fMutant Taxonomy

Human mutant theory is of course a relatively new field and as such is still hotly debated.  Even the taxonomy of common human mutations is constantly being updated and challenged.  However, there is a simple taxonomy of the subspecies level that is commonly accepted in academic circles.  Due to the many minute variations, there have been many proposals for races within those subspecies and of course some scientists have called for separating out certain types of mutants into their own species, genus, family, and even order.  Certainly in the extreme cases, such as those mutants who while sharing certain human traits, clearly share other animal, even non-mammalian traits, this rearrangement is warranted.  However, the vast majority of mutants, including those exhibiting non-mammal traits, have human intelligence, certain human habits, and even, most tellingly, the ability to breed with other humans successfully.  This last capability is that which has led most scientists to classify at least those types of mutants under the Homo sapien species while begrudgingly separating them out as a subspecies.  Of course even that is inadequate and in some quarters politically correct (some scientists prefer to refer to them as races), however, it has been accepted as the most reasonable course of action.  While all of these subspecies do consist of lower levels, those are much more uncertain.  Presented here are the subspecies belonging to the Homo sapien species as currently recognized by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. 

Brain Manipulators - Sometimes difficult to distinguish from Theoretically Impossible or even Unclassifiable mutants, BMs exhibit a strange ability to affect what others think and/or feel, directly affecting their brain's processes.  Apparently their unique ability stems from an ability to broadcast odd electronic frequencies which affect brainwaves.  While this phenomenon has been observed in some settings, it is still little-understood.  Sometimes what appear to be Brain Manipulators are actually Synthesizers emitting a chemical that affects the target's brain similarly.  Usually, though, they are affecting the same activities in the brain and thus share many aspects of "Brain Chemical Synthesizers", a further classification of Synthesizers (and sometimes grouped under Brain Manipulators).

Cyborg - While simply named, this is often challenged as a valid subspecies.  Cyborg beings are of course almost always altered humans as opposed to "genuine" mutants.  However, some seeming second-generation cyborgs have been observed.  These are legitimate mutants or mutates in that their bodies have become integrated with the machinery/cybernetics installed in them.  Cells bond to metal or electronics in previously unobserved ways.  In most cases these beings (or at least those classed as "legitimately" mutated where their actual biology has changed/is nonhuman) have a high interdependency, where the biological component can no longer subsist without the mechanical component.

Naturist - Perhaps the oddest of mutants, these are the mutants whose cell structures and/or chemical interactions have borrowed elements of non-human species, ranging from closely related animals such as apes to quite distantly related or unrelated animals such as lizards.  While their existence defies understanding to date, their state of being is in fact distinguishable as consisting of human and other elements.  In rare cases study of these mutants has yielded to discoveries regarding extinct animals they appear to mimic!

Superman or Homo sapien superior - These mutants are human in all regards except they are accelerated in cell growth/regeneration and/or have extreme physiques/mental capabilities.  In many cases there is a thin line between human and mutant in this group.  However, typically, mutants classified in this subspecies can be shown to be mutated in actual biochemical regards, where their cells or processes have visible differences from Homo sapiens.

Synthesizers - This class of mutant has the ability to synthesize material in ways humans typically cannot or in much greater quantities than humans typically can.  Often these mutants can be observed as having unusual, unexpected organs in place of or in addition to typical human ones.  For example, a synthesizer may have sweat glands which may not only produce liquid but produce it in great quantities or synthesize it into an entirely different material such as an acidic form.  Or a synthesizer may be able to change the state of material from frozen to liquid or some such; again, in this subspecies it is the direct result of a physical organ or collection of organs which visibly enact this chemical reaction.

Theoretically Impossible - A rather simple classification, these are simply homo sapiens in every physical sense who nonetheless exhibit mutant or super-human capabilities.  In theory they are "human" but in practice their abilities defy human limits.

Tool Abusers - Unlike "tool users", the subspecies somewhat jokingly referred to as Tool Abusers typically have the ability to create unusually effective tools extremely rapidly.  However, they also typically do not have the ability to replicate these tools for others' use or they seem to build the tools such that only they can understand them.  From a more clinical viewpoint, these are people whose brains have unusual structure, capacity, and/or activity.  However, in almost all cases, they also have essentially a form of autism which makes them incapable of effectively sharing and communicating their genius.  In fact, they share many traits of the autistic homo sapien.

Unclassifiable/Unknown - Beyond the pale of science, these mutants have cell structures which for one reason cannot be studied (such as totally desolid) or in and of themselves defy logic, exhibiting properties of physics or chemistry that are inexplicable.  Some refer to these as "supernatural" mutants.