Pictured above: File photo of a "Bronze Pangolin Dragon" style dermal modification first made available by Humanitech last year in October.

Recent advancements in consumer genetic modification technology have given rise to shocking new products that are beginning to make their way into the general public.

Scales, claws, fur, fangs and more can be had at lower prices than ever before. As with products like muscular enhancement, or other cosmetic modification, non-medical genenetic modifications are almost totally unregulated is most markets. This has allowed manufacturers like Humanitech and Biodyne Systems to create more ambitious modifications than ever.

"These products are just the beginning of our offerings. Recent advancements in genetic AI have allowed us to make leaps in the field we never imagined possible. Within a year or two you'll be able to purchase eyes, tails, muzzles, perhaps even a set of wings! The possibilities are almost limitless." - Jonas Hayes, Humanitech Genetic Engineer.

A class action lawsuit brought by the Coalition for the Preservation of Humankind attempted to ban such modifications at the federal level. They argue that such modifications will eventually lead to a schism in society, and that the right to one's own body does not extend to the creation of what could be legally considered new sentient species. The lawsuit was quickly dismissed at the Supreme Court, however.

Humanitech argued for the case to be dismissed on the grounds that the losses incurred and subsequent lost jobs outweighed any moral or legal considerations. We received no response when we reached out for comment on financial records our team located that indicated several large donations to REDACTED BY HUMANITECH LEGAL DIVISION.

We also received no response from the Coalition for the Preservation of Humankind. None of the staff listed on their website could be contacted, and many of the profiles were flagged by our software as AI fabrications.

Public reaction to these modifications has been mixed, but some argue that advances in AI Infused Reality render these concerns moot. Manufacturers of smart vision devices, and Re-World, the developer of some of the most sophisticated AIR software products have taken advantage of the controversy to market their devices and software. They argue that their products can be used to replace individuals with extensive genetic modifications in one's field of view with AI sanitized personas. The recent legalization of AIR devices and implants for children have also allayed many of the concerns with genetic modification.

We spoke to a few individuals with more extensive modifications to learn more about their motivations for using the technology. None were willing to go on record, but most that we interviewed spoke about a deep dissatisfaction with the state of the world resulting in much of their time being spent in VR constructs. They claim these products fulfill a desire to make these VR fantasies a reality. Most spoke of an increase in self confidence and overall happiness after receiving the treatments, though many a few told us of strange side effects such as headaches, nausea, disorientation, and even hallucinations.

"Our products are thoroughly tested and guaranteed to be safe in all recipients. Of course, blending many different products together may produce unexpected effects, so we strongly recommend purchasing a Genetic Profiling package before proceeding with your purchase to ensure this doesn't happen." - Dr. Hayes

All of our interviewees considered these side effects to be worth the risk, however. "I had some weird dreams, but they passed after a few days, and I feel happier, more confident than ever before." one of our interviewees told us. "These things aren't very common anyway, and really only happen to the ones that go for the really heavy mods."

With more modifications being made available every month and extensive lobbying by genetic alteration firms, genetically modified individuals are poised to become ever more prevalent through society. It does appear that these more extreme forms of genetic alteration will remain relatively niche, however. Replacing one's own skin with scales isn't likely to become a cultural phenomenon, regardless of how accessible these treatments become.

*Published January 12, 2051 by Jessica Hayes. With 12 years of experience reporting on science, technology, and political topics, she is at forefront of our human investigative journalism branch.

*THIS ARTICLE IS CERTIFIED HUMAN PRODUCED CONTENT