spoiler The Crystalling and the Genetic Dilemma

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

So, after watching the Season 6 premier, it got me thinking a lot...about genetics.

 

I heard that Celestia and Luna weren't born as alicorns, so there goes my head canon about the Equestrian Universe's formation. But it still could be proven. So, Celestia and Luna were definitely born as unicorns and studied their respective ordinances. 

 

Moving on to Princess Cadance (I spell it Cadence), she was born as a pegasus. Once she understood the true meaning of love, that's when she turned into an alicorn. When Shining Armor steps into the picture, this is when things get a little crazy. 

 

You see, a long time ago, I posted a topic about pony genetics, stating that pegasai and unicorns formed because of trisomies in a certain chromosome number. You can find this topic here: https://mlpforums.com/topic/76407-pony-genetics/

 

The topic above also explains that the only way for an alicorn offspring to sprout is by double mutation. Princess Cadence started out as a pegasus, before becoming an alicorn. The fact that she became an alicorn, doesn't change the fact that her genes show that she was a pegasus originally. Shining Armor is a unicorn. The topic above also states that just because a pegasus and unicorn breed doesn't mean the offspring will automatically be an alicorn. Remember, the dominant species always comes from the father. 

 

Flurry Heart, the new Crystalling is an example of the double mutation. What happened what that both trisomies in Cadence and Shining Amor's genetic code transferred over during conception. Usually, what is supposed to happen, is the father's species transfers over. 

 

This is the genetic dilemma. The fact that Cadence and Shining Armor are of royalty could increase the chance of this double-mutation occurring, which begs the question: If Princess Celestia had a male counterpart ruling alongside her, but was not an alicorn, would this cause the double-mutation? Chances are increased, but this doesn't mean that this is a direct yes. 

 

Thoughts?

[Daring_Do 552]

So, after watching the Season 6 premier, it got me thinking a lot...about genetics.

 

I heard that Celestia and Luna weren't born as alicorns, so there goes my head canon about the Equestrian Universe's formation. But it still could be proven. So, Celestia and Luna were definitely born as unicorns and studied their respective ordinances. 

 

Moving on to Princess Cadance (I spell it Cadence), she was born as a pegasus. Once she understood the true meaning of love, that's when she turned into an alicorn. When Shining Armor steps into the picture, this is when things get a little crazy. 

 

You see, a long time ago, I posted a topic about pony genetics, stating that pegasai and unicorns formed because of trisomies in a certain chromosome number. You can find this topic here: https://mlpforums.com/topic/76407-pony-genetics/

 

The topic above also explains that the only way for an alicorn offspring to sprout is by double mutation. Princess Cadence started out as a pegasus, before becoming an alicorn. The fact that she became an alicorn, doesn't change the fact that her genes show that she was a pegasus originally. Shining Armor is a unicorn. The topic above also states that just because a pegasus and unicorn breed doesn't mean the offspring will automatically be an alicorn. Remember, the dominant species always comes from the father. 

 

Flurry Heart, the new Crystalling is an example of the double mutation. What happened what that both trisomies in Cadence and Shining Amor's genetic code transferred over during conception. Usually, what is supposed to happen, is the father's species transfers over. 

 

This is the genetic dilemma. The fact that Cadence and Shining Armor are of royalty could increase the chance of this double-mutation occurring, which begs the question: If Princess Celestia had a male counterpart ruling alongside her, but was not an alicorn, would this cause the double-mutation? Chances are increased, but this doesn't mean that this is a direct yes. 

 

Thoughts?

If we take Word of Faust into account, they couldn't have made the universe anyway (assuming that's what your headcanon was).

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@@Daring_Do,

 

Yep. I knew the universe had to be created some way and somehow...unless there is an all-powerful pony deity that could be mentioned sometime...who knows... 

[Daring_Do 552]

@@Daring_Do,

 

Yep. I knew the universe had to be created some way and somehow...unless there is an all-powerful pony deity that could be mentioned sometime...who knows... 

Faust didn't see these two as gods, though, and imagined them having parents. So they were actually naturally born at some point - and from a couple things, I suspect her original plan (overwritten by S4, ofc) was for Celestia and Luna to be fillies at the time of the NMM incident.

 

They may actually have been fillies at the time of Journal of the Two Sisters (expanded universe material written by AKR; It's supposed to be the journal that Twilight finds in the S4 opener) - and that journal's set only just a little over 1000 years ago by the looks of it.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@@Daring_Do,

 

Yeah, and that book states Discord had ruled the world until the two sisters finally defeated him.  

[Daring_Do 552]

@@Daring_Do,

 

Yeah, and that book states Discord had ruled the world until the two sisters finally defeated him.  

The book actually doesn't mention Discord at all, interestingly. The S2 opener says he ruled Equestria in an eternal state of unrest and unhappiness til Luna and Celestia stood up to him; That implied to me at the time that they basically usurped him, but considering the Journal doesn't mention him at all... I'm thinking it's been softened/retconned into the idea that they were the rightful rulers anyway and were just taking their throne back.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

The book actually doesn't mention Discord at all, interestingly. The S2 opener says he ruled Equestria in an eternal state of unrest and unhappiness til Luna and Celestia stood up to him; That implied to me at the time that they basically usurped him, but considering the Journal doesn't mention him at all... I'm thinking it's been softened/retconned into the idea that they were the rightful rulers anyway and were just taking their throne back.

But then that still doesn't answer whether alicorns can sprout from royal families...

[Daring_Do 552]

But then that still doesn't answer whether alicorns can sprout from royal families...

Mm, true, I am kinda getting off topic here. One last thing I forgot, though - Hearth's Warming Eve shows us that regular unicorns raised the sun and moon back in the day. That's another thing that shows that Celestia and Luna weren't always around. (The Journal of the Two Sisters expands on this a little and shows how they started raising it instead of the regular old unicorns)

Edited March 27, 2016 by Daring_Do

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@@Daring_Do,

 

Which is why I mentioned in the OP Celestia and Luna devoted their lives to being the wielders of the sun and moon.  

[Castle Bleck 19,386]

The book actually doesn't mention Discord at all, interestingly. The S2 opener says he ruled Equestria in an eternal state of unrest and unhappiness til Luna and Celestia stood up to him; That implied to me at the time that they basically usurped him, but considering the Journal doesn't mention him at all... I'm thinking it's been softened/retconned into the idea that they were the rightful rulers anyway and were just taking their throne back.

 

For all we know, his "rule" was basically a metaphor for "going wherever he wants, doing whatever he wants," and they simply didn't encounter him until after the book.

 

The most "kingly" thing he's ever done is dress up like a king, ride a unicycle, and chase Clown!Celestia and Clown!Luna around.

[Daring_Do 552]

For all we know, his "rule" was basically a metaphor for "going wherever he wants, doing whatever he wants," and they simply didn't encounter him until after the book.

 

The most "kingly" thing he's ever done is dress up like a king, ride a unicycle, and chase Clown!Celestia and Clown!Luna around.

Well, it says:

 

"Discord is the mischievous spirit of disharmony. Before my sister and I stood up to him, he ruled Equestria in an eternal state of unrest and unhappiness. Luna and I saw how miserable life was for Earth ponies, Pegasi, and unicorns alike, so after discovering the Elements of Harmony, we combined our powers and rose up against him, turning him to stone."

 

To me that language doesn't sound like metaphor.