Work Text:
Terminology:
status (A/B/O/I) = alpha, beta, omega, interstatus
sex (♂/♀/⚧) = male, female, intersex
chromosome = the "cookbook" holding the "recipes" that make up everything an organism is. Physically, a string of DNA wrapped around proteins that carries part of the genetic code of an organism. Humans typically have 46 chromosomes, inheriting 23 from each parent.
gene = unit of hereditary information that occupies a fixed position on a chromosome, a "recipe" for building a functional unit such as a protein or RNA molecule
gene expression = process by which the information encoded in a gene is turned into a functional unit such as a protein or RNA molecule, "cooking" the "recipe" (gene) stored in the "cookbook" (chromosome)
allosome = X and Y sex chromosomes
autosome = non-sex/non-status chromosomes
secallosome = A and O status chromosomes
If we're going to assume status relies on an entire chromosome instead of specific genes or epigenetic-facilitated expression, they should have their own name. I'm going with status chromosome = secallosome.
(That's not a cheap shortening of "secondary," it's.... uh, well, it's a cheap misuse of naming secondary groups in alkanes according to IUPAC nomenclature of organic chemistry. But we're discussing completely made-up genetics anyway, so fine, they get scientifically inaccurate made-up names, too.)
X = "any" unless specifically referencing the X chromosome. So X⚧ = "any secallosome combination with intersex presentation." AX = "alpha status presentation with any allosome combination."
I don't have clear shorthand yet to distinguish "chromosome combination" from "presentation" -- like, someone could have three A secallosomes but present as beta due to variation in gene expression. Assume best efforts, here.
monosomy = having a single chromosome of a given type instead of a pair (typically, humans inherit one of each chromosome type from each parent). Monosomy X (having one copy of the X allosome without a Y or a second X) is the only known monosomy with which a human life is viable, as expression of the genes needed from that chromosome type is cut by 50%.
trisomy = having three of a given chromosome, resulting in an additional 50% expression of the genes on that chromosome. Renders a fetus nonviable in all but a few chromosome types. Most well-known trisomy status a human can live a full lifetime with: trisomy 21, aka Down syndrome. Humans can also live a full lifetime with multiple copies of either/both sex chromosome(s).
tetrasomy = as above, four copies of a given chromosome
hexasomy = as above, six copies of a given chromosome
Into the deluge of questions forming this thought experiment:
IRL sex ratio, we're roughly like 50♀:49♂:1⚧. In most A/B/O I've read, B status is typically the highest population; A/O being rare. Interstatus might actually be more common than intersexuality simple because we're working with three sexes instead of just two, ergo more opportunity for "inter."
What kind of interstatus characteristics would we see? What phenotypes could a fetus/child/post-pubescent adolescent/adult have that doesn't actually match their capacity to impregnate/get pregnant?
However, that's impacted by whether status is based on chromosome presence/absence/trisomy/etc, gene expression (impacted by direct mutations and upstream mutations, by epigenetics), and how those impact hormones, reproductive organ presence/absence/variation, and secondary sex characteristics or "traits" typically ascribed to A/B/O characters (eg size, muscularity, rut/heat cycles, tendency towards aggression and possessiveness or submissiveness and nurturing qualities, nesting/presenting/biting behaviors, etc).
I don't feel like getting too much more into the genetic weeds ((Narrator voiceover: oh but into the weeds is exactly where we are going)) BUT I do wonder what interstatus lived experiences would be like. Like, ♀I, ♂I, what about the double whammy of ⚧I?
Gender identity and expression? "Corrective" surgery in infancy and downstream effects on adults? Dating, reproduction? Would interstatusness be as erased and taboo as intersexuality?
OH WAIT FUCK, NO, THAT'S IT
What if status IS based on sex chromosome trisomy? Assuming typical Homo sapiens chromotype, normally an individual would have two status chromosomes, having inherited one status chromosome per parent.
So in this thought experiment, anyone with two status chromosomes (AA, OO, AO) or with mixed trisomy (AAO, AOO) would result in phenotypes considered beta status.
AAA would result in highest concentration of alpha-associated phenotypes; likewise OOO for omega; resulting in that assigned status at birth.
What if it's BOTH chromosomal and epigenetic? So even someone with AAA trisomy isn't necessarily an alpha unless correlative genes are expressed in high concentration.
THAT'S how you'd get extremely rare but environmentally-impacted prevalence of alphas and omegas in a majority beta world. In that case, "interstatus" would be based on confluence of more extreme A/O traits - anything less than that extreme would just be assigned beta.
But THEN, how do you determine whether someone is interstatus or beta? Under the context of this particular thought experiment, that distinction is not biologically determined: it's an arbitrary line based on status roles and expectations that probably changes over time and across cultures.
