Klingon Physiology

[Bry_Sinclair]

We all know that Klingon physiology has a lot of complexity to it, lots of natural redundancy systems that likely contribute to them being hearty warrior, but what of their immune system? Would their bodies wait for diseases and viruses to come to them or might their immune system be more like the kids of Darwin Station and seek out any potentially harmful pathogens before they even had that chance?

Worf did catch the Klingon measles (somehow) as an adult, despite being a childhood ailment, could was this something he'd been carrying since Khitomer or maybe exposed by other Klingons at some point earlier in the second season but due to most of his life spent outside the Empire he didn't have any immunity to.

Thoughts?

 

[Orphalesion]

While I think it's a neat idea, I don't think any of the in-continuity appearances of Klingons we have right now support any theory about Klingon antibodies going on the offensive to hunt and destroy viruses outside of the body. I feel that would have been mentioned or would have interfered with something, possibly including the ability of other species being in the same room as them without having their biology targeted.

As for Worf's measles, I guess he got it either from exposure to Klingons or from exposure to people who had been exposed to other Klingons, but had been symptom-less carriers due to their alien biology.

Of course, I'm also of the opinion that continuity shouldn't stand in the way of telling a good story. So if you want to use it somewhere, I'd say go for it.

 

[MAGolding]

We all know that Klingon physiology has a lot of complexity to it, lots of natural redundancy systems that likely contribute to them being hearty warrior, but what of their immune system? Would their bodies wait for diseases and viruses to come to them or might their immune system be more like the kids of Darwin Station and seek out any potentially harmful pathogens before they even had that chance?

Worf did catch the Klingon measles (somehow) as an adult, despite being a childhood ailment, could was this something he'd been carrying since Khitomer or maybe exposed by other Klingons at some point earlier in the second season but due to most of his life spent outside the Empire he didn't have any immunity to.

Thoughts?

Human meanles is not merely a childhood disease. Adults who don't get it in childhood and have no immuntity to it can be infected. And measles can be a severe disease..

Measles is an endemic disease, meaning it has been continually present in a community and many people develop resistance. In populations not exposed to measles, exposure to the new disease can be devastating. In 1529, a measles outbreak in Cuba killed two-thirds of those indigenous people who had previously survived smallpox. Two years later, measles was responsible for the deaths of half the population of Honduras, and it has ravaged Mexico, Central America, and the Inca civilization.[166]

Between roughly 1855 and 2005, measles is estimated to have killed about 200 million people worldwide.[104]

The 1846 measles outbreak in the Faroe Islands was unusual for being well-studied.[167] Measles had not been seen on the islands for 60 years, so almost no residents had any acquired immunity.[167] Three-quarters of the residents got sick, and more than 100 (1–2%) died from it before the epidemic burned itself out.[167] Peter Ludvig Panum observed the outbreak and determined that measles was spread through direct contact of contagious people with people who had never had measles.[167]

Measles killed 20 percent of Hawaii's population in the 1850s.[168] In 1875, measles killed over 40,000 Fijians, approximately one-third of the population.[169] In the 19th century, the disease killed more than half of the Great Andamanese population.[170][better source needed] Seven to eight million children are thought to have died from measles each year before the vaccine was introduced.[29]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Measles#History

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

Worf had rop'ngor, which Pulaski equated to measles and Worf insists is a childhood disease, though it would seem there are rare cases among adults.

 

[Orphalesion]

Things like measles being called a "childhood disease" doesn't mean adults can't catch it. It means that most people catch it during childhood and are immune to it by adulthood.

 

[fireproof78]

Worf had rop'ngor, which Pulaski equated to measles and Worf insists is a childhood disease, though it would seem there are rare cases among adults.

So chicken pox. Infections happen in adults too.

 

[Qonundrum]

So chicken pox. Infections happen in adults too.

don't forget its cousin, which is in the same family as the chicken pox - herpes (both types, woohoo!) - for which anywhere between 50 to 85% of the adult population has type 1 (and most don't realize it), and roughly 20% have type 2... but there's still a stigma attached. Naturally, the best way is to avoid it or get a vaccine prior to, but a lot of people get it as kids and don't even know it either...

 

[Qonundrum]

Addendum: Mostly because, as the immune system wanes in the latter years of life, the virus can cease being dormant and some (treatable) problems can occur.

There's also a possible link between HSV1 and Alzheimer's, though general heredity and other factors are no less prominent for sure...

Most Klingons don't grow old, per "A Matter of Honor" and other episodes...

 

[mike hill]

From TOS "The Trouble with Tribbles"
MCCOY: (scanning him) Heartbeat is all wrong. His body temperature is. Jim, this man is a Klingon.
Klingon Physiology from a simpler time!

 

[fireproof78]

From TOS "The Trouble with Tribbles"
MCCOY: (scanning him) Heartbeat is all wrong. His body temperature is. Jim, this man is a Klingon.
Klingon Physiology from a simpler time!

Having an 8 chambered heart will create a weird heartbeat.

 

[shapeshifter]

Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-Bump
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-Bump
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-Bump

It's catchy.

 

[Snowdrop82]

I wish the Klingon's biology was explored a lot more within the various shows itself. I know they have multiple redundancies of each organ, but I feel like it would be interesting if there was a 'drawback' to that, perhaps increased risk of infection or something of that nature.

 

[vandevere]

I wish the Klingon's biology was explored a lot more within the various shows itself. I know they have multiple redundancies of each organ, but I feel like it would be interesting if there was a 'drawback' to that, perhaps increased risk of infection or something of that nature.

I don't know why, I'm not any kind of medical specialist, but I get the feeling that Klingons can be subject to High Blood Pressure problems. Again, not a medical specialist...

 

[Snowdrop82]

I don't know why, I'm not any kind of medical specialist, but I get the feeling that Klingons can be subject to High Blood Pressure problems. Again, not a medical specialist...

If you have all those redundant organs, than I suppose that would make sense.

 

[fireproof78]

I wish the Klingon's biology was explored a lot more within the various shows itself. I know they have multiple redundancies of each organ, but I feel like it would be interesting if there was a 'drawback' to that, perhaps increased risk of infection or something of that nature.

One would imagine that there is an increased caloric demand, which would explain both the Klingon tendency to eat the heart of their victims might come out of a natural need for more calories in order to sustain their functionality. And, with Kor's statement about being from resource poor worlds one can well imagine their drive to expand, both biological as well and philosophical.

 

[Sisko_is_my_captain]

One would imagine that there is an increased caloric demand, which would explain both the Klingon tendency to eat the heart of their victims might come out of a natural need for more calories in order to sustain their functionality. And, with Kor's statement about being from resource poor worlds one can well imagine their drive to expand, both biological as well and philosophical.

If Klingons wanted something high calorie, they'd be like salmon-fishing bears and just eat the fat. Hearts are mostly protein, right.

 

[fireproof78]

If Klingons wanted something high calorie, they'd be like salmon-fishing bears and just eat the fat. Hearts are mostly protein, right.

More looking at Iron content too.

 

[Sisko_is_my_captain]

More looking at Iron content too.

Is Klingon blood Iron-based? It's pink.

 

[fireproof78]

Is Klingon blood Iron-based? It's pink.

Also red sometimes.