Biology and Language Notes (Dragon Ball: Prodigals)

Following are notes I made for my fanfic Dragon Ball: Prodigals. The story included the plot point that female Nameks existed. I wanted to come up with some plausible reasons to explain why there weren't any after the repopulation of the planet, so I gave them a biological quirk and things kind of expanded from there.

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Language Bits
A few words and definitions I came up with while writing. I tried to keep to the established style of the language.

fue - A type of Namekian flute. It is low and mellow, due to Namek ears being sensitive to high octave notes. The name comes from the sound it makes when blown.

Mida - Mother, specifically a female parent of either natural born or egg-born children. Applies also in a situation where the female is not the birthing parent. Never used with a male parent of egg-born, even if the male births the egg.

Pida - Father, specifically a male parent of natural born or egg-born children. Does not apply if the male births the egg.

Poda - Father/sire, only used with males who birth an egg.

Tsuato - Damn stubbornness or stubborn (or hard headed) [person/people]. Literally: stubborn/foolhardy, with implied emphasis on the negative aspect of the trait. Can be used as a general swear or directed at a person/people, usually in a situation where someone won't listen and there is danger.

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Namekian Biology/Reproduction
Here are some notes on how Namek biology works in this story. I've had to come up with some odd theories and such, especially regarding reproduction. I'm not usually in the "female" Namek camp. I tend to lean toward genderless/hermaphrodite (internal, not external). There may well be mistakes here of the general kind in terms of genetics/biology. If you see any, feel free to point them out.

I. GENETICS

A. Basics:

Each Namek cell has 28 pairs of general chromosomes and one unpaired sex chromosome (57 total). Some chromosome pairs are completely inactive, while others host active and inactive genes. Active genes govern the behavior of the body such as cell growth, aging, physical attributes, ki ability, etc. Inactive genes do not contribute to the governing of any fuction (save perhaps that of racial memory).

In natural birth, certain inactive (archive) genes stay inactive. (Archive genes contain the genetic information of previous evolutions of Namek-jin, possibly also the place where racial memory is stored.) In egg-birth, it is possible to activate archive genes, though the result is often a child with primitive dragonish features.

It is possible to eliminate inactive (redundant) genes in egg-birth. (Redundant being inactive genes which would govern certain functions which are already governed by other active genes). However, this is usually not done on purpose since the extra genes can be useful in keeping the genetic pool strong. This elmination is not (consciously) possible through natural birth.

The sex chromosome (Y or X for the sake of convenience) determines whether a Namek is male or female. Y is male, X is female. X chromosomes are/were about 72% more rare than the Y. Very, very rarely will there be an XY combination or missing sex chromosome (see below, Anomalies).

B. Reproduction:

Natural Birth - A Namek inherits one single group of 29 chromosomes from the mother and 29 from the father (28 general and 1 sex). When the sex cells from the parents join, each chromosome will pair with it's mate, including the two sex chromosomes. Before the joined cell with begin division, each pair will determine which gene (of the possible active genes) on each chromosome will become active or inactive.

The exact process is not yet known. Each gene, for a short time, will produce a certain enzyme. The gene which produces the most becomes dominant and apparently will trigger the inactivation of it's mate. In the case of the sex chromosome, the inactivation of the main gender determining gene will cause complete disintegration of the chromosome so that only the dominant chromosome is left.

Once the activation/inactivation is complete, the joined cell will begin its transformation into a fetus.

Egg-Birth - A Namek inherits all of its chromosomes from the parent. Since this process is done with ki (magic), it requires some attention from the parent. It is possible for a child born this way to have an incomplete set of chromosomes. This does not usually result in any sort of noticeable anamoly as there seems to be some instinct to include all the necessary active genes. The usual archive and/or redundant genes, however, will sometimes be missing.

The parent will often determine which genes will be active or inactive, thereby determining the characteristics of the offspring. It is also possible for the parent to tweak or mutate a gene for the offspring to inherit (this is considered a crime in Namek society as the tampering can seriously affect the child).

Once the selection and activation/inactivation is complete, the cell will develop rapidly into an egg.

C. Anomalies:

Sometimes in the process of activation/inactivation an anomaly will occur. There are several defined conditions which can result from this. Some anomalies are apparent in the physical appearance of the child, others are either internal, triggered or non-interfering.

Dotai - A condition in which a Namek inherits both a Y and X chromosome. Sub conditions are:
1. Kodotai - Where the Y chromosome is active, the X inactive.
2. Rudotai - Where the X chromosome is active, the Y inactive.
3. Tadotai - Where both the Y and X are active, with the Y dominant.
4. Nuidotai - Where both the Y and X are active, with the X dominant.
6. Gadotai - Where both the Y and X are active, both with equal presence.
5. Dadotai - Where neither Y nor X are active.


Doshu - A condition in which a Namek does not inherit either a Y or X chromosome.

Dofuku - A condition in which a Namek inherits either a Y or X chromosome but it is inactive.