article by Sameer Raote
#ageing #immortality #species #biology
This is an article about how the ability of ageing changed over the span of existence of this intelligent humanoid species.
356 words
The first intelligent humanoid beings of planet Yugae were born as adults out of soft eggs in lakes. They are known as Prasthayi. These beings had biologically evolved to choose immortality over reproduction. So even though they existed in as gender pairs, making babies was not a part of their user manual. As a compensation for that these beings were biologically incapable of grow old and die.
It was much later when these Prasthayi beings engineered their own version of intelligent species that they introduce the concept of mortality, i.e. the being of that species will be born, they will grow old and then die. They called this species Yuv.
In the early times of this Yuv species, the ability of ageing was not set in stone. So every individual was aging at their own rate. Some went through the full cycle (birth to death) in six years, some sixty and some six hundred. This was partially a conscious choice and partially based to the rate of brain development. So if a being learned more things quicker they would age quicker. If a being refrained from learning anything they would stay of that age for longer time. Boon or curse this was the way of life pre-dharma war.
When this deadly millennium long war happened, things changed. Rate of ageing stabilized and the average life span of a Yuvian beings was set to hundred years. This stayed consistent throughout the planet for many millennium. But with advent of science and technology the average life span went on reducing until 21st century it became sixty.
Then came the turning point. The same science that was shortening the life span now unlocked the immortality gene. People started living way longer and healthier with a simple non-invasive medical procedure. But it came with a cost, the same deal that was put on the table for the Prasthayi.
Immortality or Reproduction, you can do only one and people have started choosing. What would you choose? Do you want to live a prolonged life alone? or die a happy person surrounded by your family?
Whatever you do, choice is yours.
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written by Sameer Raote
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