33, 71. 91, 96, 115, 117, 121, 139; see also
Extra Hit Points advantage, 34, 42, 67, 73- Hard of Hearing disadvantage, 54, 113. Laziness disadvantage, 53. Nanotechnology.
74, 81, 108. Hard to Kill advantage, 34, 67-68. Lecherousness disadvantage, 48, 52-53, Nanotechnology, 113-114, 116, 139; see
Extra Legs advantage, 70, 99, 101. Hayflick limit, 38. 76. also Nanomachines.
Extra Sleep disadvantage, 54, 113. Hazmat specialist, 128-129. Legs to arms, 39-40; to flippers, 39-40. Nanovirus, 8, 11, 26, 77, 80, 139; acceler-
Extreme sexual dimorphism, 62. Health (HT), 30-31; factors modifying; 27, Lepus-series parahuman, 43. ated, 82; growing, 77; see also
Eye upgrade, 67. 53, 68, 73. Less Sleep advantage, 33, 100. Metamorphosis and Proteus Virus.
Fat disadvantage, 53-54, 62, 77. Heavy Worlder, 40. Leukocytes, 37. Nanowarfare, 84.
Fauxflesh, 95. Hellkitchen, 22. Lifebank, 22. Nature vs. nurture, 32-33.
Faz Sense advantage, 46. Helot-series upgrade, 41. Lifespan and self-repair modifications, 38. NBC Warfare skill, 91, 127, 134.
Fearlessness advantage, 36, 72. Hemophilia disadvantage, 54-55, 76. Ligase, 7, 139. Neo-, coon, 103; gorilla, 105; horse, 103;
Features, 55-56; see also feature name. Heredity, 12-13, 28. Light Hangover advantage, 39. vampire bat, 102.
Felicia-series bioroid, 38. Hermaphroditism, 48. Light Menses advantage, 48-49. Neo-Luddite, 128.
Fermentation, 87. Hermaphromorph advantage, 49, 81. Light Sleeper disadvantage, 47, 53-54. NERV, 75.
Fetal tissue, 132. Hibernation, 20, 36, 100. Light Worlder, 44. Nervous system modifications, 43.
Field Sense advantage, 45-46. Hide and armor plates, 50, 100. Lightning advantage, 50. Neural augmentation, 73.
Filter Lungs advantage, 44, 68. Hidebound disadvantage, 53, 72, 74, 100- Lightning Calculator advantage, 33, 71. Neuropreservation, 114.
Fit advantage, 34. 101, 113. Limitations, 3, 137-138; see also limita- Neurosurgery, 23, 70-72.
Flashbacks disadvantage, 118. High-biotech fur, 79. tion name. Neurovirus, 79.
Fleming, Alexander, 92. High-efficiency kidney, 68. Literacy advantage, 71. Nictating Membrane advantage, 50.
Flesh Pockets advantage, 50, 108, 136. High Pain Threshold advantage, 47. Liver and kidney modifications, 38-39. Night Blindness disadvantage, 67.
Fleshbeds, 106. High-Pressure Lungs feature, 44. Liver upgrade, 68. Night Vision advantage, 45-46, 66, 100.
Flexibility advantage, 41, 49, 100. HIV, 7. Living structures, 111; bio-buildings, 106; No Appendix feature, 35.
Flight advantage, 41, 82, 99, 108. Homo superior, 27, 29, 36, 50-51; see also sentient buildings, 111. No Depth Perception disadvantage, 67.
Flowers and lawns, exotic, 94. Master Race and Ubermenschen. Longevity advantage, 34, 37-38, 69, 85. No Fine Manipulators disadvantage, 41,
Flu, 89. Horizontal disadvantage, 41, 100-101. Low Empathy disadvantage, 53, 72. 100-101.
Foodstuffs, biotech, 94-95. Horns, 50. Low Pain Threshold disadvantage, 47, 53- No Hangover advantage, 39.
Forced-growth, see Growth Tank. Hospitals, 134. 54. No Manipulators disadvantage, 41, 100.
Fragile disadvantage, 54, 111. Hotshotting, 71. Low-Pressure Lungs feature, 43-44. No Sense of Humor disadvantage, 72.
Franklin, Rosalind, 6. Human, definition, 25. Low Rejection Threshold advantage, 136. No Sense of Smell/Taste disadvantage, 76.
Freeze tube, 115. Human Genome Project, 14-15. Lucid Dreaming skill, 33. Non-Iconographic disadvantage, 72, 76.
