Completely random SG1 pondering

[switch842]

Yes, I'm talking about SG1. It's been how long? Anyway....

This totally random thing popped in my head last night as I was trying to get to sleep so I thought I would share.

Jaffa take tretonin to supplement their lack of an immune system. It helps them heal faster, live longer and be stronger. So, what would happen if you gave tretonin to a human? Would we heal faster, live longer? Would it cure cancer and AIDS and all those other horrible diseases?

See? Random...

Comments

[theemdash]

My understanding was that it actually replaces the immune system. The whole reason a Jaffa can't live without a symbiote after receiving one is that his immune system no longer functions/they don't have one (in whatever way that makes sense).

So if you gave Tretonin to a human to cure a disease (assuming the drug is human compatible), then you'd be on Tretonin the rest of your life.

Also, while we know symbiotes can cure cancer in a host, we don't know if they can while incubating in a Jaffa (though one would assume they at least significantly reduce the risk).

[switch842.livejournal.com]

Ah, OK. I guess that makes sense.

My mind goes to weird places as I try to fall asleep....

[theemdash]

I totally understand. I spend a lot of time trying to make Stargate make sense.

[jessm78.livejournal.com]

OMG, it has been way too long since SG1. I can't even remember the last time I took out my DVDs. I used to have so many plot bunnies for SG1 fic and now the well has dried up. And I still have some unfinished stories lying around...

That's a really interesting thought! I remember what the Tok'ra symbiote did for Jacob to cure his cancer. I wonder if Tretonin would work in a similar fashion.

[switch842.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that was my thinking. But there is also a symbiote in a goa'uld/tok'ra behaves differently than a symbiote in a Jaffa. It's an interesting quandary...