# Aliens Tech/Nano-DNA Causes Rapid Physiological Changes - What Do You Do? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 15, 2013, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-tech-nano-dna-causes-rapid-physiological-changes-what-do-you-do/658376 "2013-05-15T04:58:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AHeinrich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecccb3/32.png) [@AHeinrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHeinrich)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-tech-nano-dna-causes-rapid-physiological-changes-what-do-you-do/658376/1 "2013-05-15T04:58:08Z")
So, let’s just consider a light-hearted scenario (we needn’t ask too many questions about how such is possible): > [@](#): > > - In the dead of the night, a meteor strikes near you as you take a late-night stroll in an abandoned field, (with one of the small breakaway pieces knocking you unconscious with a blow to a head). > > - A highly advanced tech/nano-DNA was in that small piece of rock and subsequently mixes with your blood and DNA and merges with your DNA. > > - You wake up to find out you look like this [but without the armour of course! :D] (and you’re 7 feet tall): > > [Images/BL/blog/2010/12/Elves1.jpg](http://www.blacklibrary.com/Images/BL/blog/2010/12/Elves1.jpg) > > Of course, you could easily get away without drawing attention if you look like the above (could just use your hair to hide your ears). So, let’s spice it up - let’s say that instead of a milky white skin tone, you have a dark skin tone (i.e. light African skin tone). So, now what do you do? If you risk showing people how you look, the government might get involved. You’ll certainly draw attention - and would the government want to experiment on you (as people always say governments would do such things)? Thoughts? P.S. _As an added bonus, it turns out that some alien tech/nano-DNA is still embedded in other small pieces of the meteorites - maybe, if you inform governments, you could use this as a bargaining chip to retain your freedom and voluntarily offer for non-invasive experimenting?_ ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-tech-nano-dna-causes-rapid-physiological-changes-what-do-you-do/658376/2 "2013-05-15T05:53:06Z")
Not sure why the government would get involved, as if I drew any attention at all, it’d be that some tall weirdo happens to really be into some niche / extreme “furry” form of elvish body modification. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-tech-nano-dna-causes-rapid-physiological-changes-what-do-you-do/658376/3 "2013-05-15T11:05:47Z")
I would get to my lab immediately and start sequencing my DNA. I love how nowadays people will just throw in “DNA” with “alien nanotech” as if they’re both equally magical. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-tech-nano-dna-causes-rapid-physiological-changes-what-do-you-do/658376/4 "2013-05-15T12:04:57Z")
I’m confused about this bit: > [@](#): > > Of course, you could easily get away without drawing attention if you look like the above (could just use your hair to hide your ears). So, let’s spice it up - let’s say that instead of a milky white skin tone, you have a dark skin tone (i.e. light African skin tone). On my planet, people with both of skin tones already exist - how does changing the skin tone from black to white (or vice versa) spice it up _at all_? A new skin tone of blue, green, scarlet, purple or silver would spice things up, ‘light African’, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-tech-nano-dna-causes-rapid-physiological-changes-what-do-you-do/658376/5 "2013-05-15T12:05:01Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > I love how nowadays people will just throw in “DNA” with “alien nanotech” as if they’re both equally magical. I know, it’s ridiculous. Everyone knows that you can get much more magic from DNA extraction by making it part of a blood sacrifice! And drawing a pentagram with alien nanotech is a real pain; the stiff tends to _wriggle._ ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-tech-nano-dna-causes-rapid-physiological-changes-what-do-you-do/658376/6 "2013-05-15T13:44:44Z")
Come on - everyone knows elves are white! Even the dark elves! ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-tech-nano-dna-causes-rapid-physiological-changes-what-do-you-do/658376/7 "2013-05-15T14:52:31Z")
I’m not seeing it - you’re basically a tall (but not impossibly so) good-looking human with pointy ears, how would you not be able to cover that up if you want to? I mean, the tech hasn’t given you any powers or anything, just made you good at reaching the top shelf. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-tech-nano-dna-causes-rapid-physiological-changes-what-do-you-do/658376/8 "2013-05-15T15:24:29Z")
You would get so much @ss at the next LOTR convention! ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-tech-nano-dna-causes-rapid-physiological-changes-what-do-you-do/658376/9 "2013-05-15T17:25:12Z")
What I want to know is, where did my tits go? I want my tits back! And my ASS! Being able to change lightbulbs without a ladder would be nice, mind you. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-tech-nano-dna-causes-rapid-physiological-changes-what-do-you-do/658376/10 "2013-05-15T21:32:15Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > What I want to know is, where did my tits go? I want my tits back! And my ASS! > > Being able to change lightbulbs without a ladder would be nice, mind you. They’ve been compensated for by an Elvish schlong. Use it for good. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-tech-nano-dna-causes-rapid-physiological-changes-what-do-you-do/658376/11 "2013-05-15T22:07:57Z")
I’d start wearing a hat. Seriously though, an elf? What a rip-off, if I’m going to be turned into something non-human at least make it _interesting_. 😃