Always a Changeling???
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While we don't really know their history, it seems highly unlikely that such an exotic life form could have evolved from "solids" per se and would also not match with how they seem to feel solids are so deeply and irreconcilably different from themselves. However, they were almost certainly restricted to fewer forms (or one) at some earlier point in their evolution...but I doubt those forms were anything we'd recognize.
I am thinking take the evolutionary path of a slime mold to it's logical conclusion. I am thinking he may be silica based as well. Something Bashir said in the first episode that had Dr. Mora in it.
I could see a changeling evolving a mimic ability to look like solid creatures to fool the other liquid slime mold type creatures that were predators.
Maybe they pick their human form after the Progenitor Race because they decoded the DNA in the Gamma Quadrant years ago and since they were the "first intelligent species" in the galaxy, the changelings picked that shape as a "tribute" to the first life that seeded and "controlled" the destiny of the other species, something that fits the changeling manifesto, the "controlling of other race's destines" part specifically.
Either that or the Progenitor race came across the slime molds in their pr5imordial state and added some DNA like stuff to them, an unfolding program, and it made their "natural humanoid form" look like a progenitor. Since they may not evolve as quickly since they simply change shape to evolve the "Progenitor DNA" might be more expressed than it was in a Klingon or Romulan etc....
I could see a changeling evolving a mimic ability to look like solid creatures to fool the other liquid slime mold type creatures that were predators.
Maybe they pick their human form after the Progenitor Race because they decoded the DNA in the Gamma Quadrant years ago and since they were the "first intelligent species" in the galaxy, the changelings picked that shape as a "tribute" to the first life that seeded and "controlled" the destiny of the other species, something that fits the changeling manifesto, the "controlling of other race's destines" part specifically.
Either that or the Progenitor race came across the slime molds in their pr5imordial state and added some DNA like stuff to them, an unfolding program, and it made their "natural humanoid form" look like a progenitor. Since they may not evolve as quickly since they simply change shape to evolve the "Progenitor DNA" might be more expressed than it was in a Klingon or Romulan etc....
I forgot about that exchange. Good catch.
I'm left confused, because in the episode The Search Odo asks his people if he was once an infant and they said in away he was, so that means they do reproduce somehow.
'In a way' does not mean 'Yes'.
I can't remember what explanation was given for your question, but it was addressed. Hopefully somebody can help out, or you could ask over in Trek Literature. Both the author and the editor are regular posters there.
I can't remember what explanation was given for your question, but it was addressed. Hopefully somebody can help out, or you could ask over in Trek Literature. Both the author and the editor are regular posters there.
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When he was found on Bajor his ability to change shape was limited, immature. And apparently, like the little Changling Quark sold him, smaller. Given that he doesn't consume food, nutrition in way we understand it's hard to see how he would manage to grow, but he did.
I think they evolved from a Solaris-type planet (which seemed to be the inspiration for the Changeling planet anyway) that was a single sentient being - sentient in a sense that is totally different from human intelligence - and the individualized aspect of Changelings evolved later, sort of like a single being evolving cells that can break off and do their own independent thing.
Its also possible they adapted or "helped" themselves like they "improved" the Jem'Hadar and the Vorta- maybe they're just renegade freaks who broke their society's rules on genetic manipulation and were oppressed or there were arrest attempts for what they did.
After all, as mentioned, they seem to remember being solids.
And for the other point- the Female Founder kindof hesitates in "the Search" as if "infant" isn't the right term, just one that Odo sticks on, so she decides to go with it. That flexibility is used in the DS9 relaunch. Odo wonders why he was "sent away"- a good point, if you're worried about being hunted and attacked- would you send your children away with no education or training?
After all, as mentioned, they seem to remember being solids.
And for the other point- the Female Founder kindof hesitates in "the Search" as if "infant" isn't the right term, just one that Odo sticks on, so she decides to go with it. That flexibility is used in the DS9 relaunch. Odo wonders why he was "sent away"- a good point, if you're worried about being hunted and attacked- would you send your children away with no education or training?
And yet they were represented by the exact same actress! Coincidence? Enquiring minds want to know!
I think it means he was scooped from the shallow end of the lake. *grin*
No, not that I'm aware of. All we know about Founder biology is that Odo has to regenerate every so often (we've never seen any of the others do this, so we have no idea if it's internal to the race, or just Odo's problem). That's it, really. We don't know how they 'eat', how long they live, how they reproduce, or anything like that.
