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Gallifreyan physiology: Difference between revisions
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Gallifreyan [[blood]] was different from human blood, darker and with a slight orange tinge to it. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Two Doctors (TV story)|The Two Doctors]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Left-Handed Hummingbird (novel)|The Left-Handed Hummingbird]]'', ''[[Vampire Science (novel)|Vampire Science]]'') The differences were readily apparent under a [[microscope]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Spearhead from Space (TV story)|Spearhead from Space]]'', ''[[The Invisible Enemy (TV story)|The Invisible Enemy]]'', ''[[Doctor Who (TV story)|Doctor Who]]'') It was highly adaptive, with regenerative properties. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Art of Destruction (novel)|The Art of Destruction]]'') Gallifreyan blood had [[temporal platelet]]s, allowing for a more "ad-hoc" recovery from injury not serious enough to require [[regeneration]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Bride of Peladon (audio story)|The Bride of Peladon]]'') It didn't have the same A and B types as human blood (i.e., the A and B antigens were not present), but different blood types still existed with [[Romana II]] noting that her blood was not compatible with the [[Fourth Doctor]] when he was badly injured by [[vampire]]s, requiring him to receive a transfusion from his [[Eighth Doctor|future self]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Eight Doctors (novel)|The Eight Doctors]]'') The extra-cellular matrix was incompatible with [[Earth]]-based life and the structure of [[haemoglobin]] was different. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Art of Destruction (novel)|The Art of Destruction]]'', ''[[Placebo Effect (novel)|Placebo Effect]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[The Invisible Enemy (TV story)|The Invisible Enemy]]'') The Tenth Doctor explained to [[Christina de Souza (Keeping up with the Joneses)|Christina]] that fried bread would clog arteries, but he had "tiny things" inside his blood that "sluice[d] it out again." ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Keeping up with the Joneses (short story)|Keeping up with the Joneses]]'') | Gallifreyan [[blood]] was different from human blood, darker and with a slight orange tinge to it. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Two Doctors (TV story)|The Two Doctors]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Left-Handed Hummingbird (novel)|The Left-Handed Hummingbird]]'', ''[[Vampire Science (novel)|Vampire Science]]'') The differences were readily apparent under a [[microscope]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Spearhead from Space (TV story)|Spearhead from Space]]'', ''[[The Invisible Enemy (TV story)|The Invisible Enemy]]'', ''[[Doctor Who (TV story)|Doctor Who]]'') It was highly adaptive, with regenerative properties. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Art of Destruction (novel)|The Art of Destruction]]'') Gallifreyan blood had [[temporal platelet]]s, allowing for a more "ad-hoc" recovery from injury not serious enough to require [[regeneration]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Bride of Peladon (audio story)|The Bride of Peladon]]'') It didn't have the same A and B types as human blood (i.e., the A and B antigens were not present), but different blood types still existed with [[Romana II]] noting that her blood was not compatible with the [[Fourth Doctor]] when he was badly injured by [[vampire]]s, requiring him to receive a transfusion from his [[Eighth Doctor|future self]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Eight Doctors (novel)|The Eight Doctors]]'') The extra-cellular matrix was incompatible with [[Earth]]-based life and the structure of [[haemoglobin]] was different. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Art of Destruction (novel)|The Art of Destruction]]'', ''[[Placebo Effect (novel)|Placebo Effect]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[The Invisible Enemy (TV story)|The Invisible Enemy]]'') The Tenth Doctor explained to [[Christina de Souza (Keeping up with the Joneses)|Christina]] that fried bread would clog arteries, but he had "tiny things" inside his blood that "sluice[d] it out again." ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Keeping up with the Joneses (short story)|Keeping up with the Joneses]]'') | ||
==== Binary vascular system | ==== Binary vascular system naturally born before the time of [[Rassilon]] and [[Pythia]] had two [[heart]]s. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible (novel)|Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible]]'', ''[[Lungbarrow (novel)|Lungbarrow]]'') ==== | ||
[[File:Binary vascular system.jpg|thumb|A scan taken by [[Kate Stewart]] reveals both [[the Doctor]]'s hearts. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Power of Three (TV story)|The Power of Three]]'')]] | [[File:Binary vascular system.jpg|thumb|A scan taken by [[Kate Stewart]] reveals both [[the Doctor]]'s hearts. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Power of Three (TV story)|The Power of Three]]'')]] | ||
