Ardat-Yakshi Disease (AYD) is caused by a prion, a misfolded protein capable of replicating itself by “flipping” healthy versions of the telepathic bonding safety protein (TBSP). The AYD particle is fundamentally similar to the ones that cause Creutzfeldt - Jakob disease, and Kuru, in humans.
However, unlike the protein affected by Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, TBSP is only necessary for safely merging minds, not for structure. So although it inhibits the sufferer's ability to properly form telepathic bonds, it does not cause mental dystrophy. TBSP is part of an elaborate safety mechanism inside the neurons of an asari’s brain which help to prevent them from completely overpowering their mate’s nervous system and hemorrhaging their brains. However, the ardat-yakshi are immune to these effects. Having the same ability to dominate the minds of their mates, two ardat-yakshi melding minds are said to be able to use their mind control abilities to restrain one another from causing any permanent damage, and receiving euphoric highs in the process.
In humans, most prion diseases have a sporadic form, acquired form, and an inheritable form. Mutations of the prion protein gene (PNRP) are thought to be the primary cause of the inheritable form, the acquired form is caused by contact with contaminated nerve tissue, and the cause of the sporadic form is currently unknown.
Morinth was born with the inheritable form of AYD, as a result of her lineage as a pure blood asari. However, AYD has an acquired form as well. In primitive asari cultures, ardat-yakshi were worshipped as goddesses. However,
upon the deaths of their goddess queens, their chosen successors have been known to ritualistically consume their brains. After consumption of the infected tissue, the AYD particles multiply in the asari’s body, and convert all of her normal telepathic bonding proteins causing them to develop the acquired form of AYD.
That is where this gets interesting, it turns out that human and asari biology are similar enough for humans to become infected with the acquired form of AYD. Although a human can never truly become an ardat-yakshi, it will give them some of their key characteristics. Because they are not asari, humans infected with AYD particles will still not be able to form telepathic bonds with non-asari, and thus could still safely mate with non-asari. However, if an asari chooses to form a bond with an infected human, all other characteristics will still apply. The infected human will seize control of the Asari’s brain across the bond she formed, killing her if she is not an ardat-yakshi herself, but if she is an ardat-yakshi, both will survive. If a human were inoculated with a serum concocted from AYD particles extracted from an ardat-yakshi’s brain tissue, then while this human would forfeit the ability to safely mate with any normal asari, they would gain the ability to mate with ardat-yakshi safely.
Most people probably would not choose to have such a procedure carried out, but if a human were to meet an ardat-yakshi who they cared for, this may be a worthwhile procedure. Thoughts?
Modifié par bobobo878, 02 mars 2012 - 08:29 .
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