Genetic engineering

Genetic engineering is a sometimes-controversial process in which the DNA of an organism is selectively altered through artificial means.

Genetic engineering was often used to produce "custom" organisms, such as for agricultural or medical purposes, as well as to produce biogenic weapons.

The most common application of genetic engineering on intelligent beings in the Federation was corrective DNA resequencing for genetic disorders.

A far more controversial application of genetic engineering was the genetic "enhancement" of individuals to produce improved senses, strength, and intelligence.

Human

During Earth's 20th century, efforts to produce "superhumans" resulted in the Eugenics Wars. Genetically engineered individuals such as Khan Noonien Singh then attempted to seize power. This would lead to the banning of genetic engineering on Earth by the 22nd century, even research which could be used to cure critical illnesses. This ban was implemented because of the general fear of creating more tyrants such as Khan. It was also felt that parents would feel compelled to have their children genetically engineered, especially if "enhanced" individuals are allowed to compete in normal society.

Some scientists argued that it was simply convenient for humanity to denounce the attempts at genetic "improvement" of humanity, that it was inherently evil because of the Eugenics Wars. He argued that the source of the problem wasn't the technology, but humanity's own inability to use it wisely. Imprisoned for (among other crimes) stealing the embryos of a number of Augment children, geneticist Arik Soong wrote long treatises on the subject of genetic augmentations and improvements. His works were routinely taken and destroyed by his jailers, until the intervention of Jonathan Archer, after which they were taken and stored. Archer expressed his hope to Soong that research into genetic engineering that could cure life-threatening diseases would someday be resumed.

Others, however, chose to establish isolated colonies as became the case with the Genome colony on Moab IV, which was established in 2168. It became a notable and successful example of Human genetic engineering in which every individual was genetically tailored from birth to perform a specific role in society. By the 24th century, the United Federation of Planets allowed limited use of genetic engineering to correct existing genetically-related medical conditions. Persons known to be genetically enhanced, however, were not allowed to serve in Star Fleet, and were especially banned from practicing medicine. Nevertheless, some parents attempted to secretly have their children genetically modified. Unfortunately, most of these operations were performed by unqualified physicians, resulting in severe psychological problems in the children.

The Federation seemed to apply the ban loosely in the area of officially-sanctioned scientific research. In 2365, the Federation permitted limited genetic research on humans at the Darwin Genetic Research Station. However, the results of these disastrous experiments, which ended up killing the crew of the USS Lantree, may have convinced the Federation to reimpose stricter prohibitions by the 2370s. In 2377, The Doctor performed prenatal genetic modification on B'Elanna Torres' daughter to correct a spinal deviation, a congenital defect that tends to run in Klingon families.

Dominion

The Founders of the Dominion performed extensive genetic modifications on their two servant races, the Jem'Hadar and the Vorta, in order for them to better serve their roles and to ingrain a fanatical devotion to the Founders.
As a result of these modifications, neither species reproduced in the traditional biological sense.

According to Vorta legend, they were originally ape-like creatures who were gifted sentience by the Founders.

The Dominion also genetically engineered biological weapons, such as the blight they unleashed against the people of the Teplan system.

Suliban

During the 21st century, the Suliban were no more evolved than humans. However, a number of Suliban, from a faction known as the Suliban Cabal, became recipients of some very sophisticated genetic engineering thanks to a mysterious humanoid from the 29th century. These "enhancements" included subcutaneous pigment sacs, a bio-mimetic garment and eyes with compound retinas – which allowed them to see things starship sensors likely could not detect. The Suliban considered these "enhancements" as "progress".

Klingons

The Klingon augment virus was created when a group of Klingon scientists attempt to bioengineer genetically enhanced warriors using DNA from genetically modified Human embryos left over from Earth's Eugenics Wars.
The genetic manipulations ultimately failed, but not before a carrier of the Levodian flu was augmented. The Human Augment DNA combined with the flu, and formed a virus that caused an epidemic to spread through the Klingon population.

The virus caused the infected Klingons to gain strength and intelligence initially, as was the original intention, but complications caused personality changes, as well as the loss of the characteristic Klingon forehead ridges. The ultimate result was a breakdown in neural pathways, and eventual death.

After much time and research by the Klingons, the virus was stabilized in a way that the initial symptoms still occurred, but the virus was stopped before the neural pathways could break down. Because the virus affected DNA, the higher strength, intelligence, and lack of forehead ridges was passed down some generations, until the forehead ridges once again became the dominant trait.

Others

• Genetic engineering had been employed on Denobula since the twentieth century, to generally positive effect.

• The Tosk were engineered by the Hunters to be prey for their traditional hunts.

• The Brunali were proficient at genetic engineering, which they used to create modified crops capable of surviving on their Borg-devastated homeworld. However, they also genetically engineered some of their children to produce a pathogen deadly to Borg. These children were then allowed to be assimilated, so that they could spread the infection to their Borg vessels.

See also : Genetic resequencer