[Pet biology 102: Phenotype special cases]

Delayed Pet Puberty (DPP)

Everyone goes through puberty. In the case of phenotype PO once. In the case of phenotype PH twice, the regular first puberty at 12 years and the pet-puberty at 18 years. There are documented cases of people becoming a pet or transgenic pet at a later age. Those cases are rare but still possible. One line of thought is that it is similar to delayed first puberty.

It's a known fact that the level of estroxin correlates with the phenotype. A comparatively low estroxin level correlates with the PO phenotype and a comparatively high estroxin level correlates with the PH phenotype.

Someone with delayed pet-puberty has had the time to grow up with a PO level of estroxin and thus time to develop PO personality traits even when tested as a PH phenotype. When pet-puberty does set in they will develop PH personality traits. Some describe it as unlocking a new part of their personality or saying, "It's still me ... just ... more of me." Especially when the delay is considerable it may be confusing. In a way they are the perfect embodiment of the age-old nurture vs nature discussions.

A DPP PH-1 may initially get some snide remark that they are pretending to be a PH, but this will go away when it's clear it's the real deal. For a PH-2 their transforming body makes it clear to everyone that they are just late bloomers.

Pethood Borderline Syndrome (PHBS)

Someone with PHBS is born with a PO level of estroxin despite the PH phenotest. The symptoms are similar to that of delayed puberty by PH phenotypes making it difficult to diagnose at first one way or another.

The difference is that PHBS ensures that the estroxin level stays stable around PO level while with delayed puberty the estroxin level rise once pet-puberty kicks in so time is the determining factor to differentiate between the two. Over an amount of time, a constant estroxin level will point to PHBS while a rising estroxin level will point to delayed pet-puberty.

The initial effects on one's personality are similar to the symptoms of DPP, but the difference soon becomes clear. While DPP simply delays one's transition into a pet and makes it easier to hold on to some PO traits, PHBS can halt the development of PH traits entirely. The affected person ends up with a more even balance of PO and PH traits but may lean more to one side or the other depending on the severity of their PHBS. In the case of a PH-2 phenotype the production of somatotropin is also reduced, which results in a subtler physical change than that experienced by an average PH-2.

Most PHBS, whether PH-1 or PH-2, prefer more subtle marks of ownership if they take an owner at all. They might act more independently than other pets. Some people might not understand what a PHBS is going through and express their confusion in hurtful comments. Preconceptions cause some people to see them as PH's pretending to be PO's especially if pets start making a name for themselves.

Pet Owner Borderline Syndrome (POBS)

Someone with POBS is born with a very low level of estroxin, in some cases barely measurable. The most common symptom is that they don't feel the need to have a pet. And thus although they are tested as phenotype PO they have no intention or interest in becoming a pet owner. They may or may not have a PO partner but it is also not uncommon for them to stay single too.

POBS also raises the issue of hormonal balance. Every person has both male and female hormones. In an average person there is a balance between male and female hormones, but with female hormones low the male hormone takes precedence. POBS have a normal estradiol level but the estroxin level plummets while the testosterone (male hormone) level stays normal so testosterone gains importance for determining the body buildup. Among other things testosterone is responsible for muscle and bone build. This causes the male PO to have a more masculine body and female PO have more pronounced masculine traits.

They usually have a large circle of friends but no need or desire to step into a closer relationship such as a pet-owner bond. Without the desire to bond, the POBS person might act like a social butterfly. They have many casual friendships because they treat everyone as a friend instead of seeking one special relationship, not even a best friend. At a party, they will insist on greeting everyone and will have conversations with most people (anyone who will have a conversation with them). They don't want to leave anyone out.

• Those that do have a PO partner usually have not initiated the relationship. Many times it is initiated by someone with PO traits.
• In cases where a relationship has formed with two people with POBS, it was initiated by the person with the higher levels of estroxin during puberty.
• Generally PH phenotypes do not want a relationship with a POBS because they do not believe they will get what they need out of a relationship.
• Would a PHBS and a POBS have a relationship? Not common, but probably not impossible either. There have been no known cases.

Anyone who looks to have a relationship beyond friendship will have to be of the kind that doesn't take no for answer or settle for a perpetual friend zone.

Hyper Pet (HYPH)

A Hyperpet is someone whose estroxin level has skyrocketed until it maxed out. They're also the least visible of the special cases because to the unknowing population they just seem to be extremely clingy pets. But they have so much affection to give that they don't want to waste a single moment not expressing their affection to their owner.

If ever a good match between a pet and her owner was necessary this is the case because for the unprepared owner they can be quite overwhelming. Some Hyperpets can have issues with sharing the attention of their owner while others are quite happy as long they have someone to cuddle. And others still just like to be close to their owner.

In a way they're the polar opposite of POBS.

Estroxin scale

0% --- POBS --- 5% --- PO --- 30% --- PHBS --- 35% --- PH --- 95% --- HYPH --- 100%