Roger Kranos
Flower Man
Name: Opi yeast, Saccharomyces morphanthelium
Designation: Non-sentient
Homeworld: Coruscant
Language: N/a
Average height of adults: Really small (not really applicable)
Skin color: Brown
Hair color: None
Breathes: Aerobic and anaerobic respiration (oxygen required, so type 1)
Strengths: [2 minimum]
[+] Drugs: Converts low cost sugar into a usable pain medication during fermentation
[+] Prolific: Despite short life span, this yeast is extremely prolific and resistant to low oxygen conditions produced during fermentation, along with more potent drugs.
[+] It's Yeast: While yeast are weak, they are also sneaky. Not much to say about something used for bread and beer production.
Weaknesses: [2 minimum]
[-] Yeast: It's just a yeast. It's like dust or something.
[-] Brown bottle storage: Light causes degradation, store in cool and dark place.
[-] Science background: Without proper understanding of chemistry, this yeast and it's chemical pathways can be extremely dangerous for the common brewer.
Distinctions:
-Genetically modified to convert glucose into both alcohol and opiod analgesic drugs (benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, derived from an introduced enzyme, that can produce variable strengths of the compound closely resembling drugs derived from real world poppy)
-Produces the following drugs: Irkallin (version of Heroin), Camdaphyl (version of morphine), and Baratillium (version of codeine), along with other drugs that are often the product of opiate derived chemical processes.
Average Lifespan: 1 day, once respiration is activated, but yeast are highly prolific and thrive from uncommonly high rates of reproduction via budding (asexual reproduction)
Races: None
Estimated Population: On the order of billions, probably more.
Diet: Sugar and Oxygen, though they can thrive in anaerobic conditions as they transition back and forth from low to high oxygen content.
Communication: N/a
Culture: They are easily grown and cultivated on liquid broth, a form of medium resembling a protein culture.
Technology level: N/a
General behavior: It's a fungi. It breathes, it converts sugar into stuff, it reproduces, and dies.
History: The Opi Yeast is a marriage of two loves: Alchohol and drugs. First and foremost, we start with standard yeast that goes through the chemical pathways that convert glucose into alcohol. However, scientists and passionate hobbyists of the CFFC have taken biology into their own hands to produce something far more capable. The heart of the project involves splicing of enzyme producing DNA into the yeast, allowing the conversion of the amino acid tyrosine into the intermediate compound S-reticuline. It's during this process that, depending on genetic manipulation, the yeast can continue towards the path of producing pain relieving analgesics such as 3-methylmorphine (baratillium) and (5α,6α)-7,8-didehydro-4,5-epoxy-17-methylmorphinan-3,6-diol (camdaphyl). The conversion is quite simple. For instance, for the morphine pathway, S-reticuline is converted into R-reticuline which continues down the pathway to thebaine, which is then converted into the end product, camdaphyl. Along with this, the pathway can follow parallel steps that allow for the production of antibiotic drugs and while this is possible, it is not the current focus of the CFFC.
However, it was never the intent of the CRC to stop here. Through manipulation of the enzymes and genetic modification, the yeast is capable of producing even more potent forms of drugs, primarily rendering morphine diacetate (Irkallin). The drug is far more potent than it's predecessors but is also far more addictive and damaging to the body, including substantial withdraw symptoms quickly after initiating drug use. However, the use of this yeast comes with specific standards that must be followed and can easily be disrupted. First and foremost, the yeast has been developed, genetically, to be triggered by temperature based fermentation. While a trade secret, ranges of temperature produce different chemicals during the fermentation process. For instance, a range of roughly 15-17 degrees will produce morphine diacetate while a temperature range of 27 - 29 degrees celsius will produce alcohol. Ranges in between will produce varying strengths of the camdaphyl by-product. Only specific members of the CFFC will have this knowledge.
Of course, fluctuations will often occur and for the ranges in between, alcohol is the default production. Separation of drug from alcohol is quite simple. The solution is filtered and the alcohol residue is extracted with a basic aqueous solution (pH at least 11). Stir with emulsion salt. Add toluol or benzene (C6H6), use a buffer solution to lower pH, and the drug will steadily precipitate from solution. Simple. Once that is complete, the drug is packaged and sent off to buyers in discrete form. All because of the little eurkaryote that could. Thanks, Saccharomyces morphanthelium.
Effects and dosage: The range of effects of the drug, derived from this species, can include all of the following: relief of pain, euphoria, numbness, short sightedness, shallow breathing, reduced pulse rate, chest pain, increased heart rate, extreme drowsiness, constipation, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, headache, anxiety, mild itching. Rendered drugs are taken oral, sublingual, or buccal, not to exceed 30 mg every 3-4 hours (unless the party is really hopping). Can also be given via numerous other routes, including epidural, IV, or subcutaneous. The sky is really the limit on this one.
Notable Player-Characters: N/a
Intent: New, and cheaper, method of opiate production. Without having to actually derive directly from opium. Of course, this drug cannot be used on a PC without their explicit permission.