Something more specific along these lines, move the prostate to one side or the other so that any increase in size does not cause pee problems.
(Sidebar note: organs of excrement have a lot of nerve endings which encourages people to eliminate waste; moving procreative activities to other organs would not prevent these excretory organs from becoming sexualized by at least some people - c.f. anal intercourse.)
I agree with fixing the back, although I don’t know precisely what changes to suggest. Perhaps giving everyone strong core muscles without requiring exercise.
Move the brain to another part of the body, so that we don’t have to have such a large head. This would make childbirth a lot easier (it might take some getting used to aesthetically, however).
Renewable teeth, like sharks, and easily removable damaged teeth.
Tougher skin, especially vis-a-vis sun damage.
Roddy
Re appendix: There’s a theory that it helps to keep a backup of necessary bacteria.
I’d vote for a total redesign of the sinuses. Also the back. I don’t thing a ventral spine would be any better than the current location. You can get hit in the front just as well as from the back.
The whole idea that the bipedal “design” has so many holdovers from the four-limbed version is just ridiculous.
I’ve kicked around the idea of what a person would look or move like if the spine was in the middle of the torso, not against the skin, but the middle like a handle on an umbrella. Definitely much safer for the vertebrae, dunno about anything else though
NO! That would be so unfair! I want it to be the special thing I can do!
It’s been touched upon, but the whole baby-growing business is Idiotic Design. Maybe more of a marsupial system would be better? The whole idea remains somewhat romantic, with the babby being formed in mummy’s tummy all snug and warm, but it is just horribly impractical, painful, damaging and unhealthy. Being marsupials would leave the romantic aspect, but (presumably?) eliminate a lot of the problems.
One thing that needs serious redesign is our tissues’ tendency to swell when damaged. A swollen brain usually leads to death. A swollen trachea or bronchial tubes can lead to death. Basically, if having a part swell can kill you- DON’T!
The appendix has a couple of very minor functions in the immune system and doing this. However, these functions are completely dispensable, and the appendix still does far more harm by exploding and killing people than good.
I want it to be the special thing I can do!