Peer Review of the Treatment of Homo sapiens
at the Qortang Xenological Observatory
Abstract:
It is now common knowledge that on date 765.22:45 Qooroou Silicon Virus was found present in 87% of the display specimens at the Qortang Xenological Observatory.
This rare mutation of the Qooroou Silicon Virus collapses cell membranes in the infected, leading to disintegration of the structure that holds their epidermis or, as they call it, skin. The first case became apparent when a xenokeeper observed a Homo sapiens attempting to obscure a blemish caused by the collapse of the cell structure on its lower limb. This appeared to initially be some sort of a contusion, but bioscanners detected the virus and, per protocol, the remaining specimens were quarantined and examined. The 43 infected specimens were admitted to the Qortang Xenological Hospital by staff in HazMat suits. The remaining specimens were herded from the habitat, so the habitat and all its effects could be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
After analysis, bio data from a healthy specimen (pre-pubescent male) was then used to regenerate the compromised cells. When attempting to manage the cell structures of complex organisms, particularly where fragile animal cells are considered, it is unfortunate that unanticipated variables may have adverse effects. In this case, where our plant cells have a rigid cell wall protecting us, we must remember that these beings evolved very differently from us—in a more forgiving environment. Their cells, like many animals, have merely a membrane coating the exterior making them particularly vulnerable to viruses (even the simpler RNA forms) and bacterial intrusions. It is our belief that their biological simplicity made them particularly vulnerable to this virus.
Our purpose was to examine the treatment that was administered to the Homo sapiens, what the outcome was, and speculate in regard to future treatments in the event of future outbreak.
Introduction:
Qooroou Silicon Virus is present in approximately 23% Jorth’bash as a recurring, remitting infection. Among the Jorth’bash, an example of convergent evolution on a planet similar to our own, it is often eradicated during the CAM phase of photosynthesis. Being C5 life forms, we Qortang are susceptible to it, but the severity is much reduced.
The Homo sapiens, as per most animal species, derive energy from consuming Adenosine triphosphate rather than generating it themselves. A Jorth’bash xenokeeper who unknowingly was in the contagious phase of the virus is recorded via surveillance footage as expectorating in the proximity of a Homo sapiens female. The droplets of chlorophyll expelled were inhaled by this patient zero. With the close living quarters and poor hygiene of animals (shedding hair and skin, excreting nitrogenous waste and malodorous ammonia along with fluids, waste, and/or oils from all orifices and the pores of their epidermis), it was not long before a significant portion of the specimens displayed symptoms. In an effort to protect the uninfected specimens, the contaminated members were quarantined at the Qortang Xenological Hospital. The staff member was treated and their work areas disinfected, luckily before any other displays were contaminated.
Drs. Urthanf, Seeghif, and Jochirthdea comprised the team responsible for developing care plans as the specimens were admitted into the ICU.
The team formed a consensus from available data projecting a positive outcome with minimal risk for using Partic-yll™ treatment—generating a template from a healthy specimen to guide cell excision via cryolaser and replacement with printed tissue.
In the time it took to map a healthy specimen, the disease advanced rapidly on the Homo sapiens population—their bodies are simply not evolved to deal with a silicon virus; their evolutionary epidemiology has entirely stemmed from the carbon based viruses indicative of their kind, of which the behavior is markedly different from the silicon we are familiar with.
Due to the rapid progression, the physical pain, and psychological agony, it was considered most ethical to push forward with the theoretical treatment.
By the next rotation, all of the infected had been treated—the damaged cells were treated with a cryolaser for rapid expulsion from the body, and Partic-yll™ compounds were modeled after the template specimen before deployment to replace the excised tissues. For the severely infected, this had to be accomplished in stages. With plant based life forms we see a tenacity to hold onto life by the last sprig of green is not uncommon, but with animal species we find them irresolute—there is a predilection for shock, and significant cell death signals can avalanche their central nervous systems ending with the death of the animal, as if they were subconsciously deciding to give up. Not only are their cells weaker, but they do not have the fortitude that we do. This is not a human frailty alone—many of the lesser species on their planet can scarcely recover from a severed limb. In less sophisticated animals, a broken bone is sometimes fatal.
As mentioned, cell death at too rapid of a rate can trigger death to the brain—the governing organ of these species. One specimen whose damage was more extensive than initially thought, did perish from the treatment before the cryolaser was adjusted and prior to deployment of Partic-yll™ compounds. Subsequent treatments were successful in restoring damaged tissue. This adverse event, and others, were not foreseeable.
