Genetech

Genetech Table Genetech Rating BI Avail Cost SI Legal Type Age Rejuvenation - 1.00 8/30d 2,000,000 2.50 Legal Genetech Age Rejuvenation: Maintenance Session - - 8/30d 100,000 2.50 Legal Genetech Direct Protein Synthesis: Angiotensin - 0.30 6/30d 40,000 2.00 Legal Genetech Direct Protein Synthesis: Calcitonin - 0.40 6/30d 60,000 2.00 6P-N Genetech Direct Protein Synthesis: Erythropoietin - 0.40 6/30d 40,000 2.00 Legal Genetech Direct Protein Synthesis: Glucagon - 0.30 6/30d 40,000 2.00 Legal Genetech DNA Masking 1-3 0.00 8/14d Rating*7,500 3.00 2-Z Genetech " 4-6 0.10 10/21d Rating*10,000 " " " " 7-9 0.10 14/21d Rating*15,000 " " " " 10-12 0.20 18/28d Rating*20,000 " " " Environmental Microadaptation: Cold - 0.40 6/30d 60,000 2.00 Legal Genetech Environmental Microadaptation: Heat - 0.30 6/30d 60,000 2.00 Legal Genetech Environmental Microadaptation: Low-Oxygen - 0.30 6/30d 50,000 2.00 Legal Genetech Environmental Microadaptation: Pollution - 0.20 6/30d 50,000 2.00 Legal Genetech Gene Therapy: Augmented Healing - - 6/21d Per Week: 2,500 2.00 Legal Genetech Gene Therapy: Cellular Repair - - 6/21d 50,000 2.00 Legal Genetech Gene Therapy: Genetic Correction - 0.20-0.50 6/21d 60,000 2.00 Legal Genetech Genetic Immunization - 0.10 6/18d 25,000 2.00 Legal Genetech Phenotypic Alteration (Major) - 0.50 5/21d 65,000 2.00 Legal Genetech Phenotypic Alteration (Minor) - 0.10 5/21d 50,000 2.00 Legal Genetech Acquiring Genetech As Cultured Cost Multiplier BI Multiplier Avail Increase x4 x0.75 +2/x5 Age Rejuvenation Age Rejuvenation Known colloquially as "Leonization" (referring to the story of Ponce de Leon, who sought the Fountain of Youth), this seemingly miraculous technique offers a way to vanquish old age. It arose from specialized applications of gene therapy techniques and has been perfected by aggressive corporate research and development. Where other genetic research has stagnated or floundered, progress in rejuvenation research has continued apace. Rejuvenation halts and reverses the aging process with a combination of gene therapy and cellular repair techniques — it repairs longevity-related damage to protein structures and DNA alike. It directly opposes many fundamental processes of biology, however, and its intense impact on the patient's system prevents unlimited use. Excessive use disturbs the body's homeostatic balance to a fatal degree. The genetic therapy must be based on a "clean" sample of DNA or it risks perpetuating (and exacerbating) any genetic damage the patient has acquired. Aging has a degradative effect on DNA, as does life in industrialized cities, so many children of affluent families now have genetic samples stored at birth to allow them to use this treatment successfully when they age. Rating BI Avail Cost SI Legal Type Age Rejuvenation - 1.00 8/30d 2,000,000 2.50 Legal Genetech Age Rejuvenation: Maintenance Session - - 8/30d 100,000 2.50 Legal Genetech Game Information Each rejuvenation treatment requires one major therapy session, followed up with maintenance sessions every six months for the next three years to ensure that the treatment has been wholly effective. It may be used at any time before death. After treatment the patient is restored to a physical age of approximately twenty-one. Rejuvenative maintenance sessions take longer for older patients, as there is more aging damage to repair; the base treatment time is one week, for those aged forty or below. For every decade of (true) age above forty, the treatment time is extended by two days. The cost is also increased by 25 percent if a character has cyberware or bioware, as per Augmented Healing. This procedure has a significant impact on holistic health; it attempts to reverse one of the most natural processes of the body — aging and death. It may only be performed a limited number of times before the body's natural systems go into overshock and shutdown. Even a treatment this powerful cannot totally prevent the ravages of time — brain chemistry, for example, must be largely unaltered or the patient runs the risk of losing much of their memory and acquired motor skills. Treatment Time*: Age Rejuvenation Treatment: 3+ weeks, Maintenance Session: 1 week Direct Protein Synthesis Direct Protein Synthesis The very purpose of DNA is to instruct the body to produce chemicals — proteins, to be specific. The principle of genetic engineering is to change the genetic structure — and hence the proteins produced — to achieve a specific goal, while keeping negative side effects to an acceptable minimum. Under normal circumstances, the replacement proteins are designed to effect some change in the body. Certain corporations, however, have exercised gengineering techniques to produce these proteins for their own sake. In these cases the new proteins are selected to produce a physiological effect rather than a permanent somatic alteration. For example PensoDyne Biotechnical has