I've always wondered about that. I've never been entirely convinced he wasn't scratched.Quote:
Originally Posted by Grognaurd
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I've always wondered about that. I've never been entirely convinced he wasn't scratched.Quote:
Originally Posted by Grognaurd
Hmmm, exposure might be more than we think it is. Saul, Angel, and Michael got up close and personal on Z-Day several times with normals. How close is too close? Saul even used his knife to make sure a dead person/Z was all the way dead. Then he came upstairs with the knife.Quote:
Originally Posted by Grognaurd
So we're back to "When was Saul actually exposed to the thing that (might have) started turning him?"
Good call on the exposure back by the Raydon Labs smartie.
Nail gun I thinkQuote:
Originally Posted by Litmaster
Ahhh these episode threads: I leave for a little bit, and when I come back a bunch of new theories and whatnot have been added. It's very cool, but a bit difficult to wrap ones head around. I guess I'll pick one: keratin, because it's fascinating. A few things about it that I find important (and I know some of these have already been said, just my own take on them):
Keratin is the key structural material making up the outer layer of human skin. It is also the key structural component of hair and nails.
So this crazy increase of keratin levels seems to be mainly responsible for the claws of the Inklings, and the toughened skin of both behemoths and Inklings. That still leaves the teeth as an unknown variable.
The only other biological matter known to approximate the toughness of keratinized tissue is chitin. (Chitin being the material that composes the exoskeletons of many arthropods, and other things similar thereto)
Chitin is basically armor. The reason arthropods can only grow to small(ish) sizes on land is because their chitin-composed exoskeletons would be too heavy for movement on land. However, sea-dwelling arthropods can still grow to large sizes. So this keratinized tissue of the Inklings and behemoths is probably as tough or tougher than any chitin, approximating for size, thus: skin stops bullets. Also I think this explains easily enough them being able to rip open metal doors with naught but their fingernails: an ant, grown to enormous size, would almost certainly be able to bite through metal with its chitin-composed mandibles.
It was mentioned that there are diseases that can be caused by mutations in keratin genes.
This might have something to do with the reason the behemoths are dying. Since their genes have probably been mutated more than the average biter, perhaps it has given them some type of special disease. Most of the diseases I think primarily affect the skin.
Lastly, I think that possibly the extremeness of derivation from human form that a biter experiences might be contingent upon how much its genes (keratin and others) have been altered. Thus, behemoths have been altered more than just normal biters, and will have a much higher keratin count.
Anyway, hopefully I haven't just repeated what everyone else has said, and brought something new to the discussion, and also hopefully I haven't rambled too much, lol.
Sooo... Raydon Labs is a Pharmaceutical (research?) Company. That sure opens up a whole lot of possibilities.
First, I'll say that when I began my research into K18 Keratin, I was a little taken aback. On Google, on my phone, the first few results were medical research companies to buy it from. Hmmm. :tinfoil:
Luckily, as I mentioned, I started my search on my phone. As you know smartphones display info differently than on lap/desktops... The mobile wiki displayed some info by default and hid it on the desktop version. In the sidebar click "show" next to "Gene Ontology." This will give you the Molecular function, Cellular component and Biological process of K18. Under Biological process I found some promising leads, things that Keratin K18 is involved in:
- The apoptotic process. AKA: Programed cell death.
- Anatomical structure morphogenesis.
Quote:
The process in which anatomical structures are generated and organized. Morphogenesis pertains to the creation of form.
- Host-virus interaction.
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The process in which a virus effects a change in the structure or processes of its host organism.
To me, it seems that the massive amounts of K18 in the system is merely a byproduct of the metamorphosis into a "zombie." Tanya did say that the K18 levels drop off after turning. It also implies that the tumors in the Behemoth are also a side effect as well, probably as a result of excessive change. I would look for conditions or drug interactions or indications that can cause increased K18 levels.
Something I've wondered is, with the Family Conspiracy theory angle, NWO machinations, ect., could all of this actually be some sort of deranged "audition" for the "powers that be?"Quote:
Originally Posted by Grognaurd
Evolution. Successful viruses are the ones that don't kill the host right away. They have a longer incubation time, giving the host more time to contact and infect more secondary hosts. Fast turners are seen to be an immediate threat and are terminated. Slow turners like Saul and Tanya might be would seem to be ineffectual. Therefore, the mid-range turner would seem to be a more effective means of spreading.Quote:
Originally Posted by Witch_Doctor
Luckily, a guy I work with is studying biology. I'm going to run some of this past him. Speaking of, I work in the morning, so it's time to sign off.
This is interesting. But then, if this were to bring about a true advantage in spreading, the slow-turners would really have to spread it in a different way than normal biters. What I mean is: the normal sickness is spread through the bites, and introduction of blood into the mouth and open wounds. A slow-turner, unlike a normal biter, isn't going to be biting people and spraying blood at them, so how would they effectively spread the sickness? Or perhaps slow-turners already do spread it in different ways, and the people whom they infect will also only be slow-turners. However, Lizzy, being in open bodily fluid sharing with Saul, would be a prime candidate for this type of infection, but Tanya said her blood did not have the high keratin count... Which could mean that it isn't spread that way, or that she is just an incubator for the sickness who hasn't shown signs yet. I have a feeling I'm getting ahead of myself, so I'll stop. O_o But yes, very interesting point.Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Shirt
Right, but ...Quote:
Originally Posted by Grognaurd
... there was no mentioning of Saul being wounded, scratched, bitten, harmed, etc. by the beast.
This thread better be 15 pages by tomorrow night or I have lost all fucking faith in you people.