Fuel production, 87. Hybridomas, 17. Lunacy disadvantage, 76. Nootropic drugs, 74.
Fungi, 87. Hyper-lungs, 68. Magic, 43, 50, 71. Nuisance Effect: Temporary Disadvantage
Fur, 50, 79, 100, 136. Hyper-Reflexes advantage, 36, 67. Magnetic Sense advantage, 45-46. limitation, 137-138.
Galton, Francis, 5. Hyper-Strength advantage, 36, 67. Manic-Depressive disadvantage, 52, 76. Nutricrops, 94.
Gamete, 57, 139. Hyperactive advantage, 36. Manipulatory ability, enhanced, 101. Obdurate disadvantage, 72, 100-101, 113.
Garcia, Dr., 111. Illiteracy disadvantage, 72. Manna, 94. Oblivious disadvantage, 72.
Gastrointestinal modifications, 35. Immortality, advantage, 38; technology, Manual Dexterity advantage, 42, 63. Octosap, 104.
Gene, 6, 10, 12, 25-26, 139; cloning, 8-9, 112-123. Master race, 28; see also Homo Superior Oedipus-5, 90.
87, 92, 139; cop, 127; expression, 7, Immune system modifications, 37. and Ubermenschen. Off-the-Shelf Looks limitation, 138.
25; gun, 7; therapy, 7-9, 75-76, 139. Immunity, to Disease advantage, 37, 84- Mathematical Ability advantage, 33, 71. On the Edge disadvantage, 52, 72.
Genefixing, 55-56, 139. 85; to Poison advantage, 37, 39, 85. Megalomania disadvantage, 53. One Arm disadvantage, 54.
Genemod, 139, human, 128. Immunosuppression, 65. Memory integration, 122-123; device, 120. Only vs. Pheromones limitation, 138.
Genericillin, 92. Imperturbable advantage, 36, 72. Memory storage, 115. Only with Duplicate limitation, 138.
Genetic, castes, 28; code, 6; defects, 56; Improved G-Tolerance advantage, 34, 36. Memory tissue, 69; see also Polykeratin. Optical biochips, 13.
differences, 15; diversity, 22, 29; Impulsiveness disadvantage, 53. Mendel, Gregor, 5, 12. Organ trade, 129-130; organlegger char-
reconstruction, 11-12, 21; scanner, In vitro fertilization (IVF), 19, 139. Mental instability, 52, 56. acter type, 129-130.
portable, 10; surgery, 75-84; surgery Inbreeding, 28-29. Metabolic processes, 6; reset, 76-77. Organelles, 7-9, 139.
nanovirus, 78; tattoos, 35. Incompetence disadvantage, 72. Metabolism Control advantage, 36. Orion-series upgrade, 45.

INDEX 143
Overconfidence disadvantage, 53. Quadragraft, 70. Slave Mentality disadvantage, 53, 76. Thrombocytes, 76.
Overspecialization, 28-29. Rabbit fever, 89. Slave species, 28. Tissue engineering, 72-73, 139.
Overweight disadvantage, 53-54, 62, 77. Racial, generation, 29-59; point cost, 56; Sleep-state modifications, 33. Total Klutz disadvantage, 73.
Oxygen Storage advantage, 39, 44. templates, 57, 99-100; see also Sleepy disadvantage, 54, 100. Toughness advantage, 42.
Page references, 3. Variant Human. Slow Eater disadvantage, 100, 111. Tourette’s Syndrome disadvantage, 76.
Pandora-series parahuman, 51. Rapid Healing advantage, 34, 38. Slow Healing disadvantage, 54. Trait, analysis, 9; dominant, 12; linked, 26;
Panimmunity advantage, 84. Rapier Wit advantage, 71. Slow Metabolism disadvantage, 111. paranormal, 29; recessive, 12-13; sex-
Pantropy, 27. Recovery advantage, 34, 82. Smart, bug, 97 mosquito, 97. linked, 13.
Parabolic Hearing advantage, 45-46. Reduced Fatigue disadvantage, 63. Smart cardiovascular net, 81-82. Transformations, 49.
Parahuman, see Variant Human. Reduced Hit Points disadvantage, 54. Smart drugs, 74. Transgenic, 139; features, 34-35; gengi-
Paranoia disadvantage, 52-53, 76. Reduced Move disadvantage, 39, 54, 100- Smoke advantage, 51, 111. neering, 26; life forms, 7.