reported success in engineering subjects to produce surplus hemoglobin, thus increasing their oxygen retention and athletic endurance levels. Other success stories include producing calcitonin to help those suffering osteoporosis, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to improve fertility, and atrial natriuretic protein (ANP) to regulate high blood pressure. These techniques bypass intermediate steps in many hormonal processes, allowing geneticists to minutely control a particular aspect of the patient's body function. The modification for direct protein synthesis generates a protein by-product directly into the user's system instead of triggering the normal regulatory pathways. The genetic sequence for these surplus proteins is encoded into "junk DNA" and a simple expression-control mechanism is installed. Unlike most proteins, these are not regulated by normal bodily processes; they are constantly produced, and in extreme situations they may cause more harm than good. The following proteins are examples of what can be produced by direct protein synthesis. Rating BI Avail Cost SI Legal Type Angiotensin - 0.30 6/30d 40,000 2.00 Legal Genetech Calcitonin - 0.40 6/30d 60,000 2.00 6P-N Genetech Erythropoietin - 0.40 6/30d 40,000 2.00 Legal Genetech Glucagon - 0.30 6/30d 40,000 2.00 Legal Genetech Angiotensin Angiotensin This protein regulates blood flow through the body. It causes capillary beds to contract and stimulates water retention. Its vasoconstrictive effect is particularly useful in situations of massive blood loss. When a character with Direct Angiotensin Synthesis takes a Deadly Physical wound, additional damage due to blood loss and shock accrues at a reduced rate of one box every (Body x 2) Combat Turns. Compatibility: Incompatible with Muscle Replacement cyberware and Metabolic Arrester bioware, effects negated if user possess three or more cyberlimbs. Treatment Time*: 2 weeks Calcitonin Calcitonin Calcitonin enhances bone density and strength by increasing osteoclast activity and skeletal calcium uptake. A character with direct calcitonin synthesis develops naturally strong bones that cannot be detected (unlike bone lacing). This grants a +1 modifier to Body for Damage Resistance Tests and prevents bones from breaking under normal circumstances; they have a Barrier Rating of 6. Compatibility: Incompatible with Muscle Replacement and Flex Hands cyberware, and Platelet Factory bioware. Effects negated if user possesses three or more cyberlimbs. Treatment Time*: 4 weeks Erythropoietin Erythropoietin This is a hormone that stimulates production of red blood cells (erythrocytes), commonly used as a performance-enhancing additive in professional sports for over a century. Continuous generation of erythropoietin significantly increases erythrocyte counts and aids in physical exertion by ensuring a constant supply of oxygen. Characters with direct erythropoietin synthesis receive +2 dice for all Athletics tests. Compatibility: Incompatible with Muscle Replacement cyberware. Treatment Time*: 2 weeks Glucagon Glucagon Glucagon is a vital intermediary in the metabolism of energy stores in the body; it catalyzes the liver's conversion of glycogen into glucose, ensuring a steady supply of energy. This is particularly useful for those who exert themselves over long periods of time. Characters with enhanced supplies of glucagon double all listed times when dealing with the effects of fatigue. Their health should be carefully monitored, however, to avoid complications like diabetes. Compatibility: Incompatible with Suprathyroid Gland bioware. Treatment Time*: 2 weeks DNA Masking DNA Masking For decades, forensic science has relied on DNA as the ultimate means of identification; the genetic "fingerprint" has long been the most exacting and accurate criterion for distinguishing between two people. It was therefore a foregone conclusion that gengineering techniques would eventually be applied for the purposes of concealment or false identification. Though there are no reputable practitioners of this procedure, certain illicit organizations do offer the opportunity to those who can pay. The DNA Masking technique allows therapists to alter the patient's DNA enough to avoid a match. Though detailed analysis may still detect similarity of up to 95 percent, the clearly identifiable variances indicate a legal difference between the samples. DNA Masking poses a significant threat to successful prosecutions based on forensic evidence, and a number of law enforcement agencies have devoted resources to locating and eradicating those who practice it. Unfortunately, the only way to identify the effects of this process — if it has been performed correctly — is to compare "before" and "after" DNA assays. This makes legal identification problematic in all but the most exceptional cases, which has made the elimination of this practice all the more important