Accounts differed as to the vascular systems of Gallifreyans in their first incarnation. Some accounts indicate that Gallifreyans normally had two hearts even in their first body. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Frostfire (audio story)|Frostfire]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[Time and Relative (novel)|Time And Relative]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[The Doctor's Daughter (TV story)|The Doctor's Daughter]]'') Other accounts indicated that Gallifreyans [[Loom]]ed after the [[Pythia's curse]] of sterility originally emerged with a single heart and gained their second only after their first [[regeneration]], ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Man in the Velvet Mask (novel)|The Man in the Velvet Mask]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Time in Office (audio story)|Time in Office]]'') while those of [[Newblood]] houses sprang from the Looms with two hearts from the outset. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Christmas on a Rational Planet (novel)|Christmas on a Rational Planet]]'') | Accounts differed as to the vascular systems of Gallifreyans in their first incarnation. Some accounts indicate that Gallifreyans normally had two hearts even in their first body. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Frostfire (audio story)|Frostfire]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[Time and Relative (novel)|Time And Relative]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[The Doctor's Daughter (TV story)|The Doctor's Daughter]]'') Other accounts indicated that Gallifreyans [[Loom]]ed after the [[Pythia's curse]] of sterility originally emerged with a single heart and gained their second only after their first [[regeneration]], ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Man in the Velvet Mask (novel)|The Man in the Velvet Mask]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Time in Office (audio story)|Time in Office]]'') while those of [[Newblood]] houses sprang from the Looms with two hearts from the outset. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Christmas on a Rational Planet (novel)|Christmas on a Rational Planet]]'') | ||
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[[File:2hearts.jpg|thumb|left|A human doctor indicating the second heart on an [[X-ray]] taken of the [[Third Doctor]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Spearhead from Space (TV story)|Spearhead from Space]]'')]] | [[File:2hearts.jpg|thumb|left|A human doctor indicating the second heart on an [[X-ray]] taken of the [[Third Doctor]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Spearhead from Space (TV story)|Spearhead from Space]]'')]] | ||
Gallifreyans could, with training, gain conscious control over their hearts, enabling them to stop their hearts and feign death, ([[TV]]: ''[[Destiny of the Daleks (TV story)|Destiny of the Daleks]]'') and could slow them down significantly. ([[TV]]: ''[[Terror of the Zygons (TV story)|Terror of the Zygons]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[Wishing Well (novel)|Wishing Well]]'') A dual cardiovascular system being more efficient, Gallifreyans in a healing coma could have a resting pulse rate of as few as ten beats per minute. ([[TV]]: ''[[Spearhead from Space (TV story)|Spearhead from Space]]'') The two heartbeats could be mistaken by [[human]] [[cardiology|cardiologists]] such as Dr [[Grace Holloway]] as "fibrillating badly". ( | Gallifreyans could, with training, gain conscious control over their hearts, enabling them to stop their hearts and feign death, ([[TV]]: ''[[Destiny of the Daleks (TV story)|Destiny of the Daleks]]'') and could slow them down significantly. ([[TV]]: ''[[Terror of the Zygons (TV story)|Terror of the Zygons]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[Wishing Well (novel)|Wishing Well]]'') A dual cardiovascular system being more efficient, Gallifreyans in a healing coma could have a resting pulse rate of as few as ten beats per minute. ([[TV]]: ''[[Spearhead from Space (TV story)|Spearhead from Space]]'') The two heartbeats could be mistaken by [[human]] [[cardiology|cardiologists]] such as Dr [[Grace Holloway]] as "fibrillating badly". (TV: ''[[Doctor Who (TV story)|Doctor Who]]'') Two pulses could be detected in the wrist. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'', ''[[Time and the Rani (TV story)|Time and the Rani]]'', ''[[The Woman Who Fell to Earth (TV story)|The Woman Who Fell to Earth]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Primeval (audio story)|Primeval]]'') By controlling its heartbeats, a Time Lord could reproduce Gallifreyan morse code ([[TV]]: ''[[Shada (TV story)|Shada]]'') | ||
[[Cyberman (Pete's World)|Cybermen from Pete's World]] could detect the presence of a Gallifreyan [[binary vascular system]], and stated that it was an unknown upgrade that would require further analysis. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Age of Steel (TV story)|The Age of Steel]]'') | [[Cyberman (Pete's World)|Cybermen from Pete's World]] could detect the presence of a Gallifreyan [[binary vascular system]], and stated that it was an unknown upgrade that would require further analysis. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Age of Steel (TV story)|The Age of Steel]]'') | ||
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On the whole, Gallifreyan biochemistry seemed quite similar to [[human]] biochemistry: they could eat anything humans could and could breathe on [[Earth]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Left-Handed Hummingbird (novel)|The Left-Handed Hummingbird]]'') | On the whole, Gallifreyan biochemistry seemed quite similar to [[human]] biochemistry: they could eat anything humans could and could breathe on [[Earth]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Left-Handed Hummingbird (novel)|The Left-Handed Hummingbird]]'') | ||
