#biology

[queerquests]

Around half the cells in my body do not, in fact, belong to my body—they are bacteria and other microscopic organisms colonizing me.

—John Green, Everything Is Tuberculosis

[drsock24]

Reproductive Anatomy of the Irkens (headcanon)

The following contains detailed illustrations with some censorship. Do not proceed if you are sensitive to such content. Uncensored versions are available in my Telegram channel.

Please also be advised that this text may be interpreted as a critique of the canon; however, it represents merely my personal speculation on how their biology might be rationalized in a more realistic framework. I am aware and acknowledge that for the original work, none of these ideas would have been necessary, and any biological plot inconsistencies were deliberately introduced for comedic effect.

I am, to some extent, preoccupied with biology, and I have always been interested in the functioning of organisms, as well as in how hypothetical organisms might operate. We know that Irkens reproduce through laboratory means, and from what I have gathered, they officially lack reproductive organs. From a biological standpoint, this is inconsistent, as they still exhibit secondary sexual characteristics. If the reproductive organs had regressed over generations of laboratory propagation, the secondary sexual characteristics should have disappeared as well. Furthermore, if the reduction of genitalia implies the concurrent loss of sexual behavior and paired or group familial bonds, then the Irkens as a species would lose the natural motivators for developing their civilization and conquering new territories. The biological imperative of any species is the propagation of its genes and the increase of its population. Sex and familial bonds function as social adhesives, motivating individuals to protect their kin and strive for collective prosperity. If Irkens lack romantic or pair-bonding relationships, any aspiration they hold as a species becomes essentially purposeless; they would lack a natural motivator, and each representative of the species ought to be isolated, with no inherent concern for the ambitions of the Empire. To address this inconsistency, I propose the following hypothesis: sexual activity and romantic bonds have been preserved in this species despite laboratory-based reproduction, but they serve exclusively as a social adhesive. By engaging in copulation, Irkens reinforce their attachment to conspecifics and preserve the nesting instinct (i.e., the establishment of habitation and the exploration of new territories).

Now, regarding the configuration of their reproductive system. Observing the original Irken design, their physique consistently exhibits a triangular or trapezoidal silhouette, broadening toward the pelvis. A wide pelvis is typically an adaptation for parturition, leading to the inference that both males and females could potentially gestate and give birth. They are not mammals; therefore, mammary glands for lactation are unnecessary for either sex. How, then, do the two sexes differ? By gametic composition and hormonal profiles. The male body exhibits a predominantly testosterone-driven phenotype, which promotes the development of denser musculature and osseous tissue, thicker integument, and increased vocal fold thickness. The female body, characterized by an estrogen-dominated phenotype, is more gracile, with softer tissues, a slightly narrower thoracic cage, and thinner skin. This dimorphism also manifests in the antennae: male antennae are more rigid, thicker, and shorter; female antennae, conversely, are thinner, more pliable, and lighter, enabling them to grow longer and naturally coil at the distal ends. There is no sex-dependent variation in bone length, and neither sex is subject to such restrictions.

Turning now to the genital anatomy. Both males and females possess a vagina, a uterus, and a penis. In the male, the penis is located more anteriorly, with the vaginal orifice positioned beneath it. In the female, the penis is situated inferior to the vaginal orifice. The penis in both sexes is flexible, with the ability to contort, undulate, and pulse rhythmically. During copulation, intromission is bilateral—both individuals simultaneously introduce their genitalia into the other's vaginal canal, exchanging gametes reciprocally: the female transmits an oocyte to the male, while the male delivers spermatozoa to the female. Fertilization occurs internally; not all gametes are expelled during ejaculation—a portion remains within the body, deposited in the ovaries in females and in the prostate in males. Both the ovaries and the prostate possess ducts connecting to both the penis and the uterus, through which the gametes meet within the uteri, thereby completing fertilization.

The female penis and vagina are longer than their male counterparts. The length of the penis compensates for the angle of intromission, which, in females due to the inferior positioning of the phallus, is steeper than in males. The vagina is also deeper, because the angle of intromission for the male is nearly perpendicular, allowing for complete penetration. In the flaccid state, the phallus retracts into a penile pouch situated within the body, located posterior to the vaginal wall. The distal tip of the phallus remains externally covered by the prepuce of the pouch, and together they occlude the vaginal introitus. The female urethra is not associated with the penis and is located in the same position as in human females—anterior to the anterior vaginal wall.

