Div_Head, SeniorAdmin, Administrators
4,885
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m
Depending on whom you ask, Andorian reproduction involves two people with two roles each in the reproductive process, or there are four people required who each do one thing. These might be different social conventions built on the same biological facts. Two-person mating is prolific, whereas the four-person mating entails a narrow window of fertility and low birth-rate. In the 22nd and [[23rd Century|23rd Centuries]], some Andorians at least describe themselves as male or female, at least in discussion with non-Andorians, and they formed one-male/one-female pair-bonds. By the late [[24th Century]], the four genders were used in general conversation, and four-person bonds were rigidly enforced by the dominant Andorian culture, with severe social penalties for non-compliance. This lead to a declining birth-rate and fears of a population crash. In the 23rd Century on, Andorians from both traditions are encountered.
The [[gamete]]s of each "male" gender contain one quarter of the number of [[chromosome]]s necessary to produce offspring. During the conception of an Andorian child, the chan fertilizes a shen's egg with his [[gamete]]s. The zhaan then also fertilizes the egg. This produces a fertilized egg that develops into a [[zygote]]. The shen will then transfer the [[zygote]] to the zhen's pouch, where it develops into an [[embryo]]. The Andorian [[fetus]] is incubated and nourished to term in the zhen's pouch. The zhen does not contribute genetically to offspring. Another term for zhen is zhavey, which means "zhen mother".
no edit summary
The Andorian species is uniquely composed of four genders: "zhen"- infertile female, "shen"- fertile female, "chan"- fertile male, and "thaan"- infertile male. For a long time this was the source of a population crisis for the Andorian people as they struggled to maintain replacement rates for the species.
This is also the source for naming. A prefix corresponding with the gender of the Andorian is added to their clan surname (zh' sh' ch' th'). A child that is considered neuter or is born of a one-male/one-female mating will take the clan name of the fertile male parent until their marriage bond is completed, and then the prefix is changed to their gender.
Andorians reproductive organs are normally entirely retracted and the gender of some Andorians can be difficult to discern to outsiders. In some Andorian societies, Andorians are treated as neuter until they marry. In others, individuals are treated as gendered from childhood.
In the 22nd and [[23rd Century|23rd Centuries]], some Andorians at least describe themselves as male or female, at least in discussion with non-Andorians, and they formed one-male/one-female pair-bonds. This would eventually lead to a declining birth-rate and fears of a population crash.
====One-Male/One-Female Pair-Bonds====
When a fertile Andorian forms a serious emotional attachment to another of the opposite sex, their normal [[telepathy#empathy|empathic]] connection deepens into a full telepathic bond. This process, known as formal courtship, lasts several months, often a year and more. During this courtship, the telepathic bonding, by a method the Andorians are reluctant to reveal, causes physiological changes that bring on full fertility.
From the time of the first symptoms of change, the couple is considered betrothed, and they may marry at any time before the final bonding. Final bonding consists of mating between a male and a female while both are in full telepathic rapport for the first time, and sometimes results in the first pregnancy.
There is no divorce among Andorians; the marriage bond lasts for life, and the death of one partner usually causes death for the other. This is especially true if the death of one partner occurs by violence; the resulting telepathic shock causes sudden and severe stress to the heart, often resulting in fatal [[coronary occlusion]]. A widowed Andorian who survives the initial shock is still prey to psychic disorientation, [[Endocrine System|endocrine]] imbalance and savage psychological [[depression]]; these are often sufficient to cause the widowed partner to "lay doon and dee" (lay down and die) in a fashion familiar to any observer of telepathic and semi-telepathic species.
===="True Mating" (shelthreth)====
In order for Andorians to produce a child it takes 1 of each gender. They each have a specific role to play. This starts with the Thaan fertilizing the Shen's egg. Then the Chan has to fertilize it next. The reason for this is that the 2 males, the Thaan and the Chan each have 1/4 of the necessary genetic material needed to create a child. The Shen has the other half with in her egg. Once the egg has developed into a fetus it has to be transferred to the Zhen. This is because only way for the infertile genders Zhen can nurse the young. When the Shen becomes pregnant special glands along the Zhen's spine become active. They will secrete a membrane that forms a pouch around the lower torso. At this time the 4 teats on the Zhen's lower abdomen will start to form milk. Unlike Humans these do not result in rounded breasts. The inner lining of the pouch produces a thick gel that will protect the baby while it nurses until it is mature enough to survive outside of the pouch. Once the baby has emerged from the pouch the Zhen will come out of protective seclusion. Her pouch will dry up and flake away. The other 3 bondmates will then assist by rubbing her with oils and help to peel off the remains of the now useless pouch. Due to the fact that Andorian fertility periods have been slowly getting shorter they will try to conceive as many children as possible during this period and since fewer viable children have been born the Andorians have been forced to arrange bondings among genetically compatible members of their society. This has replaced allowing the young people to pick their bondmates. As with most humanoid races, most Andorians will experiment with sex at puberty. Since their fertility period is so short it is impossible to produce childrenoffspring before or after this time. If they are found to be genetically acceptable they will generally be bonded by the age of 23.
== Psychology ==
Andorians are known as a violence-prone people, but in truth they are simply very passionate. Andorians, like Vulcans, experience incredibly strong emotions, but unlike the Vulcans, who repress their strong and dangerous emotions, Andorians have developed a method of expressing their emotions in short, controlled bursts. What this means is that, when dealing with Andorians, one should expect extremes of emotions. You will never encounter an angry Andorian, you will encounter a VERY angry Andorian, or a very happy or very sad Andorian. This also means that most Andorians are very serious about themselves and their honor, and thus can be easily offended. This should be kept in mind when treating Andorian patients.
