9 Little-Known Science Facts That Make Fallout Even Cooler

4. FEV - CRISPRs

The Forced Evolutionary Virus is one of the major reasons why the Fallout landscape is crawling with things that look like they're been dragged out of a drain. It is a kind of viral gene editing that can alter an organism's DNA so dramatically that they become unrecognisable.

Slightly worryingly, there's a real-world analogue and it's even better. You've probably heard of them, they're called CRISPRS.

The FEV is based on a retrovirus, with its ability to insert foreign DNA into an existing genome. This is all fine and dandy but it can lead to the adverse effects such as sterilisation, as the FEV views haploid gametes (the sex cells) as incomplete (because they only contain half the chromosomes of diploid cells) and "corrects" the error.

CRISPRs are a genome editing tools. They're actually the naturally occurring defence mechanism of a wide variety of bacteria against the threat of viruses, but when we harness thier power in the lab, we can do an unprecedented amount of genetic "tinkering" (not to get too technical or anything). What's more, they can be delivered by viruses.

With CRISPRs, you could create a genetically perfect human/supersoldier/whatever - and one that can breed to boot - with none of the unpleasant side effects associated with the FEV. We don't currently do this thanks to those pesky ethical codes, but in the advent of a nuclear apocalypse ... who knows?