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San'Shyuum: Difference between revisions
→Reproduction and life cycle
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{{Quote|It is upon me! And, as you and I are not on the Roll of Celibates, and as our people are in tragic need of offspring, of continuation… I suggest that when the mood strikes us this evening, we look to the possibility of generating a new San'Shyuum life…|[[Cresanda]] to her mate, [[Mken 'Scre'ah'ben]], during a time of Reproductive Yielding<ref name="bc62"/>}} | {{Quote|It is upon me! And, as you and I are not on the Roll of Celibates, and as our people are in tragic need of offspring, of continuation… I suggest that when the mood strikes us this evening, we look to the possibility of generating a new San'Shyuum life…|[[Cresanda]] to her mate, [[Mken 'Scre'ah'ben]], during a time of Reproductive Yielding<ref name="bc62"/>}} | ||
[[File:H2AMercy1.jpg|thumb|250px|The Prophet of Mercy, an elderly San'Shyuum.]] | [[File:H2AMercy1.jpg|thumb|250px|The Prophet of Mercy, an elderly San'Shyuum.]] | ||
The fertility cycle of a female San'Shyuum is short and rather uncommon, with a great amount of time in between each one. When the female was fertile, specific hormones caused male San'Shyuum to have a greater desire for [[Reproduction|procreation]] with their mate.<ref name="bc62"/> The species apparently give birth to live offspring.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 171''</ref> Female San'Shyuum generally give birth to a single child, though broods of twins and triplets are possible. Pregnancy and childbirth becomes increasingly difficult with advanced age.<ref name="ch261">'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 261-265''</ref> The fertility cycle of the San'Shyuum was referred to as the time of Reproductive Yielding.<ref name="bc62"/> Due to the relatively small population of fertile San'Shyuum, the species' population growth has been dwindling and recessive traits are being expressed with greater frequency with each successive generation, despite [[Roll of Celibates|efforts]] within San'Shyuum society to maintain genetic stability and prevent the spread of recessive traits. However, in the past, some chose to keep their bloodlines "pure".<ref name="Best"/> During the Covenant's waning years, the [[Ministry of Preparation]] utilized Forerunner [[Lifeworker]] machinery within the [[Sacred Promissory]] to alter a San'Shyuum's genes; [[Biological augmentation|augmented]] as [[Prelate]]s, these San'Shyuum were able to breed without spreading recessive traits to offspring and were used in offensive roles.<ref>'''Halo: Shadow of Intent''', ''page 29'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Prelates were created with the assistance of [[chirurgeon]]s, who accomplished this work not only on ''High Charity'' but also aboard specialized [[DSC-class support ship|DSC-class agricultural support ships]] fitted with the appropriate arcane Forerunner instrumentation.<ref>''[[Halo: Warfleet]]'' ''page 69''</ref> | The fertility cycle of a female San'Shyuum is short and rather uncommon, with a great amount of time in between each one. When the female was fertile, specific hormones caused male San'Shyuum to have a greater desire for [[Reproduction|procreation]] with their mate.<ref name="bc62"/> The species apparently give birth to live offspring.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 171''</ref> Female San'Shyuum generally give birth to a single child, though broods of twins and triplets are possible. Pregnancy and childbirth becomes increasingly difficult with advanced age.<ref name="ch261">'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''pages 261-265''</ref> The fertility cycle of the San'Shyuum was referred to as the time of Reproductive Yielding.<ref name="bc62"/> Due to the relatively small population of fertile San'Shyuum, the species' population growth has been dwindling and recessive traits are being expressed with greater frequency with each successive generation, despite [[Roll of Celibates|efforts]] within San'Shyuum society to maintain genetic stability and prevent the spread of recessive traits. However, in the past, some chose to keep their bloodlines "pure".<ref name="Best"/> During the Covenant's waning years, the [[Ministry of Preparation]] utilized Forerunner [[Lifeworker]] machinery within the [[Sacred Promissory]] that has been sourced from the so-called Dreadnought to alter a San'Shyuum's genes; [[Biological augmentation|augmented]] as [[Prelate]]s, these San'Shyuum were able to breed without spreading recessive traits to offspring and were used in offensive roles.<ref>'''Halo: Shadow of Intent''', ''page 29'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Prelates were created with the assistance of [[chirurgeon]]s, who accomplished this work not only on ''High Charity'' but also aboard specialized [[DSC-class support ship|DSC-class agricultural support ships]] fitted with the appropriate arcane Forerunner instrumentation.<ref>''[[Halo: Warfleet]]'' ''page 69''</ref> | ||
The lifespan of a San'Shyuum is extensive, largely as a result of advanced medical technology intended to ensure longevity, with many San'Shyuum living for hundreds of years.<ref name="universe"/> Such a process began in about [[1552]], approximately one thousand years before the collapse of the Covenant. Currently, more than a quarter of their population are now super-bicentenarians.<ref name="Best"/> With age, hair grows more sparsely and white, the skin pales,<ref name="ch143"/> and physical ailments such as [[Wikipedia:arthritis|arthritis]] develop.<ref name="bc161">'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''pages 161-163'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Elder San'Shyuum in the Covenant were forced to use their herbal medicines regularly.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 48''</ref> The San'Shyuum were also remarkably long-lived by the time of the Forerunners; the [[First Prophet]], for example, was over nine thousand years old by [[97,445 BCE]].<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 216''</ref> | The lifespan of a San'Shyuum is extensive, largely as a result of advanced medical technology intended to ensure longevity, with many San'Shyuum living for hundreds of years.<ref name="universe"/> Such a process began in about [[1552]], approximately one thousand years before the collapse of the Covenant. Currently, more than a quarter of their population are now super-bicentenarians.<ref name="Best"/> With age, hair grows more sparsely and white, the skin pales,<ref name="ch143"/> and physical ailments such as [[Wikipedia:arthritis|arthritis]] develop.<ref name="bc161">'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''pages 161-163'' (Google Play edition)</ref> Elder San'Shyuum in the Covenant were forced to use their herbal medicines regularly.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 48''</ref> The San'Shyuum were also remarkably long-lived by the time of the Forerunners; the [[First Prophet]], for example, was over nine thousand years old by [[97,445 BCE]].<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 216''</ref> | ||