Genetic Topiary

[Tetsubo]

I was watching television last night and I had a sudden idea for a
'race' of mutant plants (best suited to Gamma World 4th edition).
Genetic topiary plants. Think about it. In the far future genetic
engineering will become so ubiquitous that it will be at the Radio Shack
level of hobby. People will be able to program a plants genes so that
they grow to a specific shape from an apparently normal seed. Geometric
forms, animal forms, possibly even vaguely humanoid forms. Now imagine
what happens after the Event. These carefully crafted creations begin to
mutate and breed in the wild. Just the thing for unique plant based
monsters or even stable races.
--
Tetsubo
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[David Lamb]

Tetsubo wrote:
> People will be able to program a plants genes so that
> they grow to a specific shape from an apparently normal seed. Geometric
> forms, animal forms, possibly even vaguely humanoid forms.

In the spirit of killjoys who show how silicon-based lifeforms violate
basic physics: AFAIK plant growth is fractal; I'm not so sure it'd be
possible to gen-eng for specific shapes. Calico cat patterns seem to
depend on random non-genetic factors, since twin cats each develop
different patterns.

But it's plausible enough for Gamma World!