Paranormal abilities, 43; see also Magic, 101. Social Stigma disadvantage, 29, 131. Transplant, 17, 23, 65-70; brain, 23, 66;
Psionic Powers and Super Powers. Reduced Sleep advantage, 33. Solarskin, 82. cat’s eye, 66; cell, 75; limb-replace-
Paravirus, 77. Refining, 87. Sonar Vision advantage, 45-46, 111. ment, 69-70; medical, 65-66, 129;
Parthenogenesis, 48-49. Reflex boosting, 43. Soul collectors, 122-123. rules, 65; tentacle, 67; xeno-, 66.
Passive Defense advantage, 108. Regeneration advantage, 38, 42, 85. Space Acceleration enhancement, 136. Tularemia, 89.
Pasteur, Louis, 91. Regrowth advantage, 38, 85. Space cat, 104. Ubermenschen, 30-31; see also Homo
Penicillin, 87, 92. Rejection, 17, 65, 131, 136. Spacer modification, 46. Superior and Master Race.
Perfect Balance advantage, 45-46, 100. Reproduction, 6. Spartan-series bioroid, 52. Ultrahearing advantage, 45-46, 100.
Perfume glands, 68. Reproductive, Control advantage, 48-49, Species modification, 26, 31. Unaging advantage, 38.
Peripheral Vision advantage, 46. 81; modifications, 99; technology, 17- Spines, 50. Unattractiveness, 56.
Persona mapping, 72. 20. Spleen augmentation, 69. Undulipodia, 8.
Persona-napping, 118. Reputation disadvantage, 131. Splicer, 129-130. Undying advantage, 38.
Personality, implants, 121; overwrite Requires Biochip limitation, 138. Split Personality disadvantage, 53, 118. Unfazeable advantage, 36, 72.
machine, 121-122. Requires Low Gravity limitation, 138. Staid disadvantage, 72, 74, 100-101. Universal Digestion advantage, 35.
Peter Pan process, 74. Residential trees, 94. Sterile disadvantage, 27, 53-54, 59, 62-63, Universal donors, 132.
Pharm, animal modifications, 101-102; Resistant to Poison advantage, 37, 39, 68. 78. Unnatural Feature disadvantage, 54, 62,
animals, 26, 98-99; goat, 102; plants, Respiratory, alternatives, 44; modifica- Steroids, 73, 75. 64, 66-67, 71, 78, 81.
93. tions, 43-44. Strength (ST), 30-31; factors modifying, Unsupported Strength limitation, 138.
Phenotype, 12. Restriction enzymes, 7. 42, 63, 72-75; non-human, 31; unsup- Unusual Background advantage, 131.
Pheromone, 138; Control advantage, 37, Retrovirus, 7-9, 11, 26; see also Virus. ported, 138. Unusual Biochemistry disadvantage, 27,
69; dominance, 37; modifications, 37; Revised pain thresholds, 47. Stress Atavism disadvantage, 52-53, 59, 53-54, 59.
sex, 37. Ribonucleic acid, 6-8, 139; messenger, 6; 101. Uplift, 99, 139.
Pious advantage, 71. virus, 75. Strikers, 40, 50, 66, 100. Uploading, 139; see also Ghostcomps.
Pitiable advantage, 35. Ribosome, 6, 11, 139. Strong Will advantage, 71-72. Ursamorph, 105.
Plague, 95; bubonic, 89; designer, 90; RNA, see Ribonucleic Acid. Stubbornness disadvantage, 53. Used body parts, 65.
pneumonic, 89; see also Biological Sanitized Metabolism advantage, 35. Stuttering disadvantage, 52-53, 101. Vaccines, 91-92; gengineered, 92.
Warfare and Biological Weapons. Scales, 50, 100. Sub-races, 29. Vacuum, Adaptation advantage, 49;
Plants, cloning, 93; designing, 97-98; dis- Scent-Based limitation, 138. Subjugation disadvantage, 108. Support advantage, 49, 82, 108.
ease-resistant, 93; gengineered, 92- Scorpion tail, 40. Subsonic Hearing advantage, 45-46. Variant human, 31-33, 139; custom, 57;
95; growth times, 93; industrial, 93; Secret disadvantage, 131. Super Climbing advantage, 100. designing, 29-59; dollar cost, 57;
modifications, 93; nif, 94; pest-resis- Secret Communication advantage, 85. Super Jump advantage, 42, 100. established, 57; examples, 36-56;
tant, 93; pharm, 93. Selective breeding, see Eugenics. Super-pheromone glands, 69. point cost, 56; templates, 56, 58.
