"Myths of SF: Bioships & Organic Spacecraft" Topic

" It is integral to the nature of SF(defined in the strictest sense) that the technology it portrays is advanced, or in some way unusual. It is, after all, the reason that many people read SF over other genres. Partially because of this biotechnology has become rampant in SF, never achieving widespread attention in the way that hyperdrives or blasters have, but appearing in many and varied works throughout the history of the genre. Biotechnology of the kind needed to produce a spacecraft, or even part of one, is so far beyond current human understanding that it sets the story firmly in the far future, or ensures that a alien race is seen as more advanced. And therein lies the problem, although a problem that only hard SF fans such as myself may object to.

In almost all works biotechnology – especially bioships, which will be my focus – are far more powerful/effective than any comparable tech. The Yuuzhan Vong(Star Wars), Species 8472(Star Trek), Edenists(Night's Dawn Trilogy), Shadows(Babylon 5), Wraith(Stargate Atlantis), Tyranids(WarHammer 40K), to name a few, all had spacecraft superior or equivalent to those that they faced. Even when their superiority is not demonstrated through combat the organic spacecraft are often seen as more advanced than their mechanical counterparts, like the TARDIS from Doctor Who, or Moya from Farscape. And although we have very little knowledge of how a bishop might function it seems certain that it would not be faster, be more resilient, have better weapons, etc than a mechanical ship.

When confronted with this unfortunate truth the reaction of a SF addict is often to state that "its the future, they know things we don't", or "they're aliens and more advanced", or "its a story". Of these only the last is a real excuse, and even then is only valid when writing 'soft SF'. Why is this the case? Mostly it is due to the difference between the structure of biological and nonbiological materials at a molecular scale, along with several restrictions imposed by the growth of the ship. Because the non-biological structure is constructed externally it does not have to have provision for growth or del repair – instead of single cells it can be homogenous or structured solely to maximise a particular trait. The result of this is that any material assembled biologically will be inferior to a nonbiological material. It is not that simple however, the biological materials will have different properties and so designs will be different to make use of them, somewhat negating the less optimal materials. The small applies to larger structures or constructs…"

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Amicalement
Armand

Until now there was no incentive for 'biological' matter to evolve longterm durability on a basis of individual organisms because of the variable environmental circumstances on the planet in the long run.
They are short time optimized continouus throwaway prototypes with a reboot system called procreation and a build in random generator for variablity in their descendants.
Sex, gene drift and some more.

Extremeophiles on the other hand are a well known phenomenon in biology.
So it stands to argue what can be grown.
If it was never done because 'no body' and nobody had a reason to do it.
Or better said, there was never one left with such properties he could transfer to his descendants.

Now that there is one on this planet with a high enough intelligence to at least think about it as an option it still is questionable why it should do that.
Where would be the advantages?

Beside the sense of wonder, the aestetics and the creep factor of course?

Some creatures reproduce by cloning, so genetic drift could be significantly reduced. Biological processes can be viewed as macro scale nanotech. We already have terrestrial creatures that can metabolize and excrete iron scales. If your universe has psionics, that opens the magi-tech flood gates.

Of course we could 'grow' things, infrastructure and other.
Even now.
Probably on a much bigger scale than just some Mycellium bricks now.
We probably could also accelerate the growth process.
And sometime in the future we could use artificially grown biological functions like that of the liver or the kidneys.

But I do not see the advantage over 'simple' rocket science, traditional engineering and cost effective materials science.

For now traditional flesh production out of livestock may be cheaper for a long time.
The moment artificially produced flesh will be cheaper to produce to feed a still growing human population with appetite for it, the traditional form will be gone.

I can't imaging how such a situation should arise that it would be feasable, effective and efficient for a space faring civilisation to grow their space ships,beside the coolness factor.
As long as we are not talking here about selfsufficient environmental habitats in space for long time journeys, huge sheltering craddle organisms as little gaia earths, so to say.

Silent running on 'shrooms and without Joan Baez:
‌Rejoice in the Sun

I still love this movie despite its kitsch factor.

Thanks!.

Amicalement
Armand