Clones: Vorta and Others

[Six of Twelve]

As we know, the Vorta have long been a cloned species. But the issue of "replicative fading", as mentioned on the TNG second season episode, "Up the Long Ladder", is never mentioned as an issue with Vorta cloning. To refresh memories, replicative fading refers to genetic errors that invariably creep in eventually when making copies of copies the further one gets from the original individual. The eventual end result is a non-viable clone.

The one "defective" Weyoun that Odo tried to help seems like a possible case of this, though it is not identified as such on the episode, nor is the next Weyoun similarly "defective", as one might expect from a clone another generation down. So, I'm inclined to think that might be another issue, more of a mutation, than a fading.

It would seem that they've found a way to eradicate replicative fading among the Vorta, then. It made me wonder if some Vorta reproduce normally, in order to provide fresh models for cloning from time to time.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Dominion cloning technology is probably advanced enough that replicative fading isn't a problem.

Heck, don't they have a way for each successive clone to automatically wake up at "birth" with all the memories of the previous one? If they can handle that, the elimination of cloning errors would be child's play.

 

[Six of Twelve]

Dominion cloning technology is probably advanced enough that replicative fading isn't a problem.

Heck, don't they have a way for each successive clone to automatically wake up at "birth" with all the memories of the previous one? If they can handle that, the elimination of cloning errors would be child's play.

Still, though,it would seem as if they haven't got all the bugs out if the aberrant Weyoun is any indication. It also seems as if they would want fresh models to clone from periodically.

 

[Timo]

Hmm. If they can and do manipulate the clones for desired characteristics, they no doubt would abhor the idea of having to go back to a "dirty", "natural" source that lacks all the refinements implemented...

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Six of Twelve]

Hmm. If they can and do manipulate the clones for desired characteristics, they no doubt would abhor the idea of having to go back to a "dirty", "natural" source that lacks all the refinements implemented...

Timo Saloniemi

They wouldn't really have to have sex. Remember, this is the 24th century. All they'd need to do is extract sperm from a male Vorta and an egg from a female to create a "test tube" zygote, which would then be gestated in an artificial womb, like a Borg maturation chamber. In that way, the child, nor the parents known the identities of the others, which is really one of the reasons the Founders prefer cloning Vorta - so they don't form emotional attachments with one another that might possibly interfere with their devotion to the Founders. The Founders are the ultimate users, considering what they've done to the Vorta and the Jem Hadar.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Wasn't it established that the Vorta are incapable of physical pleasure? That was probably engineered as well: the only kind of pleasure they are able to feel is service to the Founders.

So even if the Vorta were physically able to have sex (which itself is unlikely), they wouldn't enjoy it, because they can't enjoy anything.

 

[The Wormhole]

Still, though,it would seem as if they haven't got all the bugs out if the aberrant Weyoun is any indication. It also seems as if they would want fresh models to clone from periodically.

Nothing's 100% perfect, and there's always going to be errors. The fact that out of all the Vorta cloning that must have gone on in the Alpha Quadrant during the war alone and only one turned out faulty is a testament to the Dominion's success rate.

 

[UnknownSample]

Wasn't it established that the Vorta are incapable of physical pleasure? That was probably engineered as well: the only kind of pleasure they are able to feel is service to the Founders.

So even if the Vorta were physically able to have sex (which itself is unlikely), they wouldn't enjoy it, because they can't enjoy anything.

Except "ripple berries" (?), games of chance, poisoned kanar, and humiliating Dukat...