STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS - Grading & Discussion [SPOILERS]

[Therin of Andor]

We already use blood and blood products to improve health and performance. We already know that hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from adult hosts can be released into the circulatory system to regenerate organs. We understand that cell death is suspended until long after the blood has stopped pumping.

Beat me to it! A decade(?) ago, when the media first started reporting that human stem cells were being harvested from afterbirths, for use in saving other humans' lives - and then that politicians were getting worried about the repercussions, and passing laws - it sounded very science fictiony "magic"!

 

[JarodRussell]

The same observation applies here. Khan has [HIGHLIGHT]MAGIC BLOOD[/HIGHLIGHT] and we're nitpicking skin color?

In this ST universe where:

- thick red nailpolish can seemingly create blackholes

- anti-matter bombs can reverse the gravity of blackholes

- people can be beamed light years away to a starship moving faster than light

- time travel

-..we're gonna nitpick magic blood?

I would have accepted a Khan has magic blood story in the prime universe as well. He is genetically engineered after all.

Del Toro or Bardem, or actually an Indian like Shah Rukh Khan, those would have been good choices for KHAN.

Cumberbatch is great, and his John Harrison seemed to be a pretty cool new villain, but he's definitely no Khan.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

Now, this version of Trek seems to have defenders, calling old Trek heavy-handed, self-aware of its importance, and other excuses for the dumbing down of America. Everyone has critics.

Being a fan (and defender) of both is not mutually exclusive.

 

[BillJ]

Perhaps Harrison added nanites to his own circulatory system after being revived? He's had years of working for Section 31.

Years?

I thought they picked them up after hearing about the Botany Bay from Spock Prime (though I could have that part wrong)? If so, they would have had a year at most...

 

[Therin of Andor]

I thought they picked them up after hearing about the Botany Bay from Spock Prime (though I could have that part wrong)? If so, they would have had a year at most...

No, I think Section 31 did its own research into the whereabouts of the Botany Bay. I don't recall Spock Prime being identified as the source of the leak about the existence of Khan.

In this timeline, Harrison could have been around in the 23rd century almost as long as Kirk!

 

[Ryan8bit]

Odd that Section 31 was so thorough in one time, and so completely inept in the other.

 

[Flake]

Perhaps Section 31 is much bigger/better with more support in this timeline due to the whole Narada incident and the Earth almost destroyed etc.

Magic blood with regenerative properties is perhaps a scientific possibility? Has anyone looked it up? I guess I will have a look

 

[Flake]

http://www.springer.com/life+sciences/book/978-1-61779-470-4

Ok 30seconds of googling yielded that result which you have to pay for but it appears to discuss the regeneration of organs with blood and stem cells to repair organs that have failed. So \\//

 

[BillJ]

Odd that Section 31 was so thorough in one time, and so completely inept in the other.

How do we know that they're inept?

 

[Ryan8bit]

Odd that Section 31 was so thorough in one time, and so completely inept in the other.

How do we know that they're inept?

Kirk and crew finds them on accident in 2267, but S31 finds them deliberately, presumably several years before 2255-6? It just strikes me as odd.

I thought it was future Spock that let it be known too, but I guess that doesn't make much sense either if Harrison is supposed to be a tenured agent.

 

[gornsky]

http://www.springer.com/life+sciences/book/978-1-61779-470-4

Ok 30seconds of googling yielded that result which you have to pay for but it appears to discuss the regeneration of organs with blood and stem cells to repair organs that have failed. So \\//

Here's an introductory article:http://stemcell.stanford.edu/research/adult_stem_cells.html

And something a little more meaty (Warning: details animal experimentation:http://www.ff.ul.pt/FCT/PTDC/DTP-FTO/0871/2012/Chapel_2003.pdf

In short, adult stem cells, including those derived from blood, are being used specifically in the treatment of multi-organ failure after radiation exposure. Combined with advances in post-trauma resuscitation, the "magic blood" thing is not as far-fetched as everyone is making it out to be.

 

[Flake]

Trek started before the whole stem cell thing erupted and it is infact star trek that is woefully out of date (something I have brought up before) and trek should have access to stem cell treatments because it is very much in our future.

Now the only thing in Treks defence is the apparent ban by the federation on genetic research which must have been a retcon to try to explain the lack of gene therapy in trek in the 90s, trouble is the ban doesn't make very much sense as evidenced by the sick little girl in STID.

 

[mos6507]

http://www.sefijaonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Ricardo-Montalbán233.jpg
http://www.crushable.com/wp-content...-Harrison-in-Star-Trek-Into-Darkness-2013.jpg

http://dlisted.com/files/Ricardo_Montalban.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--xWwz0_SfFs/T8d0mr1XZcI/AAAAAAAAH5o/Li2Uh0c7Ax8/s1600/1.jpg


I can buy it, except for the blue eyes.

I don't buy it at all. There's no resemblance whatsoever.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

http://www.sefijaonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Ricardo-Montalbán233.jpg
http://www.crushable.com/wp-content...-Harrison-in-Star-Trek-Into-Darkness-2013.jpg

http://dlisted.com/files/Ricardo_Montalban.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--xWwz0_SfFs/T8d0mr1XZcI/AAAAAAAAH5o/Li2Uh0c7Ax8/s1600/1.jpg


I can buy it, except for the blue eyes.

I don't buy it at all. There's no resemblance whatsoever.

This is because they're different people.

Montalban is dead. OldTrek is over.

 

[BillJ]

I don't buy it at all. There's no resemblance whatsoever.

Why is resemblance important? My only question is can Cumberbatch make me believe he is Khan? I'll find out in just under two weeks.

 

[Franklin]

http://www.springer.com/life+sciences/book/978-1-61779-470-4

Ok 30seconds of googling yielded that result which you have to pay for but it appears to discuss the regeneration of organs with blood and stem cells to repair organs that have failed. So \\//

This. McCoy even did it when he gave the old woman in TVH a pill that grew a new kidney (very fast). That technology must've been so common that he had the pill "in stock" in his little black bag.

Let's say Khan has restorative nanobots in his blood. That is an extremely credible science fiction concept compared to the "big three" of Trek science that hold the franchise together: warp speed, transporters, and artificial gravity. Those three are anywhere from infeasible to outright impossible. I'll even believe in "magic blood" before I believe a universal translator and that there are so many humanoid aliens with funny foreheads out there.

 

[yenny]

This actor was born in Mumbai Indian.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hrithik_Roshan

 

[BillJ]

This actor was born in Mumbai Indian.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hrithik_Roshan

Okay?

 

[Mach5]

OldTrek is over.

And your perpetual overcompensation is proof that you're frustrated about it more than most.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Nope. I'm getting what I want.

My patience with meaningless complaints does wear thin, though.