“Chironomid Larvae Are Opportunistic Omnivores (they Can Eat Pretty Much Anything That Can Be Eaten)

Oh okay

Fear

Eevee's toy time

Questioner: My question is about biology and genetics. We've seen that magical systems rely on *inaudible* genetics, like allomancy, or spiritual DNA. Can we use *inaudible* CRISPR to either weaponize or take someone's magical ability or give them a magical ability?

Brandon Sanderson: Kind of. The in-world version of this is Hemalurgy, as you already know. There are methods that would do this, but straight genetics alone with CRISPR wouldn't do it.

You need the spiritual component for these to work, almost assuredly. You might be able to use CRISPR... no, I don't think there are any of them it would work on. Is it possible you could make someone into a kandra?

That may be possible, right? But I'm not 100% sure on that.

Questioner: Can you use CRISPR with Ashyn viruses or bacteria?

Brandon Sanderson: Probably not, but that's more likely. I'd have to think on that. I'm gonna say "probably not" for now, but we'll minorly RAFO that. Good questions.

Youre telling me the bartender is a mouse? Shes a girl whos a mouse? *chuckles warmly* That's pretty out there. I'm too old for that kind of thing, but you have fun with that. *to myself after you walk away, but with no trace of spite in my voice* A bartender who's a mouse... what will they think of next?

Comatricha nigra by barrywebbimages

Platismatia lacunosa 

Crinkled rag lichen

Why is she so shape? I don't know. One of the many perplexing mysteries of the lichen kingdom.

images: source