The Altered

More to come later...

Methods of Detection
There is a fairly reliable, albeit complicated, method for detecting whether someone is Altered. Contrary to public opinion, genetic tests alone will not do it, they can only screen for those who might be Altered and those who definitely are not.

While externally the Altered (usually) appear normal, there are several internal structures which are noticeably changed. Some are more difficult to detect than others. For instance, the kidneys of an Altered are, on average, 13% larger than a normal person's, and the small intestines are slightly smaller, but it's nearly impossible to account for the various mundane medical conditions and simple genetic variations that could cause those organs to be differently-sized. However, one part of the body is different: the pineal gland, in the center of the brain, is much larger in Altered, and after the onset of puberty it grows two stubby "fingers". No other condition is known to cause this variation, and so a thorough brain scan by a trained medical professional can tell with 100% certainty whether or not the subject is Altered.