BY LETTER
Splice
 Image from Bernd Helfert |
[1] [archaic] A genemod in which an animal, plant or other naturally occurring, but non-human, genotype is modified with elements of both human and other non-human genomes, usually for service, companionship, or hedonistic purposes.
[2] Any sapient whose genotype or phenotype is descended or derived, in part or in total, from the above. All splices have full sentient rights throughout the Civilized Galaxy.
Splices (Manimals, Animants) are creatures that - from the late Information to the late Interplanetary Age - were partially provolved by adding human genomes, cognitive functions, and hominid anatomical modifications (erect gait, prehensile thumbs, etc, were almost always standard). What distinguished them from normal genemod animals of the time was this extra intelligence and homomorphization, and what makes them different from the provolves is that the goal never was human-level intelligence and freedom to explore their own potential, but rather a sort of animal-human plaything. Since in many polities they were regarded as nothing more than mere animals, they were treated as such legally. It is true that as early as the Interplanetary Age there were huge sentient rights advances, but much of this progress was lost with the resulting nanotech disaster. The great humanitarian reforms and universal sentient suffrage of the early First Federation restored rights to splices, although some of these were again sadly lost in less regulated regions during the Middle Federation and Emergence ages. But by the late Empires era splices, like vecs, were assured of equal status everywhere, and only the most reactionary human supremacist clades could think or say otherwise.
Even from the start, splices were diverse; now they are incomparably more so. Originally (in the late 21st century) only popular templates were used, but the demand for novelty meant more and more species had to be spliced, and more combinations, hybrids, neogens, chimeras, and every other biotech combination possible were created. From the late interplanetary period onwards, free splice clades and polities have further evolved and modified themselves, or been modified by friendly entities of higher toposophics. With interbreeding and genome sharing between splices, provolves, and rianths, the division between splices and provolves eventually became more about the design goals of the originators than any distinguishing feature of splices themselves. Moreover, the fact that splices would often interbreed with and/or incorporate standard hu, tweak, and superior public domain (and even, when they could afford or acquire it, expensive private) genoprints and genmods meant that the graduation between splice and hu very soon blurred.
Today it is not uncommon to find splices that are more baseline in appearance than most nearbaselines, and conversely there are many rianths who are for more theriomorphic than most splices. Often the only way to determine the ancestry is via detailed phylogenetic analysis. Most clades care little for this anyway, since the old distinctions between of race and species have long since disappeared, or are only retained as a marker for cultural, religious, or House-Clade reasons (e.g. House Stevens, Genen, etc)
Even so, many splices do have their cultural and memetic baggage, sometimes well-intended by caretaker beings, sometimes parasitical hold-overs of earlier fearful and wrong thinking. For this reason, splice cultures and subcultures differ as widely as splice genotypes, sometimes along phylogenetic lines, sometimes completely independently. Some splices have become isolationist or paranoid; others supremacist, with proud and even exaggerated traditions of their heritage. Some have retreated to protective enclaves in the Utopia Sphere, while others prefer the company of general mindkind, and can be found in all big population centers throughout the galaxy. The absurd stereotype of the shuffling subsapient splice is a slander that is believed only be a few extremist nearbaseline factions using pseudo-scientific phylogenetic analysis; in fact most splices have baseline if not above baseline intelligence and capabilities, certainly almost all splices are superior to baseline and standard nearbaseline hu in physiological terms (enhanced smell, hearing, reflexes, etc. that are part of their animal heritage). While the number of splices is not equal to the number of nearbaselines or tweaks, it is still a respectable figure, perhaps one and a half quadrillion in all, and today splices form an important and even essential part of galactic culture and civilization.
Articles
- Agrimonkey - Text by Stephen Inniss
An ancient superclade of presophont splices, derived from a variety of Terragen baseline monkey species and originally designed as specialized labourers and servants. - Angels - Text by Todd Drashner
Race of humanoid Splices modified to possess musculature and feathered wings that allow them to fly in up to 0.3g conditions. - Erotogen - Text by M. Alan Kazlev with additions by Anders Sandberg and Tony Jones
A neogen or hu-animal splice with exaggerated primary and secondary sexual characteristics and exceptional sexual performance, generally used as a companion-sentient or in the sex-trade. - Fran - Text by Grant Thomas and M. Alan Kazlev
Splice-tweak clade - Gynamorph - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
Female-only erotorganic, usually a hu-animal splice (cat, bird, rabbit, etc) with heavily moldic genome and exaggerated primary and secondary sexual characteristics and exceptional sexual performance. Often used as a companion-sentient or in the sex-trade. In less civilized parts of the galaxy, may be referred to as a girldoll or toygirl (or worse). c.f. andromorph - Hermophromorph - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
Erotogenic with genitals and other characteristics of both genders equally developed, especially in an exaggerated or augmented fashion; one who has so modified emself. - Hon'Kken - Text by Grant Thomas and M. Alan Kazlev
Aggressive splice-neogen-syborg clade. - Humanimal - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
An animal provolved by means of human genome, a neospecies or splice (contra rianth). - Lepusan - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
Lepusanthropus genetekensis. Hu-rabbit splice developed by GeneTEK during the middle Interplanetary period. - Manimal - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
A male humanimal - Marsupial Lion - Text by Steve Bowers
One time clade of rianth lions, now presumed extinct although sightings continue to be reported. - Snarks - Text by Steve Bowers
Post intelligent human-derived clade - Splices - Early History - Text by M. Alan Kazlev, additional material by by Anders Sandberg
The waning of organised religion, and an increasing interest in gengineering novelties in the late 1st century a.t. led to an era of genetic experiments in human-animal hybridization. - Yssa'arah - Text by Michael Walton
Lizard splice dating from the Interplanetary Age onwards. - Zoosplice - Text by M. Alan Kazlev
Gengineered terragen animal neospecies made from integration of two or more species.