to peace officers around the world. Rating BI Avail Cost SI Legal Type DNA Masking 1-3 0.00 8/14d Rating*7,500 3.00 2-Z Genetech " 4-6 0.10 10/21d Rating*10,000 " " " " 7-9 0.10 14/21d Rating*15,000 " " " " 10-12 0.20 18/28d Rating*20,000 " " " Game Effects This procedure changes parts of the character's non-coding genetic sequence so that a DNA scanner will not produce a positive identification when searching the genome ID databases. When a character with DNA Masking has a sample taken for scanning, roll an Opposed Test between the rating of the DNA Masking and the rating of the DNA scanner. If the masking and scanner have equal successes, the scanner will indicate to the operator that further identification is required by other methods. Treatment Time*: 3 days + 1 day per level Environmental Microadaptation Environmental Microadaptation Despite humanity's success at taming nature, there are still many areas of the globe that are inhospitable to human existence. Environmental modifications were amongst the first non-therapeutic bioware to be developed, but it soon became clear that adding gills, webbed feet or sandstorm-proof skin failed to overcome many environmental limitations. The focus of research shifted into somatic-scale modification through genetic reengineering, rather than implantation of specific organs. Progress has been slow to date — many of the most useful applications require complete reengineering of the body's metabolic processes, which is prohibitively complex — but some limited environmental adaptations have proven very successful in field tests. This technique has been used successfully to improve bodily function in a number of hostile situations. Corporate interests often use it to equip their workers to function well in extremes of temperature, low-oxygen environments or without sunlight, for example. Shiawase Biotechnical has also produced interesting results in their research into pollution tolerance, for agricultural and metahuman use alike. Rating BI Avail Cost SI Legal Type Adaptation: Cold - 0.40 6/30d 60,000 2.00 Legal Genetech Adaptation: Heat - 0.30 6/30d 60,000 2.00 Legal Genetech Adaptation: Low-Oxygen - 0.30 6/30d 50,000 2.00 Legal Genetech Adaptation: Pollution - 0.20 6/30d 50,000 2.00 Legal Genetech Cold Adaptation for cold environments modifies the subject's metabolic processes to maximize internal heat retention, performs minute alterations to the chemistry of interstitial and cellular fluids to lower their freezing point, and replaces ordinary metabolites with equivalent substances less sensitive to low temperatures. It also adds a number of reaction catalysts to speed up bodily processes that would normally be slowed at low temperatures. Cold-adapted subjects often require more food and report extreme discomfort or hyperactivity in normal climates, especially as they have difficulty radiating heat. This enhancement allows the character +2 dice for resisting cold-related damage, and the character receives a -2 modifier for cold-environment Survival Tests. Treatment Time*: 3 weeks Incompatible with Boosted Reflexes, Metabolic Arrester, Adaptation: Heat Heat Heat tolerance is conveyed by increasing water retention to avoid dehydration, speeding blood flow to allow increased heat diffusion and altering metabolic processes to use proteins and compounds that do not break down in higher temperatures. Those adapted to high temperatures feel sluggish at ordinary temperatures and usually suffer high blood pressure. This enhancement allows the character +2 dice for resisting heat damage, though it does not protect against burning. The character also receives a -2 modifier for hot-environment Survival Tests. Treatment Time*: 3 weeks Incompatible with Boosted Reflexes, Dermal Sheath/Plating, Orthoskin, Suprathyroid Gland, and Adaptation: Cold Low-Oxygen Adaptation for environments low in oxygen replaces a few metabolic pathways with anaerobic equivalents. Additionally, an adapted subject has modified myoglobin in his bloodstream, which retains oxygen under normal conditions and this allows him to hold his breath for longer. The SRComp rules for holding one's breath apply, but each success on the Athletics Test increases the duration by 10 Combat Turns rather than 3. At normal oxygen levels, subjects suffer hyperoxia, which causes respiratory damage and hyperaccelerated cell aging (treat as oxygen toxicity, p109 CC). Treatment Time*: 2 weeks Pollution Engineering pollution tolerance relies primarily on modifying cellular receptors to be resistant to heavy metals and changing metabolic intermediaries to homologues that are not sensitive to heavy metals and similar contaminants. The procedure also generates new proteins capable of isolating and disposing of heavy metals, and compounds to render organic contaminants and toxins inert. Characters with this adaptation receive +3 Body dice for the purposes of resisting chemical