To: ogrady
From: hwu
Subject: List of components
Date: January 4, 2013

Owen-

Here's a list of all the species utilized in the engineering of DR1 and DR2. I've also tried to be specific in how each set of genetic material was used.

Tyrannosaurus rex (base genome)
Ceratosaurus nasicornis (nasal horn)
Carnotaurus sastrei (brow horns/teeth)
Bitis gabonica (forked tongue - cosmetic)
Tursiops truncatus (filler)
Giganotosaurus carolinii (teeth)
Amaragasaurus cazaui (neural spines)
Ankylosaurus magniventris (osteoderms/tail club)
Kentrosaurus aethiopicus (shoulder spikes)
Therizinosaurus cheloniformis (hands/claws/arms)
Homo sapiens (wrist)
Unidentified dromaeosaurid (Velociraptor sp.? – legs/feet)
Brachinus testaceus (filler)
Sepia piana (accelerate metabolism)
Nodosaurus textilis (ventral spikes)
Diplodocus hallorum (tail)
Scinax ruber (local acclimation)
Stegosaurus armatus (tail spikes)

I hope this list clears things up and helps you to better understand the new assets. Good luck

- Henry

To: hwu
From: ogrady
Subject: re: List of components
Date: January 5,2013

Henry –

Okay, thanks for the list, but I have some very serious questions about these component species.

1. What exactly do you mean by 'filler?' Filler is listed twice and I'm not entirely clear on what exactly you mean by that.

2. It would have been really good to know that these things had bombardier beetle DNA in them before we started trying to handle them. One of the handlers nearly lost their arm because of that. He's still in the burn ward (you have been warned).

3. The creatures appear to be capable of camouflaging in the infrared spectrum. Please let me know if any of the above listed species have that ability,

4. I am very concerned by the presence of human DNA in these animals' genetic makeup. Apart from the potential illegality of the issue, both siblings are displaying heightened cognitive abilities. There are three species that this might be related to – the cuttlefish, the raptor, and the human. Please, please tell me that there is no trace of human DNA in their brain structure.

I'm sorry if I come off as a little angry. It's just that the two siblings have been extremely aggressive and have resisted even basic attempts at socialization. I know that it's only been a week since they hatched, but they're already less tolerant of humans than any animals I've ever worked with (and remember who you're talking to)

Please get back to me ASAP

-Owen

To: ogrady
From: hwu
Subject: List of components
Date: January 5, 2013

Owen –

I apologize for the lack of clear communication on my part. When you've been reconstructing animals for as long as I have, you forget to mention core details that other people aren't as accustomed to.

Filler is simply an informal term referring to filling in gaps in the hybrids' genetic codes. There were certain key pieces of genetic information that had to make it into the genomes based on the finalized design, and some pieces were added to 'fill in' the spaces between those key pieces.

I'm terribly sorry, I didn't realize that the bombardier beetle genes would manifest themselves in that way. They were used as filler, and not meant to actually appear noticeably within the phenotype. Ingen will gladly compensate any and all medical expenses.

From what I understand, that ability probably comes from the DNA of the red-snouted tree frog (Scinax ruber). Those genes were added to help them acclimate to a tropical climate. The infrared camo-abilities must be a side effect (this wouldn't be the first time that frog DNA had unintended consequences).

I absolutely understand your concerns, Owen, but I assure you that the Diabolus do not have human levels of intelligence. Their cognitive abilities are based on those of the raptors, like yours, since we know they can be trained. So it's no surprise that they're already displaying higher levels of learning and memory.

I understand your frustrations, and commend you on your dedication to your job. The exaggerated aggression you describe actually makes sense when you consider how many predatory species are included into their genomes. The finalized creature design emphasized overly-exaggerated predator features – spikes, teeth, claws, etc. – so it is to be expected that the corresponding behavioral traits would also manifest at some point.

Again, I wish you luck as you work to acclimate them to being around humans more.

- Henry