198 réponses à ce sujet

[Zelnik]

These are mostly focused on biology, since that is my feild of study, but some of these make me think the writers really did not even consider checking their sources.

1. Humanity has great genetic diversity.
This is not only false, but grossly false.  Of all of the primapes on the planet, we are the LEAST genetically diverse. We are more closely related to a member of the opposite gender on the other side of the planet, then a chimpanzee is related to it's sibling.  Humanity suffered a massive genetic bottleneck some 50,000 years ago (probably due to Mt. Toba exploding), and the results are extremely clear today. The huge amounts of cancers and genetic disorders found in humanity are the best example of this. 

2. A weak Immune system involves fevers, allergic reactions, etc.
This assumption is actually a bit backwards.  If an organism has a STRONG immune system (or hyperactive immune system), the above examples occur.  A WEAK immune system would have no reaction at all to a foreign pathogen, and the only sign of illness would probably be death, or necrosis.  All of the Quarian examples of "weak immune system" make any medical professional very confused (I know, I am one, and so is my father).  The described reactions show more of a hyperactive allergic response.

3. Eating Dexter compounds is a BAD THING!
Splenda would like a word with you.  Yes, it's true that you can develop a response against it, but allrgies to Dextrose are rare, but its MUCH more common for it to just pass through your system.  I understand the hypersensitivity for the quarians, but Turians would probably just have the runs for a while.

4. Dextro-Amino acids could KILL YOU!!!!
Similar to 3, but any immunologist would tell you that this is extremely unlikely. When protiens hit our gut, they are broken down into their individual amino acids (this is assuming our proteases work on dextro-amino-acids).  amino acids are TERRIBLE antigens, since their molecular weight is so small.  Odds are they would not even be absorbed by the intestinal mucosa. 
IF they were NOT broken down by the proteases, the HCL would denature the protien chains, though it would be more likely that these could yeild an immune response (though this is also unlikely, since they probably won't pass through the intestinal mucosa either.

5. You can walk outside in a vaccum with skin exposed.
This should be pretty damn obvious. If a shield breaks down due to radiation from a hot star, why isn't it breaking down from temperatures around 4 Kelvin? 

6. Aliens look just like us.
Seriously.. must everything in science fiction have four limbs, two eyes, one nose, boobs, and...oooo blue skin..

Modifié par Zelnik, 05 avril 2011 - 03:02 .

[JustinTR]

Oh ffs....

[Silmane]

*hands popcorn to Justin* This is gonna be good, brah.

[AdmiralCheez]

All I got from this thread is that Garrus tastes like sugar.

LET THE INGESTING BEGIN!

[Zelnik]

Hey, it would take them a little research to get it right the first time.


and yes, garrus does taste like sugar.

Modifié par Zelnik, 05 avril 2011 - 03:04 .

[sympathy4saren]

Don't Batarian have four eyes? Lol

I don't know, I think the Hanar are pretty unique.

[Fiery Phoenix]

Pass the popcorn, Justin.

[apotheosic]

Your first 2 points are excellent, and had honestly never occurred to me before. Well done.
The second 2 I had given some small degree of thought, but I don't know enough about the area to congratulate or refute you.
Number 5 is very obvious and almost feels like Bioware insulting our intelligence.
Number 6 is simply a matter of convenience. For the sake of narrative, one must be able to sympathize or at least anthropomorphize with the characters. That would be difficult if your allies were giant millipedes that communicated through gamma radiation emissions. While scientifically unlikely, the use of human-like aliens is entirely understandable and forgivable.

[Zelnik]

Until you realize that they have been done before... jelly fish aliens? Only done by star trek.. dr who... too many authors to count..

The most alien creature they made for this series was the Thorian.

[JustinTR]

I put white cheddar powder on it... its delicious... take some

[Silmane]

Fiery Phoenix wrote...

Pass the popcorn, Justin.

I don't think he's hungry. Lost his appetite after reading OP.

I was wrong.

Edit: Totally ninja'd.

Modifié par Silmane, 05 avril 2011 - 03:07 .

