Genetic Engineering in the STAR WARS Universe

Part 1 of 2

by Chris Curtis


(Excerpts from the lecture notes of Dr. Pakant Gr'benzz.)

Introduction

Genetic engineering is a subject that is often overlooked within our modern educational system, yet plays an important role in everyday life throughout our galaxy. Simply stated, genetic engineering is the intentional alteration of genetic material by intervention in genetic processes. Commonly referred to as genetic engineering, genetic modification or genetic manipulation, all three terms mean the same thing: the reshuffling of genes, usually from one species to another.

This, of course, brings up another point that must be mentioned. Throughout the galaxy - whether from Coruscant, Kashyyk or Corellia - all the life that we've discovered has been created upon the same underlying building blocks, no matter how dissimilar that life may be to each other. The genetic information that describes exactly what an organism is like is always stored along a thin thread called (in Basic) Polytuccaride Kyboplestosine Andraxzyl, or PKA. (Countless journals, books, and multi-volume data disks have been written exploring this subject and most experts cannot come to a consensus regarding why this is so. Therefore the "hows" and "whys" won't even be touched upon here.) This fact means that the fundamental principles and applications of genetic engineering are applicable to all life throughout the galaxy, not simply the life native to a single planet.

Many people also mistakenly assume that cloning is simply a form of genetic engineering. Cloning involves the copying genetic material, not the alteration of it, and is thus not a form of genetic engineering. Of course, it is entirely possible to use both techniques together by copying a piece of genetic material, altering it through genetic engineering, and then using the altered material to grow a sample.

There are several basic areas in which genetic engineering is used in our society and throughout the galaxy:

  • to repair a genetic "defect"
  • to enhance an effect already natural to an organism
  • to increase resistance to disease or external damage
  • to enable an organism to do something it would not normally do

Repairing a Genetic Defect

Every day children are born in our hospitals and medical centers without the fear of many diseases that once threatened countless lives. Through genetic engineering, those diseases have been virtually eradicated on civilized worlds and many haven't been encountered outside the laboratory in decades or centuries.

The tests and scans performed during a normal pregnancy can pinpoint any genetic disorders the new lifeform may have. During this early stage, it is a simple matter for our doctors and genetic engineers to fix and completely eliminate these defects. This not only removes the problem for that individual for the rest of their life, but also prevents the possibility that the disorder might be passed on to the next generation. Of course, it cannot prevent the possibility that a natural mutation occurring.

Because this has been going on for centuries on our most civilized planets, these types of disorders are almost never seen. When they are encountered, it is almost invariably in immigrants or new citizens to the planet or when a new strain of the virus or disease is introduced into the population.

This is the state in the core worlds, and those planets that have been settled for millennia. The situation is often much different in the mid-rim, outer-rim, or some of the other more "backwater" planets. On these planets, the same facilities and luxuries often simply do not exist. When they do exist, access to them is commonly available only to the wealthy or influential.

It is also possible to cure genetic defect in plants or animals. This is not done nearly as often as it is performed on sapients, though, simply because the cost of often not deemed worth the benefits. It will occasionally be performed, however, if the plant or animal species is important enough, especially since it will remove the possibility of the defect being passed through heredity.

Enhancing a Natural Ability

Enhancing the natural abilities of an organism (whether flora, fauna, or sapient) was the first major area where genetic engineering was used. The earliest attempts many millennia ago were simply through selective breeding. This was quickly replaced, however, with direct molecular manipulation of genetic material - the method that is still in use.

There are any number of examples of how an organism's natural abilities have been enhanced. Some of the more famous or interesting uses have been:

  • Creating radiation resistant crops for the farmers on Nordell VII
  • Banthas adjusted for the freezing climates on several worlds in the Rifkin sector
  • Plants adapted for zero-gravity growth in many early colonization missions
  • Kwanduk bulls that yield very low-fat meats
As can be seen, any number of natural abilities of an organism can be enhanced. Radiation, heat, cold, gravity, rain, and more are all external factors to which an organism can be given resistances or affinities. Furthermore, an organism can be made tougher, suppler, smoother, hairier, meaner, gentler, or almost anything else that may be required.

