Wing Membrane Deformation

Ptéryx Membrane Ectasis

Known medically as Ptéryx Membrane Ectasis, Wing Membrane Deformation is a congenital genetic condition affecting the wing membranes of Fey species such as Fairies, Sprites, Pixies, and Daggerwings. The condition causes the membranes of wings to fail to form, leaving only the veins of the wing and preventing them from flying. This in turn leaves the veins susceptible to damage, particularly the smaller ones, resulting in breakage and frequent grazing of the tips, leaving them blunted and sore.

Transmission & Vectors

Wing Membrane Deformation is a genetic condition passed down from parent to child. The condition is recessive, thus both parents must have it and pass it on for it to impact their children. The chances of two carrier parents having a child with Wing Membrane Deformation are 50%.

Those afflicted with Wing Membrane Deformation will pass on the faulty gene, however, so long as their partner does not have the gene, their child will not be afflicted.

Causes

The condition is caused by faulty or missing "Wingless" (wb) genes. This gene (a variant of which is also present in creatures such as butterflies) prompts the membranes of the wings to form, and when it is damaged or missing these membranes subsequently fail to grow. In fairies and other such Fey species, a copy of this gene is received from each parent, and so long as one of them is fully active the wings will form. However, if both copies are damage the wings will not form.

Symptoms

Wing Membrane Deformation can be immediately diagnosed in babies because they will be born with no wing membranes or severely diminished membranes, visible as their wings begin to unfurl.

Treatment

There is no treatment for Wing Membrane Deformation outside of a Wish spell or Divine Intervention. Those afflicted with the condition may choose to keep their wing veins encased in pretty wrappings to prevent damage or injury to them. Some craft faux-membranes out of lightweight spidersilk to give the impression of having wings, with some more expensive options allowing actual flight through enchantments, though the basic variants of these do not allow functional flight.

Prognosis

Wing Membrane Deformation is not fatal, though it does impact quality of life for those that live in communities that rely heavily on flight to get around their settlements.

Affected Groups

The condition affects Fey species with membranous wings, such as Fairies, Pixies, Sprites (in their corporeal form), and Daggerwings.

Cultural Reception

Those afflicted with the condition are generally offered some measure of pity, especially as it is a rare enough condition that some settlements will never encounter an afflicted individual. However, parents of a child with the condition will often abstain from having further children as the risk of passing it on is too great, and some with the condition ultimately choose not to have children themselves, suggesting that there is some level of a desire to avoid the condition surfacing.

Type

Genetic

Rarity

Extremely Rare