DNA Resequencer (Stargate)
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In the fictional universe of the science fiction TV show Stargate SG-1, the DNA Resequencer, also called the Genetic manipulation device or the DNA manipulator, was a device that could artificially evolve people into an extremely advanced state. Some characters in the show call a human in this advanced state a "hok-taur", a Goa'uld slang combination of the words "hok" meaning advanced and "tau'ri" meaning human. | [Transcript] When the DNA Resequencer was first encountered, Samantha Carter hypothesised and it was later confirmed that it was an Ancient technology. Later in the series, a replica of the device was used by Anubis who obtained this technology from Ancient knowledge he received when Oma Desala helped him to ascend. | [Transcript] | [Transcript] If used enough, the machine could give users supernatural abilities and eventually even allow a subject to reach the evolutionary point where they could ascend, in which case 90 percent of their brain would have to be in use. It may be the reason some Ancients have been shown to posses the abilities of telekinesis, telepathy, super-human senses and strength, supernatural health and self healing, | [Transcript] perfect memories, and the power to heal by touch. The show has implied that many more, if not all, Ancients had these abilities. It also may be one of the ways that some of the Ancients ascended. (May require scrolling) The show explained that the device worked by realigning a subject's DNA and upgrading their brain activity. With the use of the machine, dormant areas of the brain activate, upgrading the user's abilities. In the episode "Prophecy", Samantha Carter stated that after Jonas Quinn used the device, the neurons in his brain were five times more densely packed. | [Transcript]
In Stargate, the DNA Resequencer has been part of several key plotlines. In several other instances in science fiction, genetic and neural upgrades have been administered to enhance an individual's abilities but none to the degree of the Stargate series. Fiction usually explains their upgrades using the "10% myth"; the saying that humans use 10% of their brains and if more parts are activated, a person will gain superhuman abilities and increased intellect. However, the most widely accepted modern scientific theories, contrary to popular belief, state the 10% myth to be false.
- 1 Technological uses in the Stargate universe
- 2 Stargate plotlines in which the technology appeared
- 3 Comparison with new Stargate concepts
- 4 Similar genetic advancement in other fiction
- 5 Comparisons with real world DNA manipulation
- 6 The making of the DNA Resequencer for Stargate
- 7 See also
- 8 Key episodes
- 9 Refrences
- 10 External links
Technological uses in the Stargate universe
In Stargate SG-1, the DNA resequencer has various uses. The devices is shown to scan a subject's physiology using green lasers that allow it to perform a multitude of tasks, both beneficial and harmful. Among other uses, the device was stated or shown to advance people's development, increase their neurological capabilities, improve their health, and provide them with the Ancient Technology Activation gene. One character, Nirrti, also used the device to make people into biological time bombs. The main, and most useful, purpose shown in the Stargate universe has been to advance humans, giving them extraordinary abilities and eventually ascension.Advancing and ascending humans
In the Stargate universe, the urban legend that the typical human brain is usually between 5 and 10 percent active at any given moment is true. The Ancients, in contrast, were more advanced and had brains that were at least 80-90 percent active. The DNA Resequencer may have been a factor responsible for this. The alterations made by the machine evolve a human (or Ancient) to a state closer to that of ascension. Before ascension, as the user's brain evolved, their intelligence increased. It has also been shown that the user can obtain supernatural abilities. The machine can give the user increased health and self healing, a perfect memory, telekinesis, telepathy, the power to heal by touch, super human senses, and super-human strength. In the case of Jonas Quinn, it gave him precognition. This may be the reason many, if not all, Ancients had these abilities. Several have demonstrated use of such abilities, but it is not known whether all Ancients possessed them. In the series, once the device evolves someone to a state where their brain is 90% active, they can ascend. Many, if not all, Ancients already had astoundingly high mental capability and were able to ascend without the machine. If all Ancients were capable of ascending without the machine's functionality, the only uses for it would be those listed below. Otherwise, some may have used the machine to ascend.Other uses
Besides making super-advanced humans and ascending people, the machine was shown to have other uses. It is capable of giving people the Ancient Technology Activation gene and could be used to repair biological flaws in a person. This may be one reason the Ancients were shown to have had almost completely perfect health (excepting the plague they suffered in the Milky Way). | [Transcript] Other contributing factors to their health could be their healing device introduced in season seven or just their extreme state of evolution. | [Transcript Part I], [Transcript Part II] However, many Ancients were evolved so far that they could ascend without the machine.
