Werewolves possess special duality-genes of Lycanthropy. These mutations are what give them their abilities and forms, and also are what distinguish Turned werewolves from Born ones.
This article is meant to explain the finer points of the Lycanthropy genetics, and is not vital information.
The vital information is as follows:
Born Werewolves must be the product of a werewolf (turned or born) and somebody with the recessive gene. This could be a Born werewolf, a Kinfolk, or a Superkin. They can be born to anyone but humans.
Born werewolf females can only carry Born werewolf children successfully.
Males can potentially provide successful children to Born, Turned, humans, Kinfolk, and Superkin.
Turned Werewolves are only successfully created from the Infection process of Lycanthropy on a human or a Kinfolk. They cannot be born.
Only a human or a Kinfolk can be Turned.
Turned werewolf females can only carry Born werewolf children successfully.
Males can potentially provide successful children to Born, humans, Kinfolk, and Superkin.
Kinfolk are the product of the human and the recessive gene. They can only be carried by humans or Kinfolk.
When a Kinfolk is Turned, their recessive gene is overtaken and they become a Turned werewolf.
Female Kinfolk can carry Born, human, Kinfolk, and Superkin children successfully.
Males can potentially provide successful children to Born, Turned, humans, Kinfolk, and Superkin.
Superkin have two recessive genes. They can only be carried by humans, Kinfolk, and Superkin.
A Superkin cannot be Turned.
Female Superkin can carry Born, Kinfolk, and Superkin children. (they could carry humans but cannot produce them, genetically.)
Male Superkin can potentially provide successful children to Born, Turned, humans, Kinfolk, and Superkin.
Lycanthropy is one part mutation, one part stable genetics. The markers are known (to the few in the science world who care to look) as below:
L is the dominant, aggressive "mutation" gene. It carries the information for Calling, and also activates the factors in the recessive l.
l is a recessive, dormant gene, that requires the presence of L to activate. It provides some stabilizing factors to counterpoint the L, which is why Born werewolves are usually more in control.
Only about 30% of the world's population (in areas that have had werewolf presence for a long time) are Kinfolk. Only 1 or 2% are Superkin (see below).
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An Ll is a Born were. They can only ever be produced by being Born. They can pass on either the L or the l. They can produce children with Turned werewolves, Born werewolves, Kinfolk, and humans. They can Turn humans and Kinfolk but have a harder time making it work.
Born werewolves are the only combination that is viable to be carried full-term by all species. (But cannot be produced via normal means in an hh. Can be carried if in-vitro implanted)
Born werewolves are the products of:
Kinfolk + Born
Kinfolk + Turned
Born + Born
Born + Turned
Superkin + Born
Superkin + Turned
Born werewolves can produce these combinations, depending on who they are breeding with.
Lh
LL
Ll
ll
lh
An Lh is a Turned were. The L gene attacks the weakened body of the person, taking over and mutating them. When a Turned werewolf attacks a non-werewolf, the person always dies or is Turned, except in the case of (for lack of a better name) Superkin.
When a Kinfolk is Infected by a Made/Turned were, the gene takes over and wipes out the traces of l. Making another Turned were, and not a Born.
The Lh combination is not viable for a fetus, the mutation is too damaging to the fetal body.
Turned/Made werewolves are the product of:
Infection process
Turned + Kinfolk
Turned + human
Born + Kinfolk
Born + human
Turned werewolves can produce these combinations, depending on who they are breeding with.
Lh
Ll
LL
hh
An lh is Kinfolk. They do not express any werewolf traits.
When a Kinfolk is infected by a Born were, there is a chance that the Kinfolk will survive a failed attempt.
When a Kinfolk is infected by a Turned were, they either die or Turn and become a Lh.
The lh combination is only viable as a fetus when carried by human or Super/Kinfolk parents.
Kinfolk are the product of:
Kinfolk + Born
Kinfolk + Kinfolk
Kinfolk + humans
Kinfolk + Superkin
Humans + Superkin
Humans + Born
Kinfolk can produce these combinations, depending on who they are breeding with.
Ll
Lh
lh
hh
ll
An ll is (for now) known as Superkin. They do not have any special abilities or expressed werewolf traits.
Superkin cannot be Turned, even by a Turned/Made werewolf. They can survive attacks that would have Turned them, no matter which type is trying, but can still be killed if they would not have survived at all.
The ll combination is only viable as a fetus if carried by human or Super/Kinfolk parents.
Superkin are the product of:
Born + Born
Kinfolk + Kinfolk
Kinfolk + Born
Kinfolk + Superkin
Superkin + Born
Superkin + Superkin
Superkin can produce these combinations, depending on who they are breeding with.
Ll
lh
ll
An LL is not a viable creature.
LL are the product of:
Turned + Turned
Born + Turned
Born + Born
An hh is your standard human.
They can be Turned by Born and Turned werewolves.
hh is only viable when carried by humans or Super/Kinfolk (but cannot be created by Superkin x2)
Humans are the product of:
Turned + Turned
Turned + Kinfolk
Turned + human
Kinfolk + Kinfolk
Kinfolk + human
human + human
Humans can produce these combinations, depending on who they are breeding with.
Lh
lh
hh
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Keep in mind that when I say "product of" I mean the possible genetic combinations. That does not mean that the child will actually be viable, depending on what the mother is. Refer to the specific genetic combination for whether or not the child can be carried by the type that the mother is.
While we did say that werewolves can produce certain combinations, that does not necessarily mean that any combinations are viable.
Lh can never be born, either to a human, Kinfolk, or a werewolf. The mutation changes the fetus too much and the pregnancy terminates itself.
LL (only a product of werewolf + werewolf) can never be born, either to a human, Kinfolk, or a werewolf. The mutation changes the fetus too much and the pregnancy terminates itself.
Because werewolves have a naturally higher body temperature, nothing but a born werewolf Ll can be carried by a female werewolf. All other combinations will terminate, including those that can be safely carried by humans and Kinfolk.
Werewolf pregnancy
Werewolves have a harder time working with their genetics to produce children among their own. Due to the infecting dual-nature of their Lycanthropy, they are limited to only one genetic combination that can be successfully carried by the females.
Female werewolves have come to a sort of natural compromise with the genetics of their feral side. When supplies are in abundance and the climate is suitable, a female werewolf becomes available for pregnancy four times a year. The window is narrow, a day at most.
Females can still shift to wolf form during most of the pregnancy, but as they get further along, it becomes more and more difficult and can pose more problems. Shifting during the last two weeks is almost always a problem, and shifting during labor or giving labor while in wolf form will result in catastrophe. Many females will end up inducing labor to prevent the pregnancy from ending near their phase.
Shifting to the berserk form, Fireblooded, is guaranteed to end the pregnancy. Because hormones cause emotions and tempers to run high, this can be a problem for many Vitra females.
If a female can successfully carry the born werewolf child to term and give birth to it, however, it has a stronger chance of making it to adulthood than regular children. Born werewolf children start with higher body temperatures, giving them a small fraction of the "healing factor" and disease resistance that werewolves have once they have fully come into their powers.
