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[Knave]

I like a lot of these, but I don't think I agree with the thoughts on hollow bones. You're going to fall twice as hard (and fast!) on a high G planet and hollow bones aren't the sturdiest. We're looking at people carrying an extra person's weight just walking about! We should go with a short durable person that is easy to put on extra muscle mass.

If we can improve reflexes as well to account for the faster fall times, that would also improve their survivability.

We should look into why the grass isn't edible. If it's simply an issue of digestion, we should look to improve our creations ability to digest roughage. Possibly by strengthening the appendix and stomach systems. We should look to cows for inspiration. 

[Eotyrannus]

I like a lot of these, but I don't think I agree with the thoughts on hollow bones. You're going to fall twice as hard (and fast!) on a high G planet and hollow bones aren't the sturdiest. We're looking at people carrying an extra person's weight just walking about! We should go with a short durable person that is easy to put on extra muscle mass.

If we can improve reflexes as well to account for the faster fall times, that would also improve their survivability.

We should look into why the grass isn't edible. If it's simply an issue of digestion, we should look to improve our creations ability to digest roughage. Possibly by strengthening the appendix and stomach systems. We should look to cows for inspiration.

Air-filled bird bones are just as strong as marrow-filled mammal bones. We just need to make sure that we get a good structure.

I'm fairly sure that we're going to eat crops instead of wild grasses. However, if we felt we needed to use native crops, then it would be rather simple to give them starchy seeds or tubers, and to get rid of toxins. If we REALLY need to eat the stalks, the most likely problem is cellulose. Getting some gut bacteria for our humans would be the best option.

[Scelly9]

So, accept the job?

[Eotyrannus]

YUSH. I'm part of a Speculative Evolution forum, so I know a fair bit about adapting stuff to an environment.

[Scelly9]

You accept the job, and they send you a ticket for a flight leaving in a few hours. You grab your few belongings, and head to the shipyard. The flight is 20 hours, so you spend about half the time jotting down ideas for adapting humans to the enviornment. When you get to your destination, they have you put on a temperature regulated pressure suit before the shuttle heads down to the colony. As you step off the shuttle, you can smell, or rather not smell, the perfectly clean filtered air of the city. It is a large dome, blacked out to stop the heat, and with all light provided by artificial street lights. You take off the suit, and walk through the streets to your laboratory. A few people notice you, looking with interest at the newcomer with the luggage. You reach your living quarters first, and drop off you clothes and box of books. Your lab is only a block away, and when you get there you are greeted by a tall, thin man in a labcoat. "Hello, Simon. Thank you for joining our colony. The building is shared by several other projects, but yours will be in it's own lab, so you'll be able to work in peace. Your three assistants are Maria, Jorner, and Gareth. They're pretty good, and should be helpful. You have the basic gear for a lab of this quality, as well as three forced growth tanks and a normal growth tank. Any questions?"

[Funk]

when we i start? and can i run a side project ?

[GreatWyrmGold]

The temperature is 25% higher than normal, water is extremely scarce, grasses are relatively abundant, although they are not edible for humans. The air is only half the oxygen content that it needs to be for humans. Gravity is 2.11G and air pressure is 75% of what humans require

Ah, here we go! Right up my alley!

Mine as well.

Temperature... I would replace the hair on the head with feathers, possibly silver. A thick coat of feathers is much better at losing/gaining heat than a similar fur coat, so it'd stop overheating of the head. Long fingers could also help increase the surface area, as fanning with a larger hand would also help with the hand losing heat.

For the head, why not just go bald?
Overall...maybe go ectotherm?

Water... Uric acid instead of urea. The genitals would need to be modified to be able to do this, but we'd save a lot of water. Better panting ability and wilful sweating might be of use, too.

I'd advise altering the kidneys...but yeah, uric acid.
Or suggest retaining the life-support systems from the spaceship. Or both.