In the SG1 episodes "Full Circle" and "Threads", it was stated that the Ancients were researching and experimenting with ascension before they actually ascended. | [Transcript] In the Stargate Atlantis episode "Hide and Seek", research was actually found. | [Transcript] Many have speculated that the DNA Resequencer may have been used as part of that research. In season nine, SG-1 was able to use a subcomponet of the machine as a brain scanner (see Anubis use section for details). Another more destructive use of the machine is liquification of a person as demonstrated by Niriti in season six. A time can be set within one's DNA by the the DNA Resequencer for a person's body to turn into water.
In the episode "Epiphany", a time dilation field is discovered that was intended to allow its inhabitants time to ascend "on their own". This implies that in the Stargate universe, humans do have the ability to evolve and ascend without the machine. The humans in "Epiphany" gained the powers which had only been seen previously in beings who used the DNA resequencer and even managed to ascend without the actual device. However, these people were shown to be spiritual fanatics, who devoted their entire lives to the pursuit of ascension and purity of spirit. So, in order for a person to ascend without their brain being 90% active, it takes work, devotion, and this "purity" (see ascension for the difference between spiritual and evolutionary). | [Transcript]
In addition, if humans can ascend without the machine, the logistics of the show dictate many Ancients could have easily ascended without the machine. As shown in other episodes, many of the Ancients obtained 90% brain activity by means of natural evolution and intellectual development, not technology. These Ancients could have ascended through evolution. Ancients without the DNA resequencer or the necessary mental capability may have used spiritual channels to ascend.
In the episode "The Fifth Race", the Repository of the Ancients caused O'Neill's brain accelerate to this 90% state in order for him to handle the immense amount of information it held. O'Neill did not ascend nor was ascension even mentioned. This leads to the conclusion that further conditions, even more than high brain activity, must apply. However, at this point in the series, the concept of ascension was not introduced yet and could simply be a mistake by the writers. | [Transcript] After Jack had the repository downloaded into his head again in the episode "Lost City (Part 2)", he gained the Ancient healing ability (curing by touch), and demonstrated it when he cured Bra'tac. It can hypothesized that these abilities are a natural byproduct of Ancient knowledge and/or improved mental activity or the repository itself was somehow embedded with the DNA Resequencer technology. However, this was never explained in detail. | [Transcript]
In the episode "Frozen", an Ancient was unearthed who was shown to possess the abilities to rapidly self-heal and to heal others by touch. Her neural scan showed that parts of her brain almost identically matched those of Casandra, after she had developed telekenetic ablilites (as part of Niriti's expirmentation to create a Hok'tar prior to her descovery of the DNA Resequencer in the episode |test2=|val2=show|then= (Stargate | [Transcript]), and those of O'Neill, after he had the Repository of the Ancients downloaded into his mind in the episode "The Fifth Race". Although not explained, it is possible the Ancient woman had used the DNA Resequencer or a similar technological method (such as the one Niriti used on Casandra). However, it is unlikely that she used the repository of the Ancients since she likely already possessed the knowledge it had to offer. In other episodes, it has been implied that Ancients reached an extremely advanced state without the aid of technology. She may not have needed technology to obtain her abilities. Since the show stated that the scans of Casandra and O'Neill matched those of the Ancient woman, logic dictates that they also matched each others. This is further evidence that in Stargate, the technology governing the Repository of the Ancients and technologies required to gain telekenetic ablilites are closely related.
In the episode "Metamorphosis", the Goa'uld Nirrti, who SG-1 Stargate Command had encountered several times previously in the series, somehow obtained a DNA Resequencer and used it to manipulate the DNA of people living in a nearby village in an attempt to create more advanced humans. (Preveiously in the show she had been doing experimental surgurey to try to obtain this goal. Casandra was one of her test subjects.) She eventually wanted to take procure the most advanced host possible. At that point in the series, most Goa'uld were not aware of ascension. In her experimenting, she planted time bombs in many of the people and caused extreme physical deformities. It is possible that she did not understand the technology and the deformities were caused by accident. She used the machine to give one man telekinesis and another was given telepathy. Samantha Carter commented that she could have given other powers to other villagers. She eventually wanted to take a host with all the powers the machine could provide her with or modify her current host to those standards.
Afterwards, SG-1 convinced the genetically altered people that Nirrti was not actually trying to help them. A rebellion was incited and the telekinetic man choked Nirrti to death. The telepathic man, who had obtained the necessary knowledge from Nirrti to operate the DNA resequencer, restored his people to their original state. The device was soon after destroyed.
