User:Crevaner
Science of Hero Powers
Fundamentally, all Hero powers can be regarded as simply different manifestations of the same base ability. That ability is the possession and unconscious manipulation of a biology-altering electromagnetic field. The origin of the Heroes lies in the brain. The four gene complex responsible for the Heroes causes them to have certain anatomical characteristics in their brains that baseline humans don't have. Heroes have several new neurotransmitters, unique neural wiring, and wholly new organelles in the neurons. This special neuroanatomy causes the brain to create a special electromagnetic field that exist as a semi-sentient energy-based lifeform. The lifeform takes form as an inconspicuous energy pattern linked to the natural EM field of a Hero's body. Since the EM field lifeform permiates a Hero's entire body, it innately possesses an intrinsic understanding of all aspects of physiology (including DNA) to a degree that is beyond human comprehension. The semi-sentience of the EM field is tied into a Hero's own consciousness and as a result, its actions are based on the Hero's subconscious will. Because of this connection, at some point in a Hero's life (anywhere from pre-pubescence to early mid-age), the EM field takes signals from the Hero's psyche, as well as their individual genetic structure, stress hormones, and immune system messengers to alter the Hero's physiology in way that will imbue them with a superhuman ability that might be useful to that particular Hero in their daily life or at least at the precise time of their manifestation. This means that every Hero's ability is actually connected to their personality and environment (natural or social).
Genetics of Heroes
The four gene complex responsible for Hero abilities specifically involves two genes, each of which has two forms, or alleles. To be a Hero, a person must have at least one of each of the dominant alleles. A non-Hero may either have two recessive "a" alleles, or two recessive "b" alleles.
- A - Hero gene 1 (dominant)
- a - non-Hero (recessive)
- B - Hero gene 2 (dominant)
- b - non-Hero (recessive)
These combinations will make a Hero:
- AABB
- AaBB
- AABb
- AaBb
These combinations will make a non-Hero:
- AAbb
- Aabb
- aaBB
- aaBb
- aabb
Heroes born from two non-Heroes are produced if one parent has two "a" alleles and at least one "B" allele, while the other parent has two "b" alleles and at least one "A" allele. Because of this, they could produce Hero offspring.
AAbb x aaBB, for example, would produce all Hero offspring of the type AaBb.
Aabb x aaBb would produce Hero offspring in the proportion of one in four:
- AaBb = Hero
- Aabb = non-Hero
- aaBb = non-Hero
- aabb = non-Hero
Aabb x aaBB or AAbb x aabB would have a one in two chance of having Hero offspring.
Two Hero parents can even have non-Hero children. These non-Heroes are produced by two Hero parents who have at least one recessive allele of the same gene.
AaBB x AaBB could produce:
- AABB (1/4 chance) = Hero
- AaBB (1/2 chance) = Hero
- aaBB ( 1/4 chance) = non-Hero
AABb x AABb could produce:
- AABB (1/4) = Hero
- AABb (1/2) = Hero
- AAbb (1/4) = non-Hero
However, the cross AABb x AaBB would produce all Hero offspring, since only one recessive allele of each gene could be inherited by any offspring:
- AABB (1/4) = Hero
- AABb (1/4) = Hero
- AaBB (1/4) = Hero
- AaBb (1/4) = Hero
The cross likely to produce the most non-Heroes from two Hero parents is, obviously, AaBb x AaBb, in which the offspring have a seven in sixteen chance of being a non-Hero.
Peter's power
Peter Petrelli is a "Hero" who possesses a bio-electrical "biomimetic aura", which allows him to duplicate Hero special powers. When Peter's biomimetic aura interacts with the EM field lifeform of another Hero, an electronic digital information transfer instantaneously gives Peter's own EM field lifeform an intrinsic understanding of the entire physiological workings of the other Hero's superhuman ability. The EM field lifeform then immediately alters Peter's physiology to possess that ability. This means Peter permanently gains the superhuman ability of a Hero that is in his immediate vicinity.
Leech's power
Leech
Jimmy Leech is a promicin-positive who possesses a bio-electrical aura that cause him to both neutralize and duplicate promicin-induced abilities. When Leech's bio-aura interacts with the EM field lifeform of another promicin-positive, an electronic digital information signal compels the other promicin-positive's EM field lifeform to immediately modify the promicin-positive's physiology to as it was without the superhuman ability. Therefore, taking away the promicin-positive's ability. Simultaneously to this, through the bio-aura, an information transfer instantaneously gives Leech's own EM field lifeform a fundamental understanding of the physical base of the other promicin-positive's superhuman ability. The EM field lifeform immediately modifies Leech's physiology to possess that ability. Therefore, giving him the promicin-positive's ability.
Once the other promicin-positive leaves the radius of Leech's bio-aura, the promicin-positive's EM field lifeform will instinctively remodify his or her physiology and therefore restore their superhuman ability while Leech's EM lifeform remodifies his physiology to take away the ability.
Leech may condense the bio-aura within inches of his body with great concentration. The furthest he is able to project this field is up to a radius of 20 feet.