Blueing

Public epidemiologic record
Property of the Royal Atheneum of Hövnís, Eörpe

Blueing is a common, benignant genetic mutation found in most species living on solagen-atmosphere planets, where the bahtoanite mineral is present in the hydrosphere.

Etymology & Definition

The name of the condition is rather to the point, stemming from the fact that those affected by it will take on a blue to violet pigmentation. The condition was given its official name by Dr. Ideanis Seyfal when its records were first added to the Royal Atheneum of Hövnís.

Cause

The mutation is caused by the long-term exposure and/or ingestion of the bahtoanite mineral. It’s a gradual and cumulative change, rarely showing in the first generation of a species newly immigrated to such a planet and instead will be fully developed within 3-4 generations.

Genetics

Once the mutation is fully developed, the condition is chronic and congenital, meaning it cannot be reversed and will be inherited by later generations. Scientific experiments in hybridization between species with and without the mutation has proven blueing to be strongly dominant, with nearly 97% of the resulting offspring inheriting the condition.
Known individuals with the condition that migrate to worlds or locuses lacking a bahtoanite-infused hydrosphere don’t see a recession of the mutation and is instead prone to suffer negative effects unless provided with sufficient supplements to keep their bahtoanite-levels up.

Signs & Symptoms

The blueing mutation primarily leads to a cosmetic alteration of the tissue, skin, flesh, organs, and blood pigmentation toward an increasingly blue-violet spectrum. Being exposed to higher concentrations of bahtoanite leads to a deeper shade of blue or violet, while lower concentrations lead to a more steel or silver-blue shading.
Initially, it was thought that the change in pigmentation was the result of the mutation, but it was later also proven that it at some level also alters a species’ biochemistry, making them dependent on keeping a certain level of bahtoanite in order to remain healthy.

Sequela

As long as an individual featuring the mutation lives in an environment that supplies them with the necessary daily intake of bahtoanite, the condition does not appear to incur any differences psychologically or physically aside the pigmentation change.
A lowered or lacking intake of bahtoanite has shown to result in a weakening of the pigmentation and decreased health. Matted, grey-blue skin tones have been observed in individuals that have spent long periods away from their homeworld without supplemental intake of the mineral.
Such individuals tend to initially suffer from an unspecific feeling of unwellness that over time can progress into various other symptoms of increasing severity. Such symptoms include but aren’t limited to: headache, fatigue, depression and apathy, gastrointestinal disorders, endocrinal disorders, and arrythmia. Symptoms will rarely become life-threatening but can significantly decrease an individual’s quality of life.

Condition Data

Type

Genetic Mutation

Rarity

Common

Origin

Bahtoanite exposure

Variants/Strains

None known

Contraction

Acquired, Congenital

Usual Onset

Inherited, or 3-4 generations

Duration

Chronic

Diagnostic Method

Visual, Standard Medical Scanner

Treatment

None / Bahtoanite Supplements

Spread

Estimate 68% of the galactic population

Affected Groups

Primarily species from Type I Solagen-base atmospheres.
Baluke
Bieggjan
Lusoyan
Rejinat
Therännan

Diagnosis

The condition is rarely needed to be diagnosed, and instead mostly assumed to be present in any species of blue to violet skin pigmentation that is also dependent on a solagen atmosphere.
Most medical professionals in multi-species societies will be trained to check for bahtoanite-deficiency in solagen-breathing patients that seek medical attention and display any of the symptoms common to this ailment.

Treatment

Previously, individuals working in environments where they could not naturally receive their daily intake on bahtoanite had to consult a medical professional to receive a diagnosis of bahtoanite-deficiency and get a prescription for supplements.
Today, the various symptoms of bahtoanite-deficiency are considered common and well-known enough that most larger apothecaries in multi-species societies will stock this supplement and it can freely be bought without needing a prescription first. Individuals are expected to be aware of the effects of bahtoanite-deficiency, take care of their need for supplements on their own.

Research

Blueing isn’t currently under active research, as it’s considered well-documented already. The last official study was performed by the Tarm-Leen Research Institution on Shancury, where the conditions’ status as chronical and being a dominant inherited trait was established.
Students that are a part of the Hövnís Extracurricular Education Initiative (H.E.E.I) have the chance to meet and pet Neia, a Lassin/Mirsolai hybrid that was raised as a part of this research, if they attend the Stratotastic Critters or What A World physical lecture events.

Preventative Measures

There exist no preventative measures except for a generally expected common courtesy to inform individuals wanting to settle on a solagen-base planet of the long-term effects of living in a bahtoanite-infused environment.

Culture & Society

The blueing mutation is common enough to be considered normal and mainstream, and the share of the total galactic populace carrying the mutation is estimated to be as high as 68%. The majority of the share consisting of members of the Lusoyan or Therännan species.

Media Portrayal

In the wider galactic society, lighter shades of green and blue skin are commonly portrayed as especially pleasing, beautiful, and attractive. Even among species that don’t naturally feature these skin pigmentations. For this reason, combined with their naturally graceful appearances, its popular to feature Therännan and Liman individuals in various media – especially advertisements.

Misconceptions & Superstition

It’s common to Lusoyan speciesism to refer to the blueing condition as 'Lusoyaviocin', which loosely translates to ‘mantle of the ascended’. While it in literal meaning infers that blue-violet skin pigmentation makes a being supernal to others, it’s primarily meant to point out the Lusoyan species as being superior to other sophosients.

Controversies

There is a famous case where the Beckinsal-based Tylindra Corporation was sued for having advertised and sold a luxury beauty product containing bahtoanite, claiming daily use of the product would give the user “the rich, lustrous cyan sheen of an Csianan artistocrat”.
The court judged the case in favor of the plaintiffs, with the motivation that it fell within false advertisement. The company was held liable for wrongfully suggesting that their product was able trigger the blueing genetic mutation and could give its consumer a desired blue skin color.