attacks from pollutants, heavy metals and other related toxins. Treatment Time*: 2 weeks Gene Therapy Gene Therapy When scientists first realized that our genetic structure could be manipulated and amended, remedial genetic therapy was the first application that most people thought of. Finally, all those hereditary diseases and conditions could be eliminated from the human condition! While the full potential offered by genetic revision has yet to be reached, medical science is now able to offer whole-body "re-writing" for those whose genes gave themm a less-than-optimal result the first time around. Gene therapy encompasses a number of different processes. Using highly specialized nanites, engineered phages and other DNA vectors, therapists are able to alter the DNA of their patient to improve the patient's health. This may involve replacing a harmful gene with an inert equivalent, repairing whole sequences of damaged genes, or encouraging increased gene expression to speed bodily processes (such as healing). Changes to the genetic code must be written into every cell of the body, however, so gene therapy is still no quick fix. This revision process usually requires weeks to complete, during which the patient must be immobilized under life-support to keep their body as static as possible. Rating BI Avail Cost SI Legal Type Gene Therapy: Augmented Healing - - 6/21d Per Week: 2,500 2.00 Legal Genetech Gene Therapy: Cellular Repair - - 6/21d 50,000 2.00 Legal Genetech Gene Therapy: Genetic Correction - 0.20-0.50 6/21d 60,000 2.00 Legal Genetech Augmented Healing Augmented healing will heal all remaining boxes of damage on the patient's condition monitor, even if magical healing has already been applied. In this case, the healing time is reduced by half. Augmented healing will also restore damaged organs and regrow severed limbs, though this takes longer. Note that augmented healing may be applied to characters with cyber- and bioware by using tailored treatment nanites that are directed away from the implants using a complicated set of control signals and instructions. In such cases, the cost of the process increases by 25 percent though treatment time remains the same. This procedure cannot be used to repair damaged cyberware or bioware. Treatment Time*: Healing times are reduced by half when Augmented Healing is used. The cost is increased by 25 percent for patients with cybernetic and bioware augmentations. This treatment does not repair cyberware or bioware. Cellular Repair Cellular repair therapy is used to mend any otherwise-irreparable damage on a somatic level. This includes healing the effects of permanent neurotoxin damage, correcting physical flaws, or repairing Attribute loss due to disease or severe physical trauma. It can also be used to reverse the effects of Boosted Reflexes cyberware. Treatment Time*: 6 weeks Genetic Correction This refers to any large-scale genetic re-engineering performed primarily for remedial purposes. Common applications include replacing or deactivating genes responsible for hereditary diseases, repairing whole-body impairment from neurotoxins or other damage, or speeding up systemic activity (such as growth, healing or drug de-addiction). Gene therapy is a slow procedure. The patient's body must remain static and inert, suspended on life-support in a vat of DNA-vector solution. For every week spent in therapy, only ten minutes of that time is required for neural treatment; during this period the patient must be unconscious and sensory stimulus kept to a minimum. The DNA vector is usually designed to deal with neural tissue first, so that for the rest of the treatment patients may communicate freely by means of a datajack or magical mindlink. Those with datajacks frequently spend their treatment period virtually living in the Matrix. Treatment Time*: 6 weeks Genetic Immunization Genetic Immunization Using the wonders of immuno-engineering, medical science is now capable of conferring near-immunity to most common disease pathogens, toxins and other compounds. In this procedure, tailored hybridomas are introduced into the patient's body, where they produce monoclonal antibodies specifically targeted at a single substance. These antibodies provide a swift response to that foreign contaminant, bestowing significantly improved resistance on the patient. Patients can be immunized in this fashion against all common bacterial infections, toxins and other harmful chemical or biological agents. The procedure still hasn't been perfected for highly mutable agents — such as most viruses — and, being highly specific, immunization against one compound confers no immunity to anything else. Also, basic immunization is ineffective against neurotoxins and other swift-acting compounds because they affect the target before the antibodies can respond. It is possible, however, to immunize against specific neurotoxins and the like by