[ExistsAlready]

The most alien aliens are the Geth. The Thorian was just a big turnip that talked.

[Silmane]

ExistsAlready wrote...

The most alien aliens are the Geth. The Thorian was just a big turnip that talked.

The Geth are mostly Cylons, though. 

[JustinTR]

In real life If you saw someone walking around in vacuum with skin exposed eating delicious popcorn, would you still say 'hey you can't do that!' Or are you going to say 'whoa how are you doing that!?'.

[Silmane]

JustinTR wrote...

In real life If you saw someone walking around in vacuum with skin exposed eating delicious popcorn, would you still say 'hey you can't do that!' Or are you going to say 'whoa how are you doing that!?'.

why are you doing that, the popcorn is getting cold

[Zelnik]

thanks apotheosic!
here is some reference material for you
http://www.millipore...ibodiestutorial

Specifically, the section of "good antigen characteristics" as follows

* Areas of structural stability and chemical complexity within the molecule.
* Significant stretches lacking extensive repeating units.
* A minimal molecular weight of 8,000–10,000 Daltons, although haptens with molecular weights as low as 200 Da have been used in the presence of a carrier protein
* The ability to be processed by the immune system.
* Immunogenic regions which are accessible to the antibody-forming mechanism.
* Structural elements that are sufficiently different from the host.
* For peptide antigens, regions containing at least 30% of immunogenic amino acids: K, R, E, D, Q, N.
* For peptide antigens, significant hydrophilic or charged residues.

For those about to leap on the "some as low as 200 daltons" arguement... There is only one amino acid I know of that meets the 200 dalton mark, and that is tryptophan. The rest range between 180 and 70 daltons.

[Fates end]

Zelnik wrote...

Until you realize that they have been done before... jelly fish aliens? Only done by star trek.. dr who... too many authors to count..

The most alien creature they made for this series was the Thorian.

Most things have been done before in some way, shape or form.  So I wouldn't count that as a strike against Bioware.  I don't think it's the originality of the story that counts for a lot, so much as how the story is told.  And the people at Bioware are great storytellers.

Modifié par Fates end, 05 avril 2011 - 03:12 .

[JustinTR]

Its not getting cold... its staying the same temperature... would you say that's impossible, or would you accept it as it is and enjoy the popcorn?

[Zelnik]

JustinTR wrote...

In real life If you saw someone walking around in vacuum with skin exposed eating delicious popcorn, would you still say 'hey you can't do that!' Or are you going to say 'whoa how are you doing that!?'.

I would ask both. In that order.

I also would hope that the laws of physics would suddenly turn their attention to the person, and ask them "what the hell do you think your doing?!"

JustinTR wrote...

Its not getting cold... its staying the same temperature... would you
say that's impossible, or would you accept it as it is and enjoy the
popcorn?

I would no more accept it then i would accept a hand grenade with the pin removed. 

Modifié par Zelnik, 05 avril 2011 - 03:15 .

[Akizora]

Yes, if I wanted stuff to be scientifically accurate I wouldn't even turn on my television even to the Discovery Channel.

[JustinTR]

But obviously if he's doing it, then the statement 'hey you can't do that' is false.

[Silmane]

I like a little cosmic radiation on my popcorn, I'll have some.

[Zelnik]

Akizora wrote...

Yes, if I wanted stuff to be scientifically accurate I wouldn't even turn on my television even to the Discovery Channel.

Well, don't you want to discover angry fat men chopping trees down or building motorcycles?

Or perhaps fishermen! CRAB Fishermen! shouting at eachother too!

[Zelnik]

JustinTR wrote...

But obviously if he's doing it, then the statement 'hey you can't do that' is false.

That is assuming he is there at all, I may be hallucinating due to the radioactive popcorn i am eating.

[Fiery Phoenix]

Just one serious note before I'm out of here: Mass Effect is one of the few sci-fi series that actually tries to stay within limits when it comes to scientific accuracy. This is especially true for ME1; while it wasn't perfect, it was pretty good in that regard. Most sci-fi series don't even care about that anymore, although admittedly ME2 seemed to border on that, but it's still better than lots, in my opinion.