Thaumagenetics

Thaumagenetics is the study of applying magic to evolution. The branch of thaumagenetics has its origins in the ancient school of transmutation magic, as well as Ash'ari Be’gallos Dyr’wynia’s discovery of lifespirals, the twinned helices which made up the fundamental building blocks of most life on the planet.
Most modern applied thaumagenetics works to solve sapienity's problems by adapting or adopting nature's solutions. One notable example is the Raillipede Network, a vast system of interconnected tunnels carrying massive thaumagenetically-modified millipedes, which connects most Ash'ari's Children-aligned cities on all seven continents.

Utility

The cities of Ash'ari's Children are mainly serviced by thaumagenetically-modified organisms (known colloquially as "braidbeasts").

Inventor(s)

The elven druid Ash'ari Be’gallos Dyr’wynia’s is credited for the discovery of lifespirals, and is considered the mother of modern thaumagenetics.

Access & Availability

While the applications of thaumagenetics are as accessible to general members of the public as clockwork- or steam-powered magitech, applying thaumagenetics itself is best left to specialist druids, biomancers, or transmuters. Creating a thaumagenetically-modified organism usually requires advanced knowledge of both biomancy or transmutation, as well as lifespirology.

Discovery

Magic wielders have been using transmutation magic to alter life forms for millennia. Many modern chimera species - including the chimera itself - are a result of transmutation spells or mishaps which occurred centuries ago, which happened to produce a self-sustaining species.
While mages have been transmuting organisms throughout history, they arguably never thought to consider the underlying mechanisms of life. This changed in 104 PCE, when the elven druidic scholar Ash'ari Be’gallos Dyr’wynia discovered lifespirals, unimaginably tiny threads which, when woven together, form the instructions for life itself. Ash'ari's discovery kick-started research into these miniature helices, leading to the practice of applied thaumagenetics (also known as "braiding") and prompting the discovery of matter-mana interaction.