These types of genetic engineering are often performed for colony missions. Specialized varieties of crops can be engineered from existing species specifically for the environment found on the target world. Livestock can likewise be manipulated to better survive and produce the needed food. Even the colonists themselves sometimes undergo genetic engineering so that their offspring will be better suited to the world they'll be born on.

Increasing Resistance to Disease or External Damage

Another commonly enhanced ability is that of resistance to diseases. Usually, this is done on crops to make them less susceptible to diseases or pests. With the increased resistance, the crops produce more plentiful harvests and are better able to meet the food needs of the population. Likewise, livestock are often enhanced in this way so that they are hardier and fewer are lost to diseases before they can be used for food.

The same type of enhancement is also possible for sapient species. Many wealthy and influential individuals often receive genetic engineering to ensure that their offspring will be better able to resist and overcome any diseases. These offspring are born with these natural resistances and will continue to pass them on to their own offspring.

All of these enhancements do not come without a price, though. Minor enhancements to a plant or animal can run hundreds or thousands of credits. A similarly minor enhancement to an individual would likely run at least a few thousand if not much more. Major engineering or the enhancing of more than one ability is often not considered worth the enormous cost. The price is usually even higher if the requested modification has never been tried before.

Some of the hereditary lines of the wealthiest families in the Core Worlds have been modified so many times that they are virtually immune to nearly all diseases. This, of course, makes it even more of a feat to be allowed to marry into the family because those traits will be passed on to any offspring.

Creating a New Ability

Arguably the most interesting area of genetic engineering lies in giving an organism an ability that it would otherwise not have. This is found fairly commonly (as far as genetic engineering goes) in plant, animal, and sapient species.

Various plant and animal species are commonly altered so that they produce certain chemicals or substances that might otherwise be difficult to obtain. For instance, a group of Rygrent pack animals were once modified through transgenic methods to produce a rare chemical in their milk that was needed for the treatment of a plague outbreak. The chemical could not normally be found on the planet in sufficient amounts and importing the chemical from off-planet was too expensive. The genetically modified Rygrent were able to provide the chemical in great amounts at a fairly small cost and short amount of time.

Genetic engineering was used extensively in the early days of space travel. The muscle and bone loss normally associated with staying in a zero gravity environment for prolonged periods of time could be severely reduced or eliminated with some genetic engineering. Similarly, the typical queasiness and such that many species experience in zero gravity can be eliminated.

In addition, genetic engineering is not always used simply to enhance an organism. Often, vulnerabilities are introduced into plant and animals so that they are easier to control or as a "fail safe". Many times this is in the form of a vulnerability to heat, cold, radiation, or some other type of environment. Similar vulnerabilities are also sometimes introduced into sapients for various reasons.


Game Material

Knowledge Skills

Scholar: Genetic Engineering This specialization of the scholar skill is essentially "book" knowledge that a character has learned about genetic engineering. It can cover uses, procedures, equipment, dangers, and more. This includes very little practical, or "hands-on", knowledge gained in a classroom setting.


Technical Skills

(A) Genetic Engineering
Time Taken: Hours or days
Advanced skill - requires Scholar: Chemistry of 4D, Scholar: Biology of 4D, Scholar: Genetic Engineering of 4D, and (A) Medicine of 1D.
This skill covers the practical applications of advanced genetic engineering. This is the skill used to actually perform any genetic alteration. Characters with the genetic engineering skill are familiar with all of the major equipment, procedures, and supplies used for genetic engineering.


Equipment

Genetic Scanner
Type: Genetic Scanner
Model: HykroCorp. GeneZoom 2350
Cost: 8,750
Avail: 3, R or F
Notes:
The 2350 is a robust scanning device, resembling a pen attached to a fairly compact portable computer. The device consists of a supra-meson microscope with real-time sub-nanometer holo-imaging system, coupled to a Mamnotech sequential datasifter, with a 260 tera-nodal memory cell. PKA data extraction is performed by a pair of SSASER scalpels, and read by a quantum irregularity meter.

