Chapter Text
PROJECT:
MAGICAL SPACE CURE
Preliminary Report & Supporting Documents
Engineer Rocky & Dr. Captain Ryland Grace
Department of Humanity
Human Lab Station #1
PREPARED FOR THE ERIDIAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
MEMORANDUM
DATE: VℓIIVIℓ+λ
TO: Dr. House, Director of the Eridian Department of Health
FROM: Dr. Captain Ryland Grace & “Rocky,” Co-Directors of the Department of Humanity
SUBJECT: Relationship between Carcinophage & Eridian Vascular Homeostasis
Summary
On VℓIIVIℓ+λ, we discovered the presence of cells attached to worker cells in the Eridian Ambient Circulatory System (ACS), herein referred to as “Carcinophage.” This is likely a symbiotic evolution to prevent cancerous growths.
A. Carcinophage evolved as an endosymbiont.
Carcinophage is a star-shaped cell with a tungsten membrane that measures approximately 8 microns in diameter and latches onto Eridian worker cells with hook-like silicate cilia. Carcinophage possesses its own genome independent from that of Eridian worker cells. This strongly indicates that Carcinophage is an independent cellular organism rather than an organelle. This is consistent with an endosymbiotic origin that evolved alongside complex life on Erid.
B. Eridian hemodynamic shear stress and compression create a significant risk of cancer.
Eridian blood vessels utilize rigid sodium silicate for large, conduit vessels. To facilitate joint mobility, these large vessels subdivide into hundreds to thousands of thin, flexible capillaries. This creates numerous bifurcation zones, leading to:
- Repeated high hemodynamic shear stress for worker cells, causing physical friction to strip away parts of the cell and causing worker cells to undergo hyper-accelerated replication to replace damaged structures; and
- Extreme physical compression and mechanical stress, damaging worker cells and triggering emergency cellular signaling to divide rapidly to repair the perceived injury, ultimately leading to contact inhibition failure.
Over time, the occurrence of copying errors, combined with over-division of cells from contact inhibition failure, is statistically likely to lead to rapid, systemic cancer.
C. Carcinophage prevents cancer by molecular regulation and reconstruction.
Carcinophage, when attached to each worker cell:
- Regulates stress-induced mitosis in bifurcation zones through the release of enzymes that respond to chemical stress signals associated with cell replication and division; and
- Reconstructs sheared worker cell membranes by producing membrane-repair proteins encoded by its stable, genetic material.
The Carcinophage’s intervention appears to directly prevent the occurrence of cancerous growths in Eridians.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Relationship between Carcinophage & Eridian Vascular Homeostasis
Received. We must immediately evaluate whether carcinophage may be used to prevent humans from aging.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Re: Relationship between Carcinophage & Eridian Vascular Homeostasis
Agreed. I will begin work at once. Please communicate any findings of the Department of Health to me personally and exclusively.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Relationship between Carcinophage & Eridian Vascular Homeostasis
Acknowledged. Grace-speed.