mateform is only form that can reproduce

[Guest]

I get that most of the forms for singes are asexual and are considered different genders (technically) but are any of them biologically capable of reproduction? My guess is no because the secondary sexual characteristics are subdued in them. However, if they were, it makes me wonder if they would produce different human/singer hybrids. I.e. mateform plus human = Unkalaki and workform + human = Herdazian and etc. 

[Ixthos Luke/Luke]

Dullform, or at least Slaveform, can reproduce as well, as otherwise the singer species would have gone extinct. There may also be more esoteric forms that can reproduce, though they may not be as successful as mateform, hence the need for that form still.

 

[Edit]

Quote

RenegadeShroom

You said earlier that Parshendi are primarily asexual, does that extend to all Listeners -- parshmen, and those descended from Listeners, like Horneaters and Herdazians -- or is it just the Parshendi?

Brandon Sanderson

Most Listener forms are asexual, but several forms are different, including slaveform. Horneaters and Herdazians are not, as a rule, though there are higher instances of asexuality among them.

uchoo786

I was actually wondering about how Parshmen would reproduce if they are only in slaveform? I thought one had to be in mateform in order to reproduce?

Also, could Horneaters and Herdazians change forms as well?

Brandon Sanderson

For the first, mateform is not the only form capable of producing--any more than warform is the only one capable of swinging a sword. The forms are specializations.

For the second, RAFO.

/r/books AMA 2015 (May 19, 2015)

 

Edited February 23, 2022 by Ixthos

[Guest]

Ah, this WOB makes me think that all of the different forms can. Now, would a Fused+human be different than singer+human or one of the higher forms+human? 

[Frustration]

19 minutes ago, DougTheRug said:

Ah, this WOB makes me think that all of the different forms can.

Most cannot, but some can.

[Honorless he/him]

On 2/23/2022 at 9:27 PM, DougTheRug said:

I get that most of the forms for singes are asexual and are considered different genders (technically) but are any of them biologically capable of reproduction? My guess is no because the secondary sexual characteristics are subdued in them. However, if they were, it makes me wonder if they would produce different human/singer hybrids. I.e. mateform plus human = Unkalaki and workform + human = Herdazian and etc. 

Oh that is a very interesting idea on where the two different hybrids came from! I wonder if a hybrid species that could have a Gemheart might be possible or what would happen if one of the Regals or the Fused had hybrid children. Era 4 questions, I guess... 

[Guest]

@Honorless, it is fascinating to think about. I was thinking about the difference between mules and hinnies (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mule) and wondered if something similar could happen with the singers and humans. 

[dbulick]

On 2/24/2022 at 3:03 PM, DougTheRug said:

Ah, this WOB makes me think that all of the different forms can. Now, would a Fused+human be different than singer+human or one of the higher forms+human? 

Do the genetics of the Singer change based on what form they are in?  Assuming they reproduce sexually, would the sperm and egg change depending on the form?  I would tend to think no?  My guess is that the Horneaters and Herdazians are different just because of divergent evolution.  They probably started off pretty similar, but over years diverged.

[Guest]

@dbulick, I have no idea for sure. My guess is that they don't but they might? I read somewhere that there is very little difference, genetically speaking, between the different dog breeds but obviously those small differences mean huge changes. It would be really cool if their genetics did change slightly between forms. Also, a quick skim through the article I put about Mules vs Hinnies suggests that, even if they don't change genetically, there might be a difference anyways. It says that there is a difference between male horse + female donkey (hinny) compared to male donkey + female horse (mule) and that the cause of the difference isn't fully understood. Womb size was just one of the factors they mentioned. 

Though, even if we said that there is no genetic difference for singers between the forms, different forms could make a difference with the amount of infestiture present in the womb and which shard it's associated with. Maybe (and I'm really speculating here) a pregnant stormform's child would be more connected to Odium than a pregnant mateform's. 

[ReinyxGrey]

Does the fact that Brandon RAFO'd the Herdazian and Horneater question mean that it is definitely going to be addressed?

 

.... are we gonna have a stormform Lopen?

THE LOPEN STORM COMES.