undergoing genetic therapy to alter the cell receptors and neurotransmitters so that the agent cannot bind to them. Rating BI Avail Cost SI Legal Type Genetic Immunization (Basic) - 0.10 6/18d 25,000 2.00 Legal Genetech Genetic Immunization (Cellular) - 0.10 6/18d 50,000 2.00 Legal Genetech Immunization (Basic) A patient undergoing basic genetic immunization is injected with a culture of engineered hybridomas which propagate through the body and germinate until they have established themselves in the patient's system. Though the treatment is instantaneous, it takes a week for the immunity to develop fully. The hybridomas produce specialized antibodies that circulate around the body until they encounter one particular target compound. They bind to the compound, render it inert and tag it for expulsion in a hyper-efficient version of normal immune responses. Basic Genetic Immunization gives the subject complete resistance to normal doses of a specific compound with a Speed period longer than Immediate. In the event of increased or abnormal exposure to the substance, which may overwhelm the responsiveness of the antibodies, immunity is not guaranteed. The antibodies still assist in resisting the compound, however; the Power of the disease, toxin or pathogen is reduced by half in such cases (round down). Determining how much exposure is excessive is up to the GM's discretion, depending on the situation and the compound in question. At the GM's discretion, immunization may also protect the character from very similar compounds, perhaps reducing the Power by half. A patient may only be immunized against a number of compounds equal to his or her unaugmented Body. Each treatment is permanent. Any immunizations beyond this point disturb the immune system to the point of failure, with unpleasant consequences (death). Each immunization treatment is permanent. Note: Basic Genetic Immunization does not work against neurotoxins and fast-acting compounds (anything with a Speed of Immediate). To immunize against these compounds, the character must undergo Cellular Genetic Immunization. Treatment Time*: Immunity develops 1 week after undergoing the procedure. Immunization (Cellular) Cellular Genetic Immunization gives a character complete immunity from normal doses of a specific neurotoxin or fast-acting compound (with a Speed of Immediate). Otherwise, the game effects are the same as stated in Immunization (Basic). Treatment Time*: Immunity develops 1 week after undergoing immunization. Phenotypic Alteration Phenotypic Alteration Perhaps a natural consequence of research into genetic remedial techniques, there is now a thriving market for "genetic cosmetic surgery." Where the rich and famous might once have indulged in skin bleaching, collagen injections or depilatory treatments, they now choose the wonders of genetic modification to make these changes at the most fundamental level possible. Your genes control every aspect of your appearance; changing your look is now as easy — and enduring — as changing your genes. These techniques can create almost any transformation you care to name. Eye color, hair color or texture, skin tone, muscle bulk, skeletal structure — it's open season for the self-improvement devotees. Like Gene Therapy, cosmetic modifications require a state of suspended animation while the patient's DNA is modified across their body. Though the external changes may be more trivial, the procedures are just as complex and costly. Rating BI Avail Cost SI Legal Type Phenotypic Alteration (Major) - 0.50 5/21d 65,000 2.00 Legal Genetech Phenotypic Alteration (Minor) - 0.10 5/21d 50,000 2.00 Legal Genetech Game Effects Phenotypic Alteration requires the same treatment environment as Gene Therapy, as the process is the same despite the difference in results. Virtually any change can be effected, ranging from superficial limited alterations (eye color, hair texture) to gross physical amendment. Note that any alteration that is not natural for the patient's metatype automatically counts as a major change when calculating treatment time and cost. This technique can increase the character's Racial Modified Limit for Body, Strength and/or Quickness by 1. Each attribute to be affected requires a separate treatment. Each can only be altered once. These modifications automatically count as major changes. Once the treatment is complete, the new Racial Modified Limit applies in all situations for the character. This increase also affects the character's Attribute Maximum for that attribute only (Attribute Maximum is equal to the Racial Modified Limit x 1.5, round up). Note that this process does not increase the attribute itself, it just increases the attribute's Racial Modified Limit. Treatment Time*: Major: 6 weeks, Minor: 4 weeks Note: Denver House Rules have downgraded the times from the State of the Art 2063 book by one order of magnitude (i.e. months become weeks).