Later on in the series (midway through season nine in the episode "Prototype"), the writers decided to bring back the DNA Resequencer. In the show on a planet designated P3X-584,, a second device was discovered by SG-1 along with an advanced Human/Goa'uld-hybrid clone of Anubis, Khalek. The scene where the device was found was set in a lab comprised of Ancient architecture. There it seemed that Anubis produced a clone with virtually every characteristic of himself, even his personality and memories. (Includes Data on the DNA resequencer) Anubis then used the DNA resequencer to give Khalek extremely advanced human abilities.
The show does not make it clear why Anubis created Khalek or whether he intended for him to ascend. (Includes Data on the DNA resequencer) However, several characters discussed this uncertainty. The most plausible explanation, in this discussion, came when Teal'c commented that Anubis may have been trying to create a servant even more powerful than the Kull Warriors (a supersoldier introduced earlier in season seven). However if this were the case, it would have made little logical sense to give him the personality traits of Anubis as he would probably have been disloyal and evil (this is the opposite of the perfectly programmed Kull Warriors). Nevertheless, Khalek was so advanced and powerful that the Tau’ri were worried that he could ascend at any moment. (Includes Data on how he used the DNA Resequencer)
After Khalek was found by SG-1 in the lab, he was captured and taken prisoner in the SGC. Extreme security measures were taken to prevent him from escaping. Guards were posted, force fields were erected, and a component of the DNA Resequencer was hooked up to monitor his physiology. The component, which Colonel Mitchel called the "ascendometer", was capable of displaying a subject's brain activity on a screen. Eventually Khalek attempted to escape causing damage to the SGC and killing several guards. However, he was killed in the attempt despite using many powers the DNA Resequencer gave him. Despite all his powers, the writers clearly did not make him invincible. The DNA Resequencer used to advance Khalek was captured by earth. They later used information gathered on the device and on Khalek to create a weapon to fight the Priors; an ultrasonic pulse which disables a Prior's abilities. | [Transcript Part I], [Transcript Part II]
In season nine of Stargate SG-1, the Ori and Priors were introduced and the extraordinary abilities of the Priors were demonstrated. | [Transcript] Throughout the season, they show the Priors using many abilities similar to and some beyond those of beings modified by the DNA Resequencer. | [Transcript] The reason Priors posses their powers is the same reason that users of the DNA Resequencer have their abilities; highly upgraded physiology, particularly neurology. It has been stated that the Priors are far more advanced than ordinary humans and are implied to be able use far more than 10 percent of their brains. The neurology of Priors and DNA Resequencer users were similar enough that in the episode "The Fourth Horseman", Samantha Carter, Doctor Lee, and other characters were able to use data on Khalek and the DNA Resequencer to create a weapon to disable a Prior's abilities. Despite the physiological similarities between the Priors and DNA Resequencer users, Priors are not upgraded by technology. The Ori themselves in "Origin" are shown to actually turn a human into a Prior almost instantly without the aid of any (visible) technology.
The Priors' abilities seem to be amplified by their staffs, whereas DNA Resequencer user's abilities are purely biological. The show does not make it clear how much of the Priors' abilities are biological as opposed to technological. Many of their more advanced abilities, the ones that surpass DNA Resequencer users, appear to emanate from their staffs. For example, when a Prior induces a healing wave, the wave appears to originate from his staff. | [Transcript] | [Transcript] However, this may be done unintentionally through visual effects and may not be the intention of the writers. In conclusion, season nine makes the Priors seem more powerful than the most advanced non-ascended humans created by the DNA resequencer, albeit using their staff. | [Transcript]
The concept of the DNA Resequencer appears in different forms throughout science fiction. Often times in Sci-fi, through different methods and procedures, characters become the subjects of genetic advancement or neural surgery. This often times results in upgraded physical, intellectual, or/and supernatural abilities. However, in most works of fiction (with exceptions), the upgraded people do not obtain skills even close to the extreme superhuman abilities obtained by the users of the DNA Resequencer in Stargate. Other instances of fictional genetic advancement include but are not limited to:
Gene therapy has been used for treating problems that arise from genetic disorder. The idea of gene therapy is that a non-pathogenic virus or other delivery system can be used to insert a piece of DNA--a good copy of the gene--into cells of the living individual. The modified cells would divide as normal and each division would produce cells that express the desired trait. The result would be that he/she would then have the ability to express the trait that was previously absent at least partially. This form of genetic engineering could help alleviate many problems, such as diabetes, cystic fibrosis, or other genetic diseases.