This device adds either +1D to a Computer Programming skill roll, or +2D to (A) Genetic Engineering skill roll to determine the PKA sequencing of a sample.

Micro-Waldo Manipulators
Type: Micro-waldo manipulator
Model: HykroCorp. Jenet Volon 100.2
Cost: 11,250
Avail: 3, R or F
Notes:
The 100.2 is really a pair of nanometer resolution tractor beams. These beams are tight enough that they can physically move the components of PKA around. The unit is designed to fit on either side of a HykroCorp. GeneZoom 2350, though it can be used with any other genetic scanner. This unit should only be used in a controlled laboratory environment.

This device adds +1D to a (A) Genetic Engineering skill roll to alter a PKA sequence in a sample.

Genetic Analyzer
Type: Gene Sequence Analyzer
Model: HykroCorp. Eetanium 22a
Cost: 17,300
Avail: 3, R or F
Notes:
Once the genetic information of a sample has been determined with a genetic scanner, the 22a is used to help analyze the information. In effect, the 22a is an extremely powerful supercomputer designed to assist in interpreting the function of each piece of the sample's genetic code. Once that is determined, the 22a will assist in finding the most efficient way to create, enhance, or modify a specific attribute of the sample through genetic engineering. The 100.2 micro-waldo manipulators can be interfaced with the 22a to provide enhanced data interpretation and analysis during a procedure.

This computer adds +2D to a (A) Genetic Engineering skill roll to determine the function of a genetic code sample. When used with the micro-waldo manipulators, add +1D to a (A) Genetic Engineering roll to alter a PKA sequence in a sample.

Gene Sequencer
Type: Gene Sequencer
Model: HykroCorp. Domino 5
Cost: 23,300
Avail: 3, R or F
Notes:
Basically an advanced computer coupled to a vast data storage buffer, the Domino 5 is designed to be married with HykroCorp. equipment, though it can be used with products produced by other companies at a slight loss of efficiency. The computer uses MFTL hyperparticles to attain its astounding speed, and a quad dimension crystal lattice medium for storage of data. The Domino 5 is most often used to sequence the PKA after an Eetanium 22a has determined the optimum configuration.

This device adds +1D to a (A) Genetic Engineering skill roll to determine the coding of a PKA sequence in a sample.

PKA Injector
Type: PKA injection matrix
Model: HykroCorp. Stuffit 39b
Cost: 11,700
Avail: 3, R or F
Notes:
A tall device with a fiendish looking spike halfway up it, the Stuffit 39b uses a subatomic hydrogen ram to fire re-sequenced PKA into a target cell. This device is used after a sample has been run through an Eetanium 22a and Domino 5.

This device adds +1D to a (A) Genetic Engineering skill roll to induce new PKA coding into a sample.

Rules for actually performing genetic engineering are not covered in this article. Work on these rules has already begun and will include skill uses and difficulties as well as a large list of possible genetic modifications. This second installment of rules and other information will be submitted for the next issue of the Online Journal. All comments and suggestions for these rules are encouraged and may well be included in this next installment.


Author's Notes

Readers may notice that I seem to have neglected an obvious area of genetic engineering, that dealing with increasing or otherwise altering an organism's intelligence, intellect, learning ability, etc. This was not an oversight by me, but rather a conscious decision on my part to steer clear of that area. While other GMs and players are more than welcome to explore that area of genetic engineering, it is my feeling that, when player characters are concerned, this area should be left alone. There is simply too much possibility for abuse and misuse in my opinion.

I also use the term "sapient" or "sapience" several times throughout the article. I am simply using this term to denote intelligence (as in "I think therefore I am") in an organism. This is to separate it from non-sapient animals.

Credit

Special thanks go to Ben Flood-Paddock for his extensive help and for providing stats for most of the equipment presented here.

Sources

http://online.sfsu.edu/~rone/GE%20Essays/WhatisGE.html

http://www.3ee.com/truth/ethics/hge.html

http://ds.dial.pipex.com/srtscot/geneng1.htm



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