The male penis and vagina are shorter than those of the female, for the same reasons concerning the angle of intromission. The testes are distributed around the vulva, in the region corresponding to the labia majora in human females. They are not pendulous but closely apposed to the body wall. The overlying integument in this region is thin to facilitate a lower intratesticular temperature relative to the rest of the organism. Immediately posterior to the testes lies the phallus. In the flaccid state, it also retracts into a penile pouch; however, unlike in the female, this pouch is located anterior to the vaginal wall. Upon retraction, the penile shaft occludes the vaginal canal, while the glans remains externally covered. The male urethra passes through the penile shaft, as in human males.

That concludes my account. I hope you found it of interest. Feel free to do with this information as you will :р . I remind you that uncensored illustrations are available in my Telegram channel.

[eigengrau009]

I just started reading the Skybound comics and it's just reminding me of how fascinating cybertronians are as a species.

They don't sexually reproduce like earth animals do which means pretty much no downtime between activities or super long stretches of time spent raising infants since they're precocial (able to move around and take care of themselves relatively well after "birth".) This is dangerous when you take the war into account since they can replenish their numbers very quickly with no issue or wait aside from energon depletion.

The only time that's truly dangerous for juveniles is when they're blank, nonresponsive protoforms but from what I can tell I'm not really sure if they're even alive in that form. Like if they're an equivalent to a 2-3 month old fetus or something. Seems like it to me..?

Their food source can be made from seemingly any kind of energy they find and nearly everything in their society runs on that same energy (including their planet who is also the corpse of their major God essentially). It's useful because they have so many ways to get it but also extremely dangerous since if it runs out EVERYTHING falls apart immediately.

They come in so many sizes and colors. I like to imagine they mainly recognize each other by their head shapes, colors and crests rather than their actual faces due to how small they are in comparison to their bodies.

They're very hardy in most continuities and it usually takes a cybertronian to kill a cybertronian. Of course there are outliers and ones that have been killed by humans before but.. how much is that just over exaggerating what humans are really capable of in a scenario like this? (No humans from thousands of years ago killing a mammoth is not comparable to a giant robot alien who is way bigger and has uncanny features that would cause most humans to freeze or flee upon seeing them)

They're so human.. but also not.. and some are even unsettled by humans due to how squishy and weird we look in comparison. (As they should be because I'd feel creeped out too seeing a creature that is like me but armorless and tiny and weird). Despite most of them having very human faces there are some who have more unique features. I wonder how some of those come about.. like are they born with them or do they just wear new glasses sometimes or..?

They're easily adaptable to most environments unless it's very cold otherwise they tend to freeze over (in some continuities not sure about others).

They don't have the usual biological family structure (with the closest equivalent I can think of being a spark splitting and making 2 different beings instead of 1) so they kinda just group up and adopt each other. They're kinda just farted out of the ground whenever or sometimes constructed by other cybertronians I think.

I dunno I just wish there was more cybertronian ecology/biology stuff.

[missmitokondria]

[ripknz]

A sketch a while back for a biological illustration assignment 🐺🦴

[peempom]

Fun fact #5: Brains!

The brain can travel up to 268 miles per hour via neuron stimulation, and 60% of the brain is made out of fat in order to keep it functioning.

There are actually four different types of neurons. One of these is known as the sensory neuron, which transport electric signals from different parts of the body to its central nervous system.

For day to day activity, the brain generates 12-25 Watts of power.

Due to 'brain plasticity' the measure of a persons intelligence can change throughout their life time, as brain cells are able to form through 'neurogenesis'.

Sources:

https://lpsonline.sas.upenn.edu/features/7-fascinating-facts-about-neuroscience-and-brain-how-well-do-you-know-your-brain

https://sdbif.org/72-amazing-human-brain-facts-based-on-the-latest-science/

https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/11-fun-facts-about-your-brain

[shadowmoth]

I bet it feels good as fuck to run at full sprint as an animal shaped like this