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Genetic engineering

Genetic engineering, also referred to as genetic modification or GM, was the process of modifying an organism by changing their DNA. It was closely related to the concept of mutation.

Instances[]

The Daleks[]

The Daleks had done extensive engineering to themselves and others. They had originally started as modified Kaleds. (TV: Genesis of the Daleks) Civil wars were known to be fought over genetic purity (TV: The Evil of the Daleks) and some Dalek technology, like the Progenitor, wouldn't recognise impure Daleks. (TV: Victory of the Daleks)

At one point, the Daleks searched for the Human Factor and the Dalek Factor, traits that distinguished humans and Daleks from other species. By implanting the Human Factor into Alpha, Beta, Omega and other Daleks, humanised Daleks were created. This led to the Great Civil War as the humanised Daleks questioned and rebelled against the Daleks' orders. The opposite procedure occurred when the Daleks implanted the Dalek Factor into Theodore Maxtible. (TV: The Evil of the Daleks) The Dalek Factor turned humans into Dalek servants and in some cases when they were mortally injured, they initiated a type of regeneration. (PROSE: I Am a Dalek)

Daleks of human origin were created on several occasions, in two different instances by Davros and the Dalek Emperor in the Last Great Time War. (TV: Revelation of the Daleks, The Parting of the Ways)

In 1930 New York City, the Cult of Skaro created two forms of Dalek-human hybrids. Dalek Sec became a human-Dalek after merging with Mr Diagoras, (TV: Daleks in Manhattan) and an army of hybrids were created by Dalek DNA implanted into near-dead humans with their minds wiped; these were also given Time Lord DNA after an attempt by the Tenth Doctor to destroy the transmitter on the top of the Empire State Building which powered their creation. He was struck by lightning, fusing his DNA into their genetic code. This made them question the Daleks' orders. (TV: Evolution of the Daleks) While in 1930 New York the Cult of Skaro implanted animal DNA into humans, turning them into pig slaves. (TV: Daleks in Manhattan)

During the Security Drone Incident, the Reconnaissance Dalek pleaded for its life with the Death Squad Daleks, noting that it could modify its genetics to make itself pure, only to be exterminated nonetheless. (TV: Revolution of the Daleks)

Other species[]

The Tzun integrated the DNA of other species into their own. (PROSE: First Frontier)

The Yend attempted to modify themselves, but the radiation of the star Mortain caused uncontrollable mutations. (PROSE: The Sons of the Crab)

The Jadean were genetically engineered to withstand telepathic readings. (PROSE: Placebo Effect)

Some Rakweed were genetically modified by Tree Slitheen-Blathereen to grow faster. (TV: The Gift)

The Korven implanted Meron DNA in their ally, Thorne, effectively turning him into one. (TV: The Eclipse of the Korven)

A Karfelon scientist known as Megelen, while experimenting with Morlox DNA, was accidentally fused with it and became the Borad. (TV: Timelash)

The Luminus cult combined the DNA of the Sline lizard and the Aaglon shark to create the Slaag. (PROSE: Tragedy Day)

Ravus Oldeman created the Bloodhunter by combining DNA samples collected from the surface of Akoshemon with human DNA and force generating the resulting life form, in an attempt to create a creature capable of autonomous self-stasis. (PROSE: Fear of the Dark)

The humanoid Dastari was considered a pioneer of genetic engineering by the Sixth Doctor. (TV: The Two Doctors)

Humans living on an alien planet genetically engineered native life forms to resemble dragons. (COMIC: The Dragon Lord)

The Silents were genetically engineered so that one would forget them after looking away. (TV: The Time of the Doctor)

The Bestiarus were genetically engineered soldiers in an alternate Rome. (COMIC: Doctor Who and the Iron Legion)

By many accounts, the ability of regeneration had been first introduced to Gallifrey via genetic engineering. Most of these attributed regeneration to being created by Rassilon, (AUDIO: Zagreus, PROSE: The Crystal Bucephalus) while the Black Scrolls of Rassilon indicated instead that regeneration was caused by a virus engineered by Thremix. (PROSE: The Scrolls of Rassilon) An account discovered by the the Spy Master stated that the genetic sequence that allowed for regeneration had been extracted from the Timeless Child by Tecteun and "gene-spliced" into those who dwelled within the Capitol. (TV: The Timeless Children) Vastra suspected that Melody Pond's ability to regenerate was, while aided by her conception taking place in the Time Vortex, the product of further genetic tampering. (TV: A Good Man Goes to War)

Two factions of Markarians fighting on Earth genetically modified themselves to better infiltrate and move about the planet discreetly. (COMIC: Operation Volcano)

During the Last Great Time War, an alternate Davros had mastered genetic manipulation on the nano-level, using it to turn the Coscans into a cybernetic gestalt. (AUDIO: Restoration of the Daleks)

When terraforming risked destroying the valuable minerals on Hope Eternal, Claudia Mason genetically modified the colonists into the Nu-Humans. (AUDIO: The Nu-Humans)

Other references[]

Marunianism was opposed to genetic engineering. (PROSE: Dry Pilgrimage)

When Nardole accessed a computer on Floor 1056, he found many files on genetics and bio-engineering related to Operation Exodus. (TV: World Enough and Time)

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