Aaaaand what if you get someone with tetrasomy status chromosomes: what is someone who has AAAO? Or OOOA? Does that make them LESS alpha/omega.... or alpha/omega PLUS something? Would they be considered to have a "developmental disorder"? What other traits correlate with this chromosome pattern?
What about that vanishingly rare BUT EXTANT hexasomy? What status is someone with AAAOOO chromosome status? How would that impact their phenotype, their hormones, going into rut and/or heat? What if someone has mosaic hexasomy, where some cells/tissues/organs are AAA and others are OOO?
Would AAAA or OOOO tetrasomy(+) be debilitating or even fatal after pubescence with uncontrollable ruts/heats? Could they be controlled with lifelong medication treatment? What traits or comorbidities correlate with this pattern? (Other than anxiety/depression, ANY difference correlates with that.😮💨)
What would Monosomy A or Monosony O be like: straight-up make the fetus nonviable like Monosomy Y? or cluster of developmental traits like what shows up in Monosomy X?
Assuming they each produce/have both sperm and ova, how different would A♀/O♂/X⚧ gametes be? Given that ova 1) are produced in utero, thus supplying the fetus with the gametes it will reproduce with, and also 2) those ova carry mitochondria and associated DNA.
So the pregnant parent (X♀, O♂, X⚧) supplies their offspring with mitochondria, associated mitochondrial DNA, and half of their chromosomes. Those who can impregnate (A♀, X♂, X⚧) continuously produce sperm throughout fertile years. Other than Y chromosomes only supplied by ♂⚧, would the chromatin in testes/ovaries differ?
Are certain secallosomes only carried by someone of a certain status? Continuing with the above assumptions, if an alpha has AAA secallosomes, they would have no O secallosome to contribute; vice versa for OOO omegas. (Unless that individual had tetrasomy providing that secallosome.)
Betas, as discussed, could carry either or both A and O secallosomes, but would not themselves present as alpha/omega unless they had matching secallosome trisomy (and possibly epigenetic-facilitated expression of specific genes).
BUT. What if you had a B⚧ who DID express those alpha/omega genes? Like, say their secallosomes were AA but a mutation caused overexpression of alpha genes. They would present as alpha, even without the typically necessary third A secallosome required to express those alpha genes in sufficient quantity. They'd never know unless they got a karyotype done.
We have transsexual/transgender people IRL undergoing HRT to dampen certain characteristic presentation and express others. What would A/B/O worlds be like if we introduced HRT for transstatus individuals? What might their social/medical/inner experience be like?
A/B/O worlds often include heat suppression meds as birth control/cycle control - presumably those are based on hormone treatments. Is there alpha birth control? Is it based on ruts or on preventing conception with an omega in heat? Getting a little off base from the genetics thought experiment.
What would gender euphoria/dysphoria be like for someone born A♀ who's transmasc? Could trans O♂ people have bottom surgery to get their uterus disconnected from the rectum and connected to their neovagina? Would being transgender/transstatus correlate?
What would it be like to be born B♂, but identify as trans - say, trans-A♀ - How would that be different/similar to A♂ or B♀ trans experience? Would "mono-trans" (M/F/X *or* A/B/O/X) and "dual-trans" (above but *and*) be a thing?
What would statusfluidity be like? How would it be similar or different to genderfluidity?
What about transstatus folx who don't want to transition medically -- what do A/B/O/X mean as gender divorced from body parts/reproductive status? How is that similar or different from M/F/X? Is "masc(ulinity)" associated with maleness, alphaness, both, its own thing? What's transmasc experience like for a B♂ compared to a B♀ or A♀? or for someone OX?
Some HRT induces change that is irreversible: rougher vocal chords, clit growth, body hair (tho that can be lasered off). Some is reversible: fat distribution, muscularity, temp tolerance. What about HRT for transstatusness - what changes would be (ir)reversible? What does rut look like for someone with a clit, and what would a knot on a tdick be like? How about heat for someone who doesn't have a uterus?
What would rut be like for a trans woman alpha? Given the likely impact of HRT on erection and ejaculation (that is, engorged but not hard and in long dribbles rather than one cumshot, respectively), what would knotting be like? Or would turgidness/cum quantity be retained due to alpha hormones?
Do A♀ have external testes or internal? They're external in human ♂/⚧ because sperm production is BONKERS fast and produces a ton of heat. Would A♀ with internal testes just produce less sperm or perhaps have a more efficient manner of development with less waste heat? Would she have a prostate and seminal vesicles to produce the copious amounts of prostatic fluid needed for cum flooding?
Wondering how they would respond to different HRT courses. How slick responds to which hormones, whether those mucosal cells would atrophy as in the vagina with lower estrogen.
I wonder who else has gone this sort of bonkers over A/B/O genetics and transness, there must be stories I just haven't come across.