Brazil is one of the influences on my thinking, as well as the newer multiracial depictions of Cleopatra.
I definitely think there was a lot of biological experimentation on the human form, not only with the Lifemakers, but with previous civilizations. And there is room for a lot of cosmetic tailoring. On the other hand, one reason that the Old Race Humans survived the various die backs, ascensions, disappearances or what not is that the Enclaves tend to be biologically conservative, and traditionalist in their approach to life, and humans that want more tend to depart. A comparison to the Amish might be in order; they are more likely to stick around should a Singularity or other phase change event happen.
For all that, Old Race Humans will still be healthier and longer lived than modern humans, and free of some minor evolutionary legacies and genetic problems. Nothing major like redundant spines, but minor conservative edits that could easily be passed down, like say, no impacted wisdom teeth. In some respects Old Race Humans could be considered designed for continuation.
no subject
I definitely think there was a lot of biological experimentation on the human form, not only with the Lifemakers, but with previous civilizations. And there is room for a lot of cosmetic tailoring. On the other hand, one reason that the Old Race Humans survived the various die backs, ascensions, disappearances or what not is that the Enclaves tend to be biologically conservative, and traditionalist in their approach to life, and humans that want more tend to depart. A comparison to the Amish might be in order; they are more likely to stick around should a Singularity or other phase change event happen.
For all that, Old Race Humans will still be healthier and longer lived than modern humans, and free of some minor evolutionary legacies and genetic problems. Nothing major like redundant spines, but minor conservative edits that could easily be passed down, like say, no impacted wisdom teeth. In some respects Old Race Humans could be considered designed for continuation.