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need a scientific name



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Tue Jan 19, 2016 2:12 am
queenofscience says...



I need a scientific name for the ability to shapeshift into dogs. I need the ability to shapeshift into dogs his head genetic condition. Any ideas for a scientific/medical name for my 'gentic abnormally'? I want to explain this in a very medical way?
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Tue Jan 19, 2016 8:41 am
Apricity says...



I am actually unsure as to what you're asking, however if you're looking for a medical explanation. I direct you to The Character Clinic.
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Tue Jan 19, 2016 10:57 am
Mea says...



I believe you're looking for a science-y sounding term for your fake genetic condition, am I right? I'm afraid I can't help you specifically, but in general these sorts of things come from Latin words, so try translating something like "change" or "shapeshift" into Latin and see what you come up with.
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Tue Jan 19, 2016 2:25 pm
LordZeus says...



Hey why don't you just use the latin (I think) term for werewolfism(is that a word?) I.e.lycanthropy. I think its close enough to your condition to fit in.
  





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Wed Jan 20, 2016 3:08 am
birk says...



I find it somewhat difficult to figure out exactly what you're after. If you're just looking for a good name for shapeshifting into a dog, or animals in general, then you have a really awesome sounding name in 'Therianthropy', which is essentially shapeshifting into animals.

For a broader term, I'd maybe go with Shamanism. I've always liked that. But then again, I have no idea what kind of story you are writing this into.

Lastly;
I need the ability to shapeshift into dogs his head genetic condition.

By this, I get the feeling that you mean somebody transfering his mind into a dogs mind/body?

The first thing I think of then (probably everyone), is a Warg. It's been made popular through use in George R.R. Martin's series 'A Song of Ice and Fire', but I'm pretty sure it's a generalized term in fantasy in general. You could probably just go for that.

Or, alternatively, you could revert back to Shamanism. It's been widely used in fiction as characters with spiritual connection to animals.
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Wed Jan 20, 2016 7:17 am
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Snoink says...



Commutatus Canis?
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Wed Jan 20, 2016 5:29 pm
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Rosendorn says...



For a broader term, I'd maybe go with Shamanism. I've always liked that. But then again, I have no idea what kind of story you are writing this into


This would be an incorrect term to use. Shamanism describes the spiritual beliefs of Indigenous Peoples around the world and really should only be used in that context, not a scientific name.

I would look up various words relating to dogs and shapeshifting in Latin or Ancient Greek. You might have to go with "change" instead of "shift" and do some digging, but scientific names in biology are more often than not one of those two languages
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Thu Jan 21, 2016 1:04 am
Kale says...



Considering therianthropy and its variants are already derived from Greek (with kynanthropy referring specifically to creatures who shifted between humans and dogs in Greek mythology), if you want something more sciency-sounding, you'll need to look towards Latin.

Snoink's suggestion is pretty flexible since you can use the basic structure for a variety of species and body parts.

Examples: cephalocommutatus canis for head-only shapeshifting into a dog, omnicommutatus felis for shapeshifting into a cat, and commutatus belluae (beast) for the condition in general.
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