Difference between revisions of "758: Raptor Fences"
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
| − | In the film ''{{w|Jurassic Park (film)|Jurassic Park}},'' the protagonists are menaced (some fatally) by carnivorous dinosaurs, including very large {{w|Velociraptor|velociraptors}}. In this film the dinosaurs had been recreated via the sampling of ancient DNA recovered, primarily, from the stomachs of mosquitoes trapped in amber (fossilized tree sap) | + | In the film ''{{w|Jurassic Park (film)|Jurassic Park}},'' the protagonists are menaced (some fatally) by carnivorous dinosaurs, including very large {{w|Velociraptor|velociraptors}}. In this film the dinosaurs had been recreated via the sampling of ancient DNA recovered, primarily, from the stomachs of mosquitoes trapped in amber (fossilized tree sap). |
The caption suggests that the fear of being hunted by dinosaurs would be greatly reduced by genetically engineering them to be much smaller than their original size, apparently to about the size of a cockroach. | The caption suggests that the fear of being hunted by dinosaurs would be greatly reduced by genetically engineering them to be much smaller than their original size, apparently to about the size of a cockroach. | ||
Note that while growth is dependent on genes, it is extremely unlikely that a change to a single gene could reduce an animal in size by the factor of approximately 10,000 that is implied here. But perhaps no less unlikely than being able to recreate the dinosaurs at all in the first place. People seem ready to ascribe almost limitless powers to DNA and genetic engineering, but there are many practical constraints. | Note that while growth is dependent on genes, it is extremely unlikely that a change to a single gene could reduce an animal in size by the factor of approximately 10,000 that is implied here. But perhaps no less unlikely than being able to recreate the dinosaurs at all in the first place. People seem ready to ascribe almost limitless powers to DNA and genetic engineering, but there are many practical constraints. | ||
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| + | In reality, velociraptors were only about 50 centimeters in height. It is also believed that they were covered in feathers. These factors together would render them less than terrifying. However, the popular image of velociraptors as represented in Jurassic Park is very persistent. | ||
The title text suggests that even very small dinosaurs could be terrifying to some, if they imagined a huge number of them. The author would be pleased if this was the case. | The title text suggests that even very small dinosaurs could be terrifying to some, if they imagined a huge number of them. The author would be pleased if this was the case. | ||
Revision as of 22:45, 23 January 2014
| Raptor Fences |
 Title text: If at least one person has a nightmare about being swarmed by hundreds of mouse-sized dromaeosaurids, my work will have been done. |
Explanation
In the film Jurassic Park, the protagonists are menaced (some fatally) by carnivorous dinosaurs, including very large velociraptors. In this film the dinosaurs had been recreated via the sampling of ancient DNA recovered, primarily, from the stomachs of mosquitoes trapped in amber (fossilized tree sap).
The caption suggests that the fear of being hunted by dinosaurs would be greatly reduced by genetically engineering them to be much smaller than their original size, apparently to about the size of a cockroach.
Note that while growth is dependent on genes, it is extremely unlikely that a change to a single gene could reduce an animal in size by the factor of approximately 10,000 that is implied here. But perhaps no less unlikely than being able to recreate the dinosaurs at all in the first place. People seem ready to ascribe almost limitless powers to DNA and genetic engineering, but there are many practical constraints.
In reality, velociraptors were only about 50 centimeters in height. It is also believed that they were covered in feathers. These factors together would render them less than terrifying. However, the popular image of velociraptors as represented in Jurassic Park is very persistent.
The title text suggests that even very small dinosaurs could be terrifying to some, if they imagined a huge number of them. The author would be pleased if this was the case.
Transcript
- [Cueball checks a computer terminal while a friend is running off in the opposite direction.]
- Cueball: The raptor fences are down. They're loose.
- Friend: I'll get a broom and dustpan.
- Jurassic Park got a lot less scary when the researchers discovered they could activate the gene for extreme dwarfism.
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Is the Cueball on the left holding a lit cigar? -- Gegueure (talk) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)
The role of Samuel L. Jackson is played by Cueball in this film. ZevEisenberg (talk) 14:44, 9 August 2013 (UTC)
Does this remind you to Gulliver being attacked by tiny people in Liliput? Or the similar scene in Perry Bible Fellowships strip 95: Gnome Bubbles with the tiny gnomes? B jonas (talk) 23:35, 1 November 2013 (UTC)
- Or Ash being attacked by the mini-Ashes in Army of Darkness. Which was, of course, an homage to Gulliver's incident. -- KarMann (talk) 11:25, 19 November 2021 (UTC)
The raptor in the film might actually be Utah raptor which is as big as in the film and had no evident of feather.198.41.238.40
The picture of the feathered velociraptor seems to be partially cutting into the Discussion section, any fix? --Youforgotthisthing (talk) 00:29, 9 February 2019 (UTC)
- That appears to be a bug in the page template itself, and thus beyond my editing capabilities. The problem seems to happen when a column of illustrations is longer than the article text. Nitpicking (talk) 12:44, 4 September 2021 (UTC)
Activation of the dwarfism gene may also be a reference to the "activation" of the Lysine contingency in the movie; the raptors were bred with a genetic defect - missing the ability to produce Lysine - that could be used as a means of controlling escaped animals. The dwarfism gene activation seems like just another way of controlling the population in an exigent circumstance.
The images are broken - how do you include an image from Wikimedia Commons? - Mike Rosoft (talk) 21:30, 2 February 2022 (UTC)
- It might be easier to just grab the original from Wikimedia Commons and upload it here. The license should allow. Nitpicking (talk) 22:47, 2 February 2022 (UTC)
