Genetic exchange between animal and plant, Elves love trees
This question has its origins in the word "dendraphile" used in a YouTube comment. It was used in an insult used by dwarves towards elves. My chain of thought then was that the dwarves would use plainer language like "tree hugger" and after drinking enough beer the "hugger" would be replaced by cruder word implying sexual intercourse. At that point my inner dwarf was like: "It would be just like Elves! Humpf!"
But the thing is having sex with trees really would fit Elves. They totally would do it if it was practical as part of some weird ritual about being more in sync with the nature. And with magic very little is impractical. Especially for a race that typically uses millennia on some pretty pointless projects because they have some serious personality issues.
Then I got to thinking about the specifics. Sex is basically exchange of DNA. It can happen between species and in some cases even between very different species. Bacteria like to exchange DNA with anything and viruses can ferry DNA between cells.
But all examples I know are fairly random and irregular. Despite this starting from and being based on fantasy I'd like a science based explanation of how regular and predictable genetic exchange would work. Specifically the consequences. We can leave the mechanics of how it happens to "Elves are weird and have magic". I am just interested on how the plant material would fit into the animal cells and what consequences it might have. And same the other way around. What could the plants give animals and what could animals give plants.
Note that despite the fantasy elements the actual question is about the science based part. I'd prefer hard science but honestly the background probably takes this too far outside of what might have been studied so requiring citations might be too much. Still it is the hard science part of plant and animal genetics I am interested in. Speculation I can do myself.
This post was sourced from https://worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/q/146725. It is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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Our bodies are 1-3% bacteria by weight.
Bacteria is vital for our functioning; killing it off has consequences. All cultures (except our very modern one) have special foods and activities that support our healthy microbiome.
The very first time we are colonized with bacteria is during birth. Breastfeeding is also an early source of healthy bacteria.
Many bacterial sources for the infant derive from the maternal microbiota. Therefore, beneficial infant colonization is dependent upon maternal genetics, environmental exposures and diet before and during pregnancy as well as during breast feeding. For example, prenatal maternal exposure to farm animals and consumption of raw milk is associated with decreased atopic disease.
Perhaps there is something about trees...
The soil around trees is filled with amazing colonies of bacteria and other micro-organisms. Bark too. Leaves. Everything.
Imagine a particular species (and/or location) of tree whose microbiome is synergistically connected with that of elves. This may not be a genetic exchange in the same sense we mean that two elves (or two trees) exchange genetic material with each other, but it's still a genetic exchange. Bacteria is vital for humans; you could make these bacteria even more vital for elves.
Treef---- ... umm "tree whoopee" could be part of their fertility rites. Imagine rituals at puberty, before marriage/partnering, and during pregnancy. As well as couples hoping to conceive rolling around in the dirt and fallen leaves under the trees.
While all my examples are for female elves and genderless trees, we can imagine that male elves would also get in on the action. In part to boost their own microbiome (after all, we humans have to replenish our bacterial stock regularly, with our food) and in solidarity with the women. This would be best done orally. But for pubescent boys and men too who feel a particular action is required, I'm sure you can easily come up with cultural reasons for it.
Remember too the origins of the word "culture." While it comes from cultivation of the soil (a task that involves microbiomes of many kinds), it also has a relationship to food cultures. Cultured foods are those that are fermented, i.e., inoculated with bacteria which is encouraged to grow.
Elves and trees, well, it's a special relationship. One necessary for their health and wellbeing. Good for the trees too, as they're protected and cared for and can reproduce with ease, with the help of the elves.
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