6th Gen Scientific/Realistic Explanation of Mega Evolution?

[Kashima DAC]

Not sure if this thread goes here or if there's some Speculation thread or anything, but...

I've always tried to find ways to explain much of the fantastical world of Pokémon realistically, but the phenomenon of "Mega Evolution" has me stumped. Is there any animal in real life (preferably not an insect or bacterium) that spontaneously mutates under certain conditions?

 

[NEOCHU]

I do remember from an episode of QI that an Axolotl can become Salamander if it ingests or is injected with Iodine, although unlike mega evolutions the change would be permanent.

I also remember reading that there are some animals that can spontaneously change their gender too, cant remember what they were though.

 

[Kashima DAC]

I do remember from an episode of QI that an Axolotl can become Salamander if it ingests or is injected with Iodine, although unlike mega evolutions the change would be permanent.

I remember reading that on Bulbagarden. It also speculated the axolotl was the basis for Wooper's design.

I also remember reading that there are some animals that can spontaneously change their gender too, cant remember what they were though.

Earthworms, I think, can do that. But I'm talking more like an Incredible Hulk-like transformation, a temporary one. I doubt there are any animals that could do that. For example, Aerodactyl's stalagtite protrusions and Manectric's rapid quill growth seem biologically possible, because the roots of these anatomical parts could possibly be seen internally, but what explains how Mega Stones trigger them to come out?

 

[XxCassiexX]

I also remember reading that there are some animals that can spontaneously change their gender too, cant remember what they were though.

Sheepshead fish is one of those.

But yeah, I mean, if you can explain the method through which pokemon do regular evolution scientifically... then through the same logic it shouldn't be hard to describe mega evolution.

I believe there is a canon explanation for mega evolution somewhere... Or perhaps it was in Pokemon Origins the film...

Anyway, explanations exist.

 

[Kashima DAC]

Sheepshead fish is one of those.

But yeah, I mean, if you can explain the method through which pokemon do regular evolution scientifically... then through the same logic it shouldn't be hard to describe mega evolution.

...

Anyway, explanations exist.

Well, Pokémon evolution is merely regular metamorphosis. For Charmander, for example, if you were to look at one's skeleton (speculatively) you would see bone fragments for wings that it would gain as Charizard, and a cranial protrusion that splits upon maturation.

That's just my take on it.

 

[Howmander]

I remember reading that on Bulbagarden. It also speculated the axolotl was the basis for Wooper's design.



Earthworms, I think, can do that. But I'm talking more like an Incredible Hulk-like transformation, a temporary one. I doubt there are any animals that could do that. For example, Aerodactyl's stalagtite protrusions and Manectric's rapid quill growth seem biologically possible, because the roots of these anatomical parts could possibly be seen internally, but what explains how Mega Stones trigger them to come out?

Well technically earthworms are hermaphrodites, so they're both male and female simultaneously. If you REALLY want to get technical, there's a portion of them that hold both eggs and sperm together and the same time and when they slide by another earthworm those portions of each earthworm intermingle and they impregnate each other.

But anyway for mega evolution (since it's temporary) I would imagine the closest thing comparable would be an allergic reaction to the stones. They cause a temporary physiological change that just happen to (in this case) make them stronger and more powerful.

 

[Banned]

I apologise for the rather crude example, but I can't think of any better way of illustrating it. There are certain... ahem... parts of the human anatomy that are rather flimsy and weak most of the time, but upon exposure to certain outside stimuli can undergo a sudden transformation to temporarily become much larger and stronger, and also becoming able to do things they previously couldn't :P I'm not saying Mega Evolution is phallic, but there are quite a lot of similarities ^_^

 

[BigSteve]

<p>if you look it up on google, a guy on Reddit theorised that all Pokémon are manfestations of pure energy. This is why they can become 'light' and exist inside a pokeball (the inside of which appears to be a series of mirrors). </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>based on his theory, I guess a sudden energy surge (but not an alteration) allow a more powerful manefestation of the being, whereas an alteration to the energy could cause an actual evolution, and perhaps item based evolutions are an additional energy being added. Trade evolutions are triggered by the additional energy needed for transmission (amplification, just like radio waves), and perhaps item+trade evolutions require a 'focus' for the energy.</p><p> </p><p>and ofcourse, this could mean an Everstone is basically a Control Rod from a Uranium reactor.</p>