The huge potential of genetic engineering to cure medical conditions opens the question of exactly what such a condition is. Many people, known as immortalists, see aging and death as medical conditions and engineering problems to be solved. Maximum lifespan is determined by the rate of aging for a species inherent in its genetic code. They see human genetic engineering as a key tool in this (see life extension). The difference between cure and enhancement is merely one of degree. Theoretically genetic engineering could be used to drastically change people's genomes which could enable people to regrow limbs, the spine, the brain. It could also be used to make people stronger, faster, smarter, or to increase the capacity of the lungs, among other things (For information on the philosophy which supports this idea see: transhumanism).
It is unlikely, however, that human enhancement could achieve the level of ability presented in the Stargate series. The show explains the abilities with the 10 percent myth; since they can use more than 10 percent of their brains, they have special abilities. Although Stargate applies this myth and shows it to an extreme, science does not generally agree. One study shows that people use almost every part of their brain, just not at once. For some activities people use some parts of their brain, yet for other activities they use different parts. There is little spare room. Another study insists that the myth is true in that we only use 10 percent of our brains, however, since we have no idea what the rest of the brain is for, it is non-sense to try and guess (especially without evidence).
According to the DVD director's commentary of the episode |test2=|val2=show|then= (Stargate , the device in actuality consists of three components. Two of these components are physical but the third is computer generated. The first component is a pedestal that rests on the floor. The actor would stand on the pedestal. This would draw attention to the actor using the device and was also a way to show that they were using it. Above the user was the second component, an orange globe. This was what appeared to be the technological part of the device (at least the first time the device appeared).
Later on in the editing process the third component was added, a computer generated energy field which appears to paralyze the user. Additionally, computer generated representations of DNA surround the user. It should be noted that the color scheme of the DNA surrounding the user was different when Jonas Quinn was in the machine. This is further indication that he is special in the Stargate universe (see Nirrti's use section).DVD extra - Directors Commentary on the Stargate SG-1 episode "Metamorphosis" It should also be noted that when the second DNA Resequencer was found in season nine, there was no orange globe above it. In addition, the computer generated DNA in the second device appeared far more dense and complicated then when it was displayed in the first device (see the picture under Anubis's use).
Episodes Where the DNA Resequencer appeared on screen
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.Additional factors
Stargate plotlines in which the technology appeared
In Stargate, the DNA Resequencer has appeared twice. The first time was in the episode "Metamorphosis" when the Goa'uld Nirrti was using the device to try to create a more advanced host (a Hok'taur) for herself. Previously in the series, before she found the DNA Resequencer, she had been trying to create a Hoktaur through other means. The DNA Resequencer was the next step in her expirmentation. (Includes data on the DNA resequencer) The second instance in which the device appeared was in the episode "Prototype" when SG-1 discovered that Anubis was using an identical device to upgrade a clone. However, SG-1 was unable to figure out why the purpose of this expirment. (Includes Data on the DNA resequencer) Nirrti's use
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Anubis's use
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Comparison with new Stargate concepts
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Similar genetic advancement in other fiction
Comparisons with real world DNA manipulation
The making of the DNA Resequencer for Stargate
See also
Key episodes
The following are the key episodes of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis relating to the DNA Resequencer. They were referenced as primary sources in this article. (For a complete listing of all Stargate SG-1 episodes, see List of Stargate SG-1 episodes) The names of the episodes link to summaries here on Wikipedia. The light blue links lead to external transcripts. (However, the episodes themselves are being refrneced, not summaries or transcripts.) The episodes are listed in chronological order.
Episodes used for supporting data and analysis
Refrences
External links
Technology in the Stargate universe
[http://encycl.opentopia.com/ Edit]
Tau'ri technology
GDO | IDC | Stargate Iris | Kull Disruptor | P90 | MALP | Naqahdah Generator
F-302 | Prometheus (BC-303) | Daedalus (BC-304)-class Battlecruiser
Goa'uld / Tok'ra technology
Al'kesh | Death Glider | Ha'tak Mothership | Hand Device | Healing Device | Intar | Sarcophagus | Staff Weapon | Tel'tak | TER | Tunnel Crystals | Zat | Zatarc detector
Ancient technology
ATA Gene | Atlantis | Aurora-class Battleship | Dakara Weapon | DHD | DNA Resequencer
Drone Weapon | Healing Device | Project Arcturus | Puddle Jumper | Repository of Knowledge
Ring Transporter | Stargate | Time Dilation Device | Zero Point Module
Other races' technology
Beliskner-class ship | Daniel Jackson-class ship | O'Neill-class ship | Thor's Hammer | Ion Cannon | Wraith Dart | Wraith Hive-Ship | Supergate | Ori Battlecruiser
Technology by Race
All | Tau'ri | Ancient | Goa'uld | Tok'ra | Asgard | Tollan | Wraith | Ori | Other
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