The speed of change in a species (evolution) depends on a number of things, including the rate of mutation and the degree of selective pressure. Mutations arise through errors in DNA replication and damage to DNA through chemicals and radiation. The rate at which these errors occur may be low and stable (through chance mistakes) or may be higher or lower depending on the amount of radiation and mutagenic chemicals in the environment. These mutations are usually neither harmless nor beneficial and have no effect on the survival of the individual (or breeding success). Other mutations do effect survival, but how they affect survival can also depend on the enviroment. Some mutations are immediately fatal, of course, such as one that would cause us to be born without a brain. However, let's say a mutation causes us to grow thick hair all over our bodies rather than just on our heads. If one of us had such a mutation, it might decrease our chances of finding a mate and passing on the gene (unless a prospective mate likes dogs). On the other hand, if an ice age came along, such a mutation would quickly become beneficial by allowing us to survive the cold whether. The would survive to mate, and the gene would be passed on.
So, Remans might evolve from Romulans quickly (100 generations) if selective pressures are strong and if mutations arise at a high rate (through increased environmental radiation or artificial induction).
Registered: Oct 1999
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posted
Well, let's quickly dissuade ourselves of the notion that anyone who knows anything about biology has put much thought into anything Trek.
Anyway, I've been avoiding spoilers, and don't know much more about the film than what's in the trailer (what little I've ever been able to see of it.) However, I have a question. Are we to understand that Remus is tidally locked with, uh, the Romulan star?
Registered: Mar 1999
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capped
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posted
something else has to be going on with the Romulan genome since they developed huge foreheads and rounder ears somewhere between 'The Undiscovered Country' and 'The Neutral Zone', a scant 69 years later... unless the Reman mutation took the few hundred generations we suppose, and then was additionally introduced into the general Romulan genome to the point where the smooth-headed Romulans became the minority over that span.
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Registered: Sep 2001
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Someone could probably come up with a theory involving genetic warfare and the similar Klingon change between TOS and the movies.
I'm pretty sure that no one will ever come up with an adequate "natural" explanation for that rate of change in a couple centuries.
Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
I don't think though that the foreheads on the Romulans are suppossed to be a change. I think it's one of those "The were always there, but we couldn't see it" type things. (The Klingon forehead lended itself to a similar explanation too, expecially with Kathless and Kor & co. "Trials and Tribble-ations" mucked that up though.)
-------------------- Yes, you're despicable, and... and picable... and... and you're definitely, definitely despicable. How a person can get so despicable in one lifetime is beyond me. It isn't as though I haven't met a lot of people. Goodness knows it isn't that. It isn't just that... it isn't... it's... it's despicable.
Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
I realize this == business may cut the mustard with Java-freaks, but for those of us just a little bit more classical in our outlooks it just doesn't hold up. Vulcans are not "identical in every way" to Romulans. For one thing, they live on Vulcan, a place where there is nary a Romulan to be found.
Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
I was going to remove my comment, because now I'm all confused vis a vis mathematical notation vs. programming languages. And yet, how could I ruin the conversational flow in such a gross manner?
Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
I did wonder why no-one noticed Spock on Romulas. If all Romulans have forehead ridges, why didn't they see that he was a Vulcan?
-------------------- Yes, you're despicable, and... and picable... and... and you're definitely, definitely despicable. How a person can get so despicable in one lifetime is beyond me. It isn't as though I haven't met a lot of people. Goodness knows it isn't that. It isn't just that... it isn't... it's... it's despicable.
Registered: Mar 1999
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quote:Originally posted by PsyLiam: I did wonder why no-one noticed Spock on Romulas. If all Romulans have forehead ridges, why didn't they see that he was a Vulcan?
I submit that ridged Vulcans are a minority and non-ridged Romulans are likewise a minority... but both exist, and neither would arouse suspicion.
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