The Partic-yll™ template was created from the DNA, cell patterns, and tissue structure of a healthy pre-pubescent male; the templates were printed and infused with individualized modifications for blood and tissue typing. Another strange component of Homo sapiens physiology is that there are multiple blood types and rh factors, and if adjustments were not made to this respect, where we plant species will typically accept grafts of plants with a similar carbon number and photosynthesis type, the recipient’s body would not accept new, healthy material from the same species without these modifications. Instead, their animal bodies will “reject” the new material considering it a foreign threat, and their autoimmune system would attack these cells.
Materials & Methods:
This ad hoc investigation was conducted per the request of the Joint Commission Authority on Xenological Ethics. This ethics committee is comprised of fourteen individuals with a background in ethics, animal biology, and xenological medicine; per standards, at time of publication (765.48:32) no committee members have conflicts of interest. The lead, credited researchers of this committee were: Drs. Macrotof, Esculinea, Phinoopef, and Jasmivalea. The veterinary records and acquisition histories of all human specimens were cross referenced and compared with the behavior of the virus as found in studies on other species, and on Xenological findings across our biobank. There is every indication that these doctors acted out of beneficence.
Results:
Our peer review of the treatment plan developed by Drs. Urthanf, Seeghif, and Jochirthdea, based on existent data prior to this incident, shows that this approach was both reasonable and ethical based on the preponderance of evidence; we found no indications of research or treatment misconduct.
The unanticipated problem—post-treatment psychological complications—experienced by a number of the specimens, though resulting from the Partic-yll™ technology, were not foreseeable and are indicative of the lack of knowledge we still have in regard to Homo sapiens.
In multiple specimens, portions of the central nervous system were affected by the virus. In these instances, like all other required materials, copies were made from the template specimen and adjusted for their unique tissue/rh requirements. It was an unaccounted-for unknown that memory engrams were so particularly formed. By using the template specimen for both portions of the brain tissue and bioelectric energy, the memories of this juvenile were re-created in those specimens. The amount of memories that were re-created varied from subject to subject based on damage sustained from the virus. Upon regaining consciousness in the recovery ward, some of the specimens were deeply distressed.
Discussion:
The Qortang Xenological Observatory provides us invaluable opportunities to study the unique biology of alien life forms. Given that many of the higher life forms we have encountered have been of Kingdom Animalia, this collection allows for knowledge regarding life forms vastly different from our own. While the focus of the observatory has been on education and amusement for the youngest members of our civilization, a wealth of knowledge awaits discovery.
We believe it would have been impossible for the Qortang Xenological Hospital to recover the memories of the compromised subjects. While detailed brain scans were on file for each of the specimens, the level of complexity that is stored in their memory engrams is beyond those precursory scans. The information contained in those engrams was irretrievable.
These bipeds were attached to their memories—not only did this mean loss of skills, rudimentary as they are, and recollection of particular events, but the replacement of these memories with that of the pre-pubescent male were problematic. Recalling foreign memories caused deep distress on the part of some specimens. In addition to feeling isolated during their treatment from the other members of their species, they expressed sorrow over what was lost.
In some instances, it seemed to be minor—a few words here and there. In other cases, it was more pronounced. The most significant loss was seen in a subject who had to relearn skills such as bipedal locomotion and spoken language. The presumption that these creatures would experience gratitude for their survival was not actualized. Even more shocking was the upset experienced by those who had not been infected regarding the side effects of this otherwise successful treatment. One specimen had lost significant memories of its spouse, and despite the oral history communicated by the unaffected spouse, the recovered specimen struggled to connect with the spouse causing both deep emotional distress.
More perplexing, the uninfected have stated a term with which we are unfamiliar and further demonstrates the lack of sophistication of their biology: survivor guilt. Whereas we are able to receive and send messages through our root receptors and the collective memories of the ancients are dispersed, memories for Homo sapiens are not transmitted beyond oral or written histories. The closest they come is that genetic memory seems to favor the young based on the conditions of the parents’ lives; this is very basic evolution though, and should not be regarded as significant. Our findings indicate that they have fragile identities: that their sense of self is as frail as a jodarth blossom.
Conclusion & Recommendations:
The decision to euthanize specimens distressed from this outcome is viewed as the compassionate choice unanimously by this peer investigation.
This tragedy shines light on the need for additional research on not only the Homo sapiens specimens, but on all of the life forms in this observatory. It is our recommendation that additional research, especially in the realm of epidemiology, be funded for these life forms not only for their preservation, but the enrichment of our own knowledge.