Gallifreyan biochemistry, like many other aspects of Gallifreyan physiology, was subject to the conscious control of the individual. For example, a Gallifreyan was able to counteract the negative properties of [[psilocybin]] by modifying the chemicals into something harmless, though the techniques were not foolproof and [[drug overdose]]s were still possible. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Left-Handed Hummingbird (novel)|The Left-Handed Hummingbird]]'') Similarly, though Gallifreyans were susceptible to the intoxicating effects of [[alcohol]], they could easily shrug off the effects when they needed to. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Quantum Archangel (novel)|The Quantum Archangel]]'') As with humans, however, excessive consumption could produce a [[hangover]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Slipback (audio story)|Slipback]]'') [[Ginger beer]] would reduce their ability to tolerate alcohol, ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Kingmaker (audio story)|The Kingmaker]]'') although the Sixth Doctor later reflected that his immediate predecessor wasn't a strong drinker while his fourth self, like his current incarnation, enjoyed the chance to get drunk. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Quantum Archangel (novel)|The Quantum Archangel]]'') | Gallifreyan biochemistry, like many other aspects of Gallifreyan physiology, was subject to the conscious control of the individual. For example, a Gallifreyan was able to counteract the negative properties of [[psilocybin]] by modifying the chemicals into something harmless, though the techniques were not foolproof and [[drug overdose]]s were still possible. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Left-Handed Hummingbird (novel)|The Left-Handed Hummingbird]]'') Similarly, though Gallifreyans were susceptible to the intoxicating effects of [[alcohol]], they could easily shrug off the effects when they needed to. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Girl in the Fireplace (TV story)|The Girl in the Fireplace]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Quantum Archangel (novel)|The Quantum Archangel]]'') As with humans, however, excessive consumption could produce a [[hangover]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Slipback (audio story)|Slipback]]'') [[Ginger beer]] would reduce their ability to tolerate alcohol, ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Kingmaker (audio story)|The Kingmaker]]'') although the Sixth Doctor later reflected that his immediate predecessor wasn't a strong drinker while his fourth self, like his current incarnation, enjoyed the chance to get drunk. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Quantum Archangel (novel)|The Quantum Archangel]]'') | ||
Some human medicines seemed to work on Gallifreyans as well as humans. [[Anaesthetic]] gasses of the type commonly administered before [[surgery]], however, did ''not'' work well on Gallifreyans; a much greater quantity of anaesthetic could be administered, and even then it might not work completely. Anaesthetic could, however, almost destroy the process of [[regeneration]], ([[TV]]: ''[[Doctor Who (TV story)|Doctor Who]]'') although there is no clear evidence that the drug alone would cause the Time Lord to regenerate as the Doctor died during a botched attempt to operate on him in the belief that he was experiencing heart trouble. Other sleep-inducing drugs might work on a Gallifreyan, but would take roughly twice as long as with humans, even if the Time Lord in question took double the dosage that the humans had. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Androids of Tara (TV story)|The Androids of Tara]]'') [[Aspirin]] was toxic to Gallifreyans; a single dose could kill one. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Mind of Evil (TV story)|The Mind of Evil]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Left-Handed Hummingbird (novel)|The Left-Handed Hummingbird]]'') It was said to either fatally stop [[platelet aggregation]], ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Condemned (audio story)|The Condemned]]'') cause massive [[allergy|allergic]], [[pulmonary embolism|pulmonary]] and [[cerebral embolism]], ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Burning Heart (novel)|Burning Heart]]'') or interfere with the [[hormone receptor]] intermediaries. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Taking of Planet 5 (novel)|The Taking of Planet 5]]'') [[Death]] could be prevented by entering a deep [[coma]] which was outwardly mistakable for death, ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Burning Heart (novel)|Burning Heart]]'') or by ingesting [[chocolate]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Condemned (audio story)|The Condemned]]'') | Some human medicines seemed to work on Gallifreyans as well as humans. [[Anaesthetic]] gasses of the type commonly administered before [[surgery]], however, did ''not'' work well on Gallifreyans; a much greater quantity of anaesthetic could be administered, and even then it might not work completely. Anaesthetic could, however, almost destroy the process of [[regeneration]], ([[TV]]: ''[[Doctor Who (TV story)|Doctor Who]]'') although there is no clear evidence that the drug alone would cause the Time Lord to regenerate as the Doctor died during a botched attempt to operate on him in the belief that he was experiencing heart trouble. Other sleep-inducing drugs might work on a Gallifreyan, but would take roughly twice as long as with humans, even if the Time Lord in question took double the dosage that the humans had. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Androids of Tara (TV story)|The Androids of Tara]]'') [[Aspirin]] was toxic to Gallifreyans; a single dose could kill one. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Mind of Evil (TV story)|The Mind of Evil]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Left-Handed Hummingbird (novel)|The Left-Handed Hummingbird]]'') It was said to either fatally stop [[platelet aggregation]], ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Condemned (audio story)|The Condemned]]'') cause massive [[allergy|allergic]], [[pulmonary embolism|pulmonary]] and [[cerebral embolism]], ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Burning Heart (novel)|Burning Heart]]'') or interfere with the [[hormone receptor]] intermediaries. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Taking of Planet 5 (novel)|The Taking of Planet 5]]'') [[Death]] could be prevented by entering a deep [[coma]] which was outwardly mistakable for death, ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Burning Heart (novel)|Burning Heart]]'') or by ingesting [[chocolate]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Condemned (audio story)|The Condemned]]'') | ||
