TheGraveKnight
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Post by TheGraveKnight on Apr 28, 2016 0:18:30 GMT
Would it be possible to create a creature with multiple heads (and by extension, multiple skulls, brains, necks etc.) I.E, something like a hydra?
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The_Wayward_Admiral
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Post by The_Wayward_Admiral on Apr 28, 2016 1:43:31 GMT
I don't see why it wouldn't be. As I recall it the spine is supposed to be able to split, so you could just split it near the head. The multiple brains would be energy intensive, but if you could support I imagine this could be done
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TheGraveKnight
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Post by TheGraveKnight on Apr 28, 2016 2:05:40 GMT
I think there could be some sort of way to make a split nervous system, maybe creating both of the brains and setting them both the main nervous system and as a result requiring more sustenance to support it. (Keep in mind I`m just some gamer nerd who found this project to be an awesome idea, I don`t know alot about major science terms. Sorry )
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Post by Atrox on Apr 28, 2016 2:11:36 GMT
A creature similar to Hygreigon could work. The two heads on eaither side don't have brains, but can still bite and eat and cause havoc
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TheGraveKnight
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Post by TheGraveKnight on Apr 28, 2016 2:26:58 GMT
The only other place I imagine the brain could go then is somewhere in the body (assuming a creature requires a brain to begin with), but that sounds kinda tricky to program. I still think you guys could find a way
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Post by tjwhale on Apr 28, 2016 8:39:08 GMT
I don't think multiple heads is any more difficult than multiple limbs.
Also the reason the brain is in the head is because it wants to be close to the main sensing organs (eyes, nose, ears, mouth) to respond quickly. It would make much more sense to have it enclosed in bone somewhere in your rib cage. It would be a bit slower but you'd be much tougher.
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Post by elementalred on Apr 28, 2016 16:42:19 GMT
But how such a creature could survive long enough to pass this trait to its descendants?
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Post by Atrox on Apr 28, 2016 17:00:19 GMT
But how such a creature could survive long enough to pass this trait to its descendants? Why wouldn't it be able to survive?
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Post by elementalred on Apr 28, 2016 18:58:40 GMT
Well according to Wikipedia, there is very few chances that polycephalic animals could survive in the wild. If the organs are not perfectly separated, it may cause malfunctioning leading to death, and in the case were they are perfectly separated, the heads would share control of organs and limbs but the connections between the brains and the body may varie, with the brains conflicting with each other and the heads even trying to eat each other.
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Post by Atrox on Apr 28, 2016 19:06:13 GMT
Well according to Wikipedia, there is very few chances that polycephalic animals could survive in the wild. If the organs are not perfectly separated, it may cause malfunctioning leading to death, and in the case were they are perfectly separated, the heads would share control of organs and limbs but the connections between the brains and the body may varie, with the brains conflicting with each other and the heads even trying to eat each other. One could argue that none of these animals have the instincts to exist with more than one head which is why all these problems exist. For an organism that evolved more than one head, it'd be perfectly adapted to its own existence.
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Post by tjwhale on Apr 28, 2016 20:42:36 GMT
There's these two women who have two heads on one body (they have two spines fused to one pelvis). They are actually surprisingly coordinated and able.
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Post by Nornjen on Apr 28, 2016 20:53:12 GMT
Well according to Wikipedia, there is very few chances that polycephalic animals could survive in the wild. If the organs are not perfectly separated, it may cause malfunctioning leading to death, and in the case were they are perfectly separated, the heads would share control of organs and limbs but the connections between the brains and the body may varie, with the brains conflicting with each other and the heads even trying to eat each other. Why do you compare a the survivability of an organism which naturally has one head, with a mutation that gets it two heads. With a alien organism which has two heads by default? Of course the mutants (first case) are worse adapted to their surrounding.
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Post by elementalred on May 1, 2016 20:51:38 GMT
Well what would be the benefit of having two or more heads? How would an entire species evolve that trait for several generations? Why would it work on an alien world if it doesn't work on ours?
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Post by Nornjen on May 1, 2016 21:50:34 GMT
Well what would be the benefit of having two or more heads? How would an entire species evolve that trait for several generations? Why would it work on an alien world if it doesn't work on ours? What you quoted from Wiki is a critical mutation of a one-headed creatures so it gets 2 heads. Its not the natural way the creatures should look like and of course this causes troubles. If the organs are not perfectly seperated the creatures dies in short time. And if it survives the two heads have coordination issues. (Like you quoted) But if a creatures evolved with more than one head (for what reason whatsoever) they wouldnt have this kind of problems. The seperation of the heads should be no problem because the creatures grows like its supposed to be and there are no coordination issues because its meant that way (Like your two cerebral hemispheres (brain half) are also working together). You would have troubles walking with six legs. A bug would not because it evolved this way. Hope i could make my point clear. My english is not the best.^^ Reason for two heads... hm... maybe a creature with very long/flexible limbs. So every limb has its own brain. A bit like the octopus on earth. I think its tentacles are also working independently if there is no big command of the brain. Like fumble for food and drag it to the mouth.
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Post by Atrox on May 1, 2016 22:20:36 GMT
Well what would be the benefit of having two or more heads? How would an entire species evolve that trait for several generations? Why would it work on an alien world if it doesn't work on ours? What you quoted from Wiki is a critical mutation of a one-headed creatures so it gets 2 heads. Its not the natural way the creatures should look like and of course this causes troubles. If the organs are not perfectly seperated the creatures dies in short time. And if it survives the two heads have coordination issues. (Like you quoted) But if a creatures evolved with more than one head (for what reason whatsoever) they wouldnt have this kind of problems. The seperation of the heads should be no problem because the creatures grows like its supposed to be and there are no coordination issues because its meant that way (Like your two cerebral hemispheres (brain half) are also working together). You would have troubles walking with six legs. A bug would not because it evolved this way. Hope i could make my point clear. My english is not the best.^^ Reason for two heads... hm... maybe a creature with very long/flexible limbs. So every limb has its own brain. A bit like the octopus on earth. I think its tentacles are also working independently if there is no big command of the brain. Like fumble for food and drag it to the mouth. Heck, you explained it way better than I did. I said something about instincts ahaha
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TheGraveKnight
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Post by TheGraveKnight on May 2, 2016 1:31:33 GMT
Wow, I didn`t think the discussion would get this deep.
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Post by Aquos on May 2, 2016 14:57:56 GMT
Wow, I didn`t think the discussion would get this deep. that happens more often than you'd think
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The Uteen
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Post by The Uteen on May 5, 2016 19:07:19 GMT
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TheGraveKnight
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Post by TheGraveKnight on May 6, 2016 8:19:35 GMT
Just finished reading this. Gotta say, its a good read for anyone interested in alien life (and the potential for variety in alien life). I might even create an organism that looks like these things depending on whether multi-heads get in.
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Post by Aquos on May 6, 2016 8:23:22 GMT
i was actually about the mention something simelar : what if the multiple headed creature's brains functions like that of insects ? insects technicly have multiple brains so what if our multi-headed creature has two 'brains' in it's heads for processing sense's but has one brain to think somwhere save inside it's body ? and perhaps some other 'brains' to control motion and stuff NOTE: i could be completly wrong about the possiblitly of this derp
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