# Intelligently Design Yourself **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 10, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligently-design-yourself/570913 "2011-02-10T17:09:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Trubie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71c47a/32.png) [@Trubie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trubie)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligently-design-yourself/570913/41 "2011-02-11T04:37:03Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > I think some species are able to re-uptake (if that’s a word) water that’s sitting in their bladder. Like if they’re thirsty and really have to pee at the same time. The problems cancel out. That’s so cool. Do you remember the exact species? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligently-design-yourself/570913/42 "2011-02-11T05:00:14Z")
Definitely a “rete mirabile”. It would make possible [maintaining rectal temperatures of at least 46.5 degrees C for as long as 6 hours with no apparent ill effects](http://books.google.com/books?id=NCpkrNG6xFkC&pg=PA40&lpg=PA40&dq=rete+mirabile+oryx&source=bl&ots=zXD3JyBdZO&sig=JFnZ1aVxeJwg8XycXgTCKe87lUM&hl=en&ei=rsBUTY_qNI6CsQOlwb3kBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=rete%20mirabile%20oryx&f=false), though that isn’t exactly what I’d want it for… ---
**Author:** ![desert29rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@desert29rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desert29rat)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligently-design-yourself/570913/43 "2011-02-11T05:41:40Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > I think some species are able to re-uptake (if that’s a word) water that’s sitting in their bladder. Like if they’re thirsty and really have to pee at the same time. The problems cancel out. [QUOTE=Trubie] That’s so cool. Do you remember the exact species? 🙂 [/QUOTE] I think many desert animals have a similar ability, since they can’t afford to waste any water. Desert tortoises come to mind. ---
**Author:** ![desert29rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@desert29rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desert29rat)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligently-design-yourself/570913/44 "2011-02-11T05:47:18Z")
> [@Kevbo](#): > > [George Carlin Voice] > > Put the wet, drippy, upside-down nose UNDER the mouth. > > [/GCV] Yeah… but I can’t help thinking some folks might drown in the rain. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligently-design-yourself/570913/45 "2011-02-11T17:41:06Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > I think some species are able to re-uptake (if that’s a word) water that’s sitting in their bladder. Like if they’re thirsty and really have to pee at the same time. The problems cancel out. > [@Trubie](#): > > That’s so cool. Do you remember the exact species? 🙂 > [@desert29rat](#): > > I think many desert animals have a similar ability, since they can’t afford to waste any water. Desert tortoises come to mind. When I got a pet hamster as a kid, I first researched the little critters and found out that hamsters only excrete solid waste. They’re adapted to the desert, so their bodies use water very efficiently. That would be pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligently-design-yourself/570913/46 "2011-02-11T17:56:37Z")
Extendable/vibrating penis. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligently-design-yourself/570913/47 "2011-02-11T19:53:04Z")
What existing animal has a vibrating penis? ---
**Author:** ![heavyarms553](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/779978/32.png) [@heavyarms553](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heavyarms553)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligently-design-yourself/570913/48 "2011-02-12T17:40:25Z")
I wouldn’t mind a better tumor suppressor gene. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligently-design-yourself/570913/49 "2011-02-12T18:54:37Z")
How about… lenses that retain their flexibility as people get into their forties? Then we wouldn’t have to buy reading glasses. Though if you’re going to redesign the eye, I’ll go with the nerves on the proper side of the retina, behind the sensor cells (as mentioned above), plus a wider reception bandwidth so that we can see into the infrared and ultraviolet. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligently-design-yourself/570913/50 "2011-02-12T19:16:53Z")
The ability to safely drink sea water. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligently-design-yourself/570913/51 "2011-02-12T19:27:16Z")
Appetite needs to be more closely linked to physical needs. Appetite for fatty foods should go away when there’s enough fat reserve in the body. Same for salt. And deficiency in a specific nutrient should trigger a craving for food containing that nutrient. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligently-design-yourself/570913/52 "2011-02-12T21:09:07Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I would not add whatever is in the brain/body that allows for addiction. Seriously, does that bit help anyone? Actually yes. The way addiction is believed to work is by hijacking the parts of the brain responsible for the feelings of pleasure and reward. If we didn’t have that circuitry anymore, life would be pretty dull. ---
**Author:** ![Trubie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71c47a/32.png) [@Trubie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trubie)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligently-design-yourself/570913/53 "2011-02-12T21:20:03Z")
> [@desert29rat](#): > > I think many desert animals have a similar ability, since they can’t afford to waste any water. Desert tortoises come to mind. Thanks for the info. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Trubie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71c47a/32.png) [@Trubie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trubie)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligently-design-yourself/570913/54 "2011-02-12T21:22:29Z")
> [@The\_Weird\_One](#): > > When I got a pet hamster as a kid, I first researched the little critters and found out that hamsters only excrete solid waste. They’re adapted to the desert, so their bodies use water very efficiently. That would be pretty cool. 🙂 I agree. I wonder, though, if we only had solid waste if we’d be more prone to polyps. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligently-design-yourself/570913/55 "2011-02-12T22:07:16Z")
Regeneration Hibernation Breath water and air ---
**Author:** ![TravisFromOR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@TravisFromOR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TravisFromOR)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligently-design-yourself/570913/56 "2011-02-12T22:09:42Z")
Bioluminescence, of the fingers, perhaps, so we can find things in the dark easier. ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligently-design-yourself/570913/57 "2011-02-12T23:03:40Z")
Eliminate itching entirely. Replace pain with a text message in the corner of your visual field that tells you _exactly_ what’s wrong with what part of your body. Something like “Left Ankle Sprained – Healing Progress 13%” or “4th Vertebra Herniated Disc – See Doctor Immediately”. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligently-design-yourself/570913/58 "2011-02-12T23:19:37Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > What existing animal has a vibrating penis? Whales penises are prehensile: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xJFR5P7BdA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xJFR5P7BdA) There’s a better clip on the series Blue Planet, but I can’t find it on youtube. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2011, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligently-design-yourself/570913/59 "2011-02-13T04:41:27Z")
I bet hummingbird penises vibrate. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2011, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligently-design-yourself/570913/60 "2011-02-13T04:56:49Z")
Asexual reproduction Seriously, if we had this, imagine the productivity of our species. No longer would our lives be consumed with seeking and finding mates. This one thing would massively reorganize every aspect of society from social aspect, religion, politics, family, etc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligently-design-yourself/570913.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligently-design-yourself/570913.md?page=4)