Can the Boralans truly survive? [TNG Homeward]

[Meadowmorph]

We often confuse bipedal hominids as having the instincts and survival mechanisms of humans. One of the greatest survival mechanisms of humans is their ability to adapt to their surroundings and situations. From the historian who wandered into the Enterprise, what we learn is they define themselves by their home. He didn't believe they could exist without their village. He felt this way so much so, that he took his life.

The question: Do you think the Boralans will make it? Did they manage to survive in an ecosystem so foreign and one harsher than their village? Can they make the leap?

 

[Mutai Sho-Rin]

I edited the title to correct series ID and episode spelling.

 

[Verteron]

How many of them were there? A few dozen right, from one single village, the only village to have survived their planet's apocalypse. It's questionable whether that sort of small number would have enough genetic diversity for their species to survive long term. Small founder populations like this often don't survive and go extinct due to inbreeding causing stillbirth, premature deaths and sterility over the following generations. Everyone quickly ends up as everyone elses' cousin.

Perhaps Boralans are different. Perhaps they have higher genetic diversity than Humans and might be alright.

However, introducing Human DNA in to their population via having a child with Dobara may be the single largest gift Nikolai could have given them, and may well be the key to their survival over the long term.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Assuming Nikolai secretly vaccinated them all to local illnesses.

Sure. The guy who killed him self did so because he couldn’t live with the knowledge. And I forget if we know for sure there are no other humanoids there. But Nikolai cheated once, why not again?

 

[Meadowmorph]

I edited the title to correct series ID and episode spelling.

Thanks. I should never send memos late night. =D

 

[Meadowmorph]

The shallow gene pool as well as alien illnesses to which the Boralans have no immunity would seriously question the success of future generations. I give the writers hail Marys too many times, I suppose. The episode was questioning the Prime Directive and creative ways to get around that. (Nikolai's genes could possibly save them, I had not thought of that.) For the same reason Nikolai left the Academy was probably what allowed the Boralans a chance. It seems Star Fleet doesn't truly appreciate out-of-the-box thinking; they almost booted Lt. Barkley for not being able to fit in. Star Fleet has a quasi military structure. I question whether these type of thinkers would ever fit in comfortably especially on a vessel.

 

[BillJ]

They have a fighting chance, which they didn't have on their homeworld. Survival is never guaranteed.

 

[NewHeavensNewEarth]

Assuming Nikolai secretly vaccinated them all to local illnesses.

Sure. The guy who killed him self did so because he couldn’t live with the knowledge. And I forget if we know for sure there are no other humanoids there. But Nikolai cheated once, why not again?

They also might have high birth rates that would populate the land if he gave them medical assistance, in case the infant mortality rates were an issue.

 

[Nakita Akita]

I read once that some Huge number of native Irish can trace their genes to something like 8 couples.
It could be wrong or have been disproven.

 

[Armus]

I read once that some Huge number of native Irish can trace their genes to something like 8 couples.
It could be wrong or have been disproven.

Too cool. According to recent studies we can all trace our genes back to one man and one woman.

https://www.livescience.com/38613-genetic-adam-and-eve-uncovered.html

 

[Nakita Akita]

Too cool. According to recent studies we can all trace our genes back to one man and one woman.

https://www.livescience.com/38613-genetic-adam-and-eve-uncovered.html

Well,
I thought about pointing 'this ' out, but chose not to.........

 

[at Quark's]

I read once that some Huge number of native Irish can trace their genes to something like 8 couples.
It could be wrong or have been disproven.

A huge number of people tracing their genes to a few people is still a far cry from having to draw your genes from only those few people. Which is the situation the Booraalans are facing now. I'm not sure they'll be able to survive, long-term.

Still, I agree that those kind of findings are cool ...