Oxygen... Larger lungs are an obvious choice. Perhaps increase the amount of mitochondria, so it's got more efficiency. An avian lung would vastly improve breathing.

I'd advise avian lungs and such.

Shorter, stouter limbs are a must. Improving shock-absorbing would help, and hollow bones (which could fit into the avian lung system) would also reduce weight-to-volume.

Air pressure... Well, better breathing helps with that. Other than breathing problems, low air pressure doesn't affect humans much, it's just moving between the states that's the problem.

Indeed. Although, as noted, hollow bones might not be a great idea--thicker ones might be better, then reduce weight in other ways.

We should look into why the grass isn't edible. If it's simply an issue of digestion, we should look to improve our creations ability to digest roughage. Possibly by strengthening the appendix and stomach systems. We should look to cows for inspiration.

Aye, cattle.

I'd also suggest looking at the fat layers, specifically reducing them. That reduces the amount of heat retained and weight. Efficient. It would lead to issues with energy storage, but that shouldn't be much of an issue in modern times...or future ones.

Most of these solutions are either relatively simple or can be taken from an average bird. Should be a relatively easy job, since we have plenty of resources.

I hope so...although I doubt it's that simple.

-----

"I have a few questions. Firstly, how consistent is the temperature? Do you have crops? Why are the native plants indigestible? Is there any reason you can't use the life support systems like spacecraft do to deal with water? Can I do side projects? How will the end results go--replacement or modification? When do I start? Do you mind that my few questions multiplied?"

[My Name is Immaterial]

PTW. Looks really interesting.

[Pandemonious Ivy]

PTW. Looks really interesting.

PTW because ditto.

[Graknorke]

If the atmosphere is so thin then it might just be proximity to the star that's a problem. Which means that it'll get cold at night.

[Cheesecake]

What are the moral ethics of the common populace these days? What kind of genetic modification is crossing the line? How many test subjects do we get? Also, are we all Simon?

[Scelly9]

"I have a few questions. Firstly, how consistent is the temperature? Do you have crops? Why are the native plants indigestible? Is there any reason you can't use the life support systems like spacecraft do to deal with water? Can I do side projects? How will the end results go--replacement or modification? When do I start? Do you mind that my few questions multiplied?"

"The temperature varies between 307 Kelvin to 326 Kelvin. We have some, but they grow indoors. The native plants are mostly dry grasses and the like, they do not contain enough nutrients for us. We could use life support systems, however it is simpler if we do not have to, or if we only need to do so sometimes. A broken part should not be the downfall of a city. You can do side projects if you wish. This is a long term project, so they will either be grown in growth tanks or implanted into donors if the genetics are close enough. From there they should be able to reproduce naturally. Right now, if you wish. I do not, no."

What are the moral ethics of the common populace these days? What kind of genetic modification is crossing the line? How many test subjects do we get? Also, are we all Simon?

"You will have 250 gametes ready for you, and if you require more just notify us.)
((Morals are hazy concerning bioengineering. Society accepts before birth modifications, creating longer fingers for musical talent, more apt towards muscles, ect. But they shy away from detrimental things (extreme pain sensitivity, increased chance of genetic defects ect.)
Crossing the line is genetic warfare, things that cause a drawback for no signifigant gain, ransom traits (Like requiring a certain drug every x days to avoid dying) are severely frowned upon, although still practiced. This is a suggestion game, so yes.))

[GreatWyrmGold]

If the atmosphere is so thin then it might just be proximity to the star that's a problem. Which means that it'll get cold at night.

There's a reason I'm asking. It's all conjecture.
And it's wrong.

-----

307 Kelvin is pretty high; it's about 5-6 degrees Farenheight short of human body temperature. We could probably go ectotherm. Less heat problems, and lowered metabolic requirements. So...let's go with that, shall we?

[Graknorke]

Well, I totally missed those temperature figures.
I only say it being described as "warmer than usual", "hot", etc.

[a1s]

ignore that.