Plasmid, 5, 7, 139. Self-Destruct disadvantage, 53-54, 78. Super powers, 43, 50, 59. Variant racial template, see Variant
Plastid, 8. Selfless disadvantage, 53. Super-steroids, 75. Human.
Polarized Eyes advantage, 45-46. Semi-Upright disadvantage, 100-101. Surge advantage, 49-50. Vat-grown organs, 17.
Pollution control, 87. Senior citizen, 130. Surgery, 61, 80; cosmetic, 61; elective, 61- Venom advantage, 40, 51, 100.
Polykeratin, 69-70, 139; disguise, 70. Sensa-skin, 139; grafts, 70; point cost, 73; hermaphromorphic, 81; skill, 61, Vermiform, 41.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), 7, 11, 131. 134. Versatile advantage, 33, 71.
13-14, 139; machine, 13-14. Sensie Talent advantage, 33, 71. Surrogate motherhood, 17-19, 57. Very Fat disadvantage, 62, 77.
Poor Grip disadvantage, 100-101. Sensitive advantage, 71. Suspended animation, 115. Very Fit advantage, 34.
Post-Combat Shakes disadvantage, 52. Sensitive Touch advantage, 46. T-cells, 37. Very Rapid Healing advantage, 34, 38, 76.
Post-Emergencies Only limitation, 138. Sensory modifications, 45-47. Taboo traits, 55-56. Virus, 11, 87-90, 92, 139; biotronic, 77-
Posture, modified, 101. Sentience, 99. Tails, 40; grafts, 66-67. 78; birth-control, 78; cosmetic, 78;
Prefrontal Lobotomy disadvantage, 70. Sessile, disadvantage, 111; limitation, 138. Target-seeking, drugs, 18; pathogens, 89- skin transformation, 78-79; see also
Pregnancy, 18. Sex Appeal skill, 35, 62. 90. Nanovirus.
Prehensile tail, 40; toes, 39-40. Sex change, 61-63; selection, 25. Tech level, 5-6; bioships, 110; experimen- Voice advantage, 44, 64.
Presentient disadvantage, 99-101. Sexual and reproductive modifications, tal procedures, 127; gengineered Voice box, enhanced, 101.
Pressure Support advantage, 44, 111. 47-49. advantages, 32; metamorphosis virus, Void-Dancer-series parahuman, 56.
Programmer, portable, 118, 120. Sexual Orientation feature, 48-49. 80; proteus virus options, 83; varia- Voidshark, 110.
Prokaryotes, 7-8, 11, 139. Shock advantage, 49-50. tions, 6. Vomeronasal organ, 37.
Protein, 6, 139; farming, 87. Short Attention Span disadvantage, 72, 74, Technical terms, 3, 139-140. War-dop, 104.
Proteus nanovirus, 77-79, 84, 139; options, 76, 113. Teeth and fangs, 50, 69, 100. Warbeasts, 98.
82-84; see also Metamorphosis. Short Lifespan disadvantage, 53-54, 100. Tek Rat parahuman, 55. Watson, James, 6.
Psionic, powers, 43, 50, 71, 107; technolo- Shorter Gestation feature, 48-49. Telescopic Vision advantage, 46. Weak Immune System disadvantage, 53-
gy, 122. Shyness disadvantage, 53. Temperature Tolerance advantage, 50-51. 54, 59, 76, 113.
Psychology skill, 121. Single-Minded advantage, 33, 71-72, 100. Terminally Ill disadvantage, 59, 76, 113. Weak Will disadvantage, 37, 53, 72.
Psychosurgery, 71-72. Skeletal strengthening, 81. Terraforming, 87. Webbing advantage, 51.
Quadraform, 41. Skinny disadvantage, 53-54, 62, 77. Testicle tuck, 63-64. Wetware sub-personality, 72.
Whiskers, 46.
Wilkins, Maurice, 6.
Wilmut, Ian, 15.
Winged humans, 40-41.
Workaholic disadvantage, 53.
Xeno-anatomy, 49-50.
Xeno-voice box, 64.
Xenoglands, 50-51.
Xenosculpting, 64.
Xenostriker grafts, 66.
Yeast, 87.
Youth disadvantage, 74.
Zoom womb, 19.
Zygote, 6, 25, 75.

144 INDEX
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