Originally, the Thing's special ability was to 'play dead', 'play possum' which is in the research. Then Zaki said he didn't get any PM telling him about it and DK started burning bodies and since the Thing was adaptable, the special ability was changed to infect someone. DK had this last research:
The limited scientific anaylses of the creature's cells by humans and 80's computer software has indicated that the organism's cellular structure is unlike any other life form native to the planet Earth. In observations of infected human biomass, the alien shape of the Things' cells reveal their true nature by swiftly capturing and absorbing host cells, which are then flawlessly imitated by the attacking alien cell. Presumably, each cell acts as a module for transformation and as a neuron for data processing and memory (the U.S. station's computer likened the creature's cells to viruses), as the creature can develop parts of anatomy from any creature previously assimilated; for example, a large, tooth-filled maw or eyestalks.
Though the creature can force the biomass of an assimilated host to expand to a maximum size relative to its own fuel and energy reserves, it cannot generate mass that exceeds that limit. Examples of this include the actions of the "kennel Thing", which attempted to assimilate and imitate the other dogs, quickly transforming into a boiling mass of flesh and random body parts. In the confines of the dogshed it also deployed a green gelatinous spray at a particular dog, the exact purpose of which is unknown but was possibly a slower method of infection. The spray itself could also be digestive in nature as if seems to melt off the dogs' fur (not seen directly, but in corpse).
Just prior to its torching, it even generated what appeared to be a ranged weapon (not dissimilar to the one it used on the Norwegian base) out of a dozen dog tongues and teeth, known better as the Flesh Flower. This was employed as a defensive mechanism, especially when the creature is in a state in which it is highly vulnerable, such as the attempted assimilation of multiple host organisms. An additional possibility is that could accumulate the biomass of multiple victims into a unified mass serving as a means to either keep warm or as a method self-preservation.
Actually, the Thing only managed 2 kills.
Arundel the Escape Artist / Scientist is attacked and killedD'Espana the Mercenary / Psychologist is attacked and killedThe humans took care of the rest. 
