Rebuilding the Vulcan Species

[threeb]

If there are indeed only 10,000 Vulcans left after the destruction of the planet, how do you think they will go about rebuilding the species? Do you think they will intermarry with humans and/or other compatible species in order to improve genetic diversity and prevent a "founder effect," or do you think the culture will become even more insular in order to protect what they have?

I ask because I recently watched the Blood Fever episode Voyager (see it here). IMHO, this episode shows that Vulcans are willing to make cross-species bonds if/when the situation warrants it, and I think imminent extinction definitely qualifies.

Vulcan genes are obviously dominant: Spock looks and acts Vulcan, has copper blood, his heart is in his side, etc. So long as the offspring is raised with Vulcan cultural values, I would think that “marrying out” would be the best way to ensure long-term survival of the species.

I’m interested in hearing other fans' thoughts on this.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ The 10,000 does not include Vulcans who were living off planet at the time. Orci and Kurtzman have said so. So there could be a fair amount *over* 10,000 left.

 

[threeb]

^ The 10,000 does not include Vulcans who were living off planet at the time. Orci and Kurtzman have said so. So there could be a fair amount *over* 10,000 left.

I wondered about that, cause Abrams would really be painting himself into a corner with only 10,000 Vulcans left. OTOH, why the "endangered species" line from Spock?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

OTOH, why the "endangered species" line from Spock?

He had just suffered a terrible shock - his mother, and his home planet, both gone. It's understandable if he would overreact or jump to conclusions. I'd do the same in his place.

 

[Shatmandu]

Spock's relationship with Uhura is based on his Vulcan side, so I think many Vulcan males will choose to mate with saucy black women.

Sarek, for instance, will take up with Nell Carter.

Joe, extended

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Sarek, for instance, will take up with Nell Carter.

BRAIN SOAP NEEDED!!!! *vomits*

 

[Brutal Strudel]

Especially since Nell Carter is dead.

Besides, we already know that Sarek favors the shiksas. I see him taking up with Diane Keaton and then Mia Farrow before Sulu finally catches his eye.

 

[threeb]

Especially since Nell Carter is dead.

Besides, we already know that Sarek favors the shiksas. I see him taking up with Diane Keaton and then Mia Farrow before Sulu finally catches his eye.

Y'all are wrong. Sick and wrong

 

[M'Sharak]

If there are indeed only 10,000 Vulcans left after the destruction of the planet, how do you think they will go about rebuilding the species? Do you think they will intermarry with humans and/or other compatible species in order to improve genetic diversity and prevent a "founder effect," or do you think the culture will become even more insular in order to protect what they have?

I ask because I recently watched the Blood Fever episode Voyager (see it here). IMHO, this episode shows that Vulcans are willing to make cross-species bonds if/when the situation warrants it, and I think imminent extinction definitely qualifies.

Vulcan genes are obviously dominant: Spock looks and acts Vulcan, has copper blood, his heart is in his side, etc. So long as the offspring is raised with Vulcan cultural values, I would think that “marrying out” would be the best way to ensure long-term survival of the species.

I’m interested in hearing other fans' thoughts on this.

You may want to have a look also at this thread:

Pon Farr, and reproducing Vulcan Culture/ P.F. and Surviving Vulcans

It's a collection of several threads, actually, in which your question is one of those which were discussed.

^ The 10,000 does not include Vulcans who were living off planet at the time. Orci and Kurtzman have said so. So there could be a fair amount *over* 10,000 left.

I wondered about that, cause Abrams would really be painting himself into a corner with only 10,000 Vulcans left. OTOH, why the "endangered species" line from Spock?

"Endangered" might be an exaggeration of sorts, going by how it's generally defined in the here and now, but when a population of one species is rapidly reduced in number from eight billion to ten thousand (or even to one million, ten thousand) and their home world obliterated, I think the terms "threatened" or "vulnerable" would apply, at the very least.

 

[StarshipDefiant]

Yeah, I think that's probably what Spock had meant when he said endangered, 10,000 made it off the planet, plus whomever was off planet at the time anyway with the entire planet itself, gone. If I saw Earth destroyed, even if there were several million more Humans throughout the galaxy, I might say that Humans were 'endangered'.

 

[threeb]

You may want to have a look also at this thread:

Pon Farr, and reproducing Vulcan Culture/ P.F. and Surviving Vulcans

It's a collection of several threads, actually, in which your question is one of those which were discussed.

Thanks for pointing me to the other thread. The nerd in me wanted to know what other fans thought about the possibility of a founders effect or genetic bottleneck

 

[PhasersOnStun]

If I saw Earth destroyed...

And that's something to keep in mind. As Spock Prime notes, and young Spock's battle with Kirk proved, he was feeling quite emotional. He'd watched his planet die, he'd watched his mother die. Sure, Spock is a logical being, not taken to histrionic displays and emo self-flagelation; but he was certainly overwhelmed, and would be completely justified if his "endangered species" comment was more of an off-the-cuff pronouncement out of shock than anything else.

 

[therealfoxbat]

The Vulcan species is not nearly as endangered as Spock thinks. There is evidence in the fossil record that about seventy thousand years ago, our species was reduced to no more than ten thousand, and possibly as few as two thousand...

 

[Eleanor_zhDarjel]

Spock's relationship with Uhura is based on his Vulcan side, so I think many Vulcan males will choose to mate with saucy black women.

Still, it would be interesting to see what conflicts that would cause. If Spocks dad was called a traitor by those little pests with the planet intact, what would they say with most of its population gone? Blood purity and all that jazz? Or go and mate where no vulcan has mated before?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ Well, Amanda *is* dead, so as long as Sarek chooses a Vulcan woman to mate with, they will probably keep quiet about it.

 

[Hambone]

Sarek, for instance, will take up with Nell Carter.

***THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS THREAD***

Back in 1989 I had a winter gig playing in the house band on a cruise ship. For a week, the featured guest was Nell Carter. The first night, her singing was all right but she pissed off some of the band members with her callous attitude, and her general disregard for anyone who wasn't Nell Carter.

The second night, after our opening set, the MC announced "Ladies and Gentlemen, star of stage and screen, Miss Nell Carter!" and she made her grand entrance wearing a flowing, bright yellow mumu-type dress.

As the applause died down, but before she could give the downbeat for her first number, one of the trumpet players yelled "Okay, who called the taxi?!!!"



***THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS THREAD***

 

[Alrik]

^




Oops...on topic.


Perhaps Vulcans will decide that is important to now take on multiple partners.

 

[JoeFromEarth]

Perhaps Vulcans will decide that is important to now take on multiple partners.

I guess that would depend on the ratio of Vulcan women to Vulcan men. Unless, of course, each Vulcan man gets one Vulcan woman and a few human ones...

 

[Nerys Myk]

SOLUTION: Time to conquer Romulus.

 

[Hambone]

COMIC BOOK GUY: "Inspired by the most logical race in the galaxy, the Vulcans, breeding will be permitted once every seven years. For many of you this will mean much less breeding; for me, much much more."