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O - Let the World Change Again
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What if humankind had evolved with three genders instead of two?
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Does it explain why a species would evolve to require three sexes? It doesn't seem plausible to me.
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Also Asimov had some alien species with more than two genders, I think... but what about humans?
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oh, here's another science fiction novel with 3 genders that I just remembered: Banks' The Player of Games
There is another thread somewhere on GR about intersex but they are not the case in We Three. In a three-genders system, there are actually SIX possible intersex combinations! Themain idea here is to start directly with three native genders, biologically-speaking!
It seems like it would defeat the goal of reproduction by making it more complicated. I am interested to know why a species would evolve that way. Intersex doesn't count in that respect.
Indeed it would much more complicated. And fascinating, by the way! :D I was thrilled by the thought of all the possible issues that could arise in a couple as soon as they need to confront with each other when dating the third one! eeehhe hehe!! :D
My point is that evolution is going to choose the simplest method for the organism, so what's the rationale for three genders developing?
Your point is un-questionable. The rationale of the novel is to explore how it would have been if three was the very starting point of evolution itself.(I know there is no rationale in preferring a three genders system instead of two; but for the sake of storytelling we could think there is)
We also have to realize that alien life could've evolved with anyway. Judging it by the prism of human experience is limiting.
Hmmm...I always thought the human race has three sexes: male, female and a rare condition called Hemaphrdite?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermaph...
You're close to what the book is about. Hermaphrodites are somewhat in between two sexes. Could you imagine how it would have been if the starting point had been THREE?
That's not a separate gender, though; it's a blend of the two and it's not normal anyway.
Joseph wrote: "You're close to what the book is about. Hermaphrodites are somewhat in between two sexes. Could you imagine how it would have been if the starting point had been THREE?"I personally would not know :)
However, I remember reading about them long ago. They mostly enjoyed it, until some get or causing a pregnancy and end up having the full sex change operations after knowing what sex they have become.
Scott wrote: "That's not a separate gender, though; it's a blend of the two and it's not normal anyway."Not into Darwin I take it, the way god created us belief?
I will also add, a blend of two can also be called a third sex.
Mickey wrote: "Not into Darwin I take it, the way god created us belief?"What?
"I will also add, a blend of two can also be called a third sex. "
What function does it serve?
Scott wrote: "Mickey wrote: "Not into Darwin I take it, the way god created us belief?"What?
"I will also add, a blend of two can also be called a third sex. "
What function does it serve?"
Enjoyment?
Scott wrote: "What's its biological function?"Other than enjoyment :)
Hemaphrdites can procreate. However, there are creatures that are Hemaphrdite other than the human race and they still thrive.
Read this months theme "Beggars and Choosers" by Nancy Kress, the greater the spread in the DNA the greater for the species to survive. Take the Cheetah for example is on its way to extinction because it's DNA is almost identical to each other and has a hard time procreating.
The more disperse the human DNA the greater the odds for the human race to survive.
This is a little O/T, but I always wondered what would've happened if humans had to have a mating season like other mammals.
Kirsten wrote: "This is a little O/T, but I always wondered what would've happened if humans had to have a mating season like other mammals."I think they already have two seasons. During the winter people are bored and snowed in and nine months later during the fall kids are born. Also June weddings brings march madness :)
I match your O/T and I raise.
I always start to feel a bit peckish in the spring.
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Apparently my parents appreciate 'Christmas gifts'
Is a third (or fourth or fifth) sex REQUIRED to have a biological function? Is mating simply breeding? I don't think so!
for my answer I say there are about a hundred different genders! A whole spectrum of the if you will.
I knew a guy once who considered himself a lesbian in a man's body, and wanted a sex change. For the longest time I didn't think this made sense...I guess I had to absorb it, but once I did it seemed like the possibilities were infinite....
From a wikipedia on the "third sex" page:"Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five identifies seven human sexes (not genders) in the fourth dimension required for reproduction including gay men, women over 65, and infants who died before their first birthday. The Tralfamadorian race has five sexes."
Basically his idea in that was we have two genders, but actually need the 7 "sexes" in the fourth dimension to produce children...and we're unaware of them.
Kirsten wrote: "This is a little O/T, but I always wondered what would've happened if humans had to have a mating season like other mammals."We do. And it's called college.
Indeed human race is much more complicated than we normally think of.
Scott wrote: "Does it explain why a species would evolve to require three sexes? It doesn't seem plausible to me."While mammals have only two sexes, this isn’t because it is the ‘simplest’ or ‘best’ configuration. Many species have more than two (fungi have 36,000, all of which can mate with each other) and sex is possible without gender as is reproduction. In biological terms, sex is the exchange of genetic material while reproduction is the creation of an offspring. Many animals have sexual reproduction but they can certainly be separate. By that I don’t mean sex for fun, I mean the exchange of genes without the creation of a new organism.
Octavia Butler, probably. had the best example of three sexes in an alien species and described very well how it would work and why.
Elizabeth wrote: "Scott wrote: "Does it explain why a species would evolve to require three sexes? It doesn't seem plausible to me."While mammals have only two sexes, this isn’t because it is the ‘simplest’ or ‘best' configuration..."
Certainly true. Aseuxal reproduction is simpler. Some species can do that plus mate with others to improve the genetic diversity.
In fact if bio-diversity is really important, then having more than two individuals involved would be advantageous.
Micah wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Scott wrote: "Does it explain why a species would evolve to require three sexes? It doesn't seem plausible to me."While mammals have only two sexes, this isn’t because it is th..."
Indeed. However, I think that most emphasis is being given to the biological aspects of this three sexes system (undoubtedly legit) and forgetting the much more complex issues regarding social interactions and conventions, the main one being the first two partners arguing about the choice of the third partner.
O - Let the World Change AgainHello again! :)For all of you who are interested, the novel will be free for download on Sunday, 1st and Sunday 8th! Save the date and be sure to get your copy here: http://bit.ly/wtnovel
A review after you have read it would be much appreciated! ^^
ave a nice weekend and reading time!
JNT
CJ Cherryh's Chanur series has a species (Sthto?) with three sexes, and they morph between them as they age. All 3 are required for procreation, but the details are left to the imagination.
Science Fiction Aficionados
Books mentioned in this topic
O - Let the World Change Again (other topics)The Player of Games (other topics)
Lilith's Brood (other topics)
A mixture of thriller, romance and fantasy, in this first novel we will come to know how the world would have been if humankind had evolved in such a drastically different way.
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What happened in Dr. Lawrence's life that brought hom to hor discovery? Why are there people who still hate hom? Will they find whom is after hom?