<p>

I apologise for the rather crude example, but I can't think of any better way of illustrating it. There are certain... ahem... parts of the human anatomy that are rather flimsy and weak most of the time, but upon exposure to certain outside stimuli can undergo a sudden transformation to temporarily become much larger and stronger, and also becoming able to do things they previously couldn't <img title="Tongue" class="inlineimg" alt="" src="images/templates/smilies/cerulean/12. tongue.gif" border="0" smilieid="506"> I'm not saying Mega Evolution is phallic, but there are quite a lot of similarities <img title="Giggle" class="inlineimg" alt="" src="images/templates/smilies/cerulean/10. giggle.gif" border="0" smilieid="504">

</p><p> </p><p> LOL! I suppose there's chameleons that change colour, porquepines that raise their quills, peacocks fan their tails......</p>

 

[Kashima DAC]

Well, that's the best explanation I've seen... v.v

 

[Hiatus]

My idea is similar to Howmander's; people and animals in real life have medicines which cause reaction their body, and Pokémon are sort of like that. Pokémon have mega-stones (and other stuff, too, of course, but this is the only thing we're discussing), and when they come into contact with them, their body and mind get affected, causing them to transform temporarily and become more powerful than they already are. In most cases, medicines don't have permanent effect, and neither does mega-evolution stones.

 

[Fezful of Pokéballs]

I do remember from an episode of QI that an Axolotl can become Salamander if it ingests or is injected with Iodine, although unlike mega evolutions the change would be permanent.

I also remember reading that there are some animals that can spontaneously change their gender too, cant remember what they were though.

Slightly off topic sorry...
Animals that can change gender spontaneously/semi-spontaneously at will that pop into my head are...

chickens(one way transformation only, chicken turns into rooster), Clownfish(same way as chicken it's called: Protandry or Protogyny depending on born male or female) and basically lots of other fish families/species are capable of Protandry or Protogyny.
Frogs can swap gender at will either way they want/ need
Also several plants/plant like organisms are capable of "sex change" for ex. Mushroom corals

 

[BigSteve]

Slightly off topic sorry...
Animals that can change gender spontaneously/semi-spontaneously at will that pop into my head are...

chickens(one way transformation only, chicken turns into rooster), Clownfish(same way as chicken it's called: Protandry or Protogyny depending on born male or female) and basically lots of other fish families/species are capable of Protandry or Protogyny.
Frogs can swap gender at will either way they want/ need
Also several plants/plant like organisms are capable of "sex change" for ex. Mushroom corals

I believe plants have both male / female 'parts' but aren't compatible with themselves?

 

[Twilight-kun]

the Mega Stone triggers their hidden potential

think of it as Digivolving or going Super Saiyan

both are temporary and are reversable

scientifically? Probably akin to a release of adrenaline, you gain a boost in power, but it doesn't last forever

 

[Shrew]

scientifically? Probably akin to a release of adrenaline, you gain a boost in power, but it doesn't last forever

I was going to compare it to adrenaline, too. Like how a person/creature's bodies has certain limitations yet adrenaline can temporarily boost them beyond what they're normally capable of

 

[Zorogami]

Adrenaline is actually a good example, since it does allow the human body to go beyond certain limitations for a period of time. I dont know if any of you have seen the TV Show "Heroes" but there, Adrenaline was the reason people could use their superpowers. I know thats not a scientific reason, i just had to think of it.

Also, and this might be a long stretch, ive seen a discovery channel documetary once, in which it was said that the Hammer-Shark is most likely the result of a spontaneous, over-night "mutation" of a regular shark...so maybe that could count as a RL "mega-evo"

 

[BigSteve]

Adrenaline is actually a good example, since it does allow the human body to go beyond certain limitations for a period of time. I dont know if any of you have seen the TV Show "Heroes" but there, Adrenaline was the reason people could use their superpowers. I know thats not a scientific reason, i just had to think of it.

Also, and this might be a long stretch, ive seen a discovery channel documetary once, in which it was said that the Hammer-Shark is most likely the result of a spontaneous, over-night "mutation" of a regular shark...so maybe that could count as a RL "mega-evo"

For mutations like that to happen, generally it's on a single cell genetic level during reproduction - i.e. when the reproductive cells initially fuse, an 'instruction' is messed up and the mutation happens - like Albino and such.

 

[OmegaRuby and AlphaSapphire]

The only thing I can think that is similar is certain birds' feathers looking large in order to intimidate an opponent while attacking (or fake attacking) it to scare it off.

 

[kirbasaur]

Pokemon is not about REAL science its about fun, so it dose not need a scientific explanation.

Just my opinion.

 

[mangamusicfan]

I always thought they picked the Idea of Digimon, there they do a mega digivolve, lol.
And they also need a special Item to do so.

 

[Kashima DAC]

Pokemon is not about REAL science its about fun, so it dose not need a scientific explanation.

Just my opinion.

A little speculation is always fun, though. :3