Interspecies Procreation and Relationships

[Kilana2]

We know B'Elanna is half Klingon. And Worf and Jadzia needed Bashir's help for conceiving a child. Due to Jadzia´s death we never learned how a child would look like. Miral Paris is only a quarter Klingon

Spock's parents are Vulcan and Human. T´Pol mentioned some genetical issues between Humans and Vulcans.

Are Trill (especially joined ones) and Vulcan's genetically compatible? If not, can they procreate with medical intervention? Would a Vulcan struggle with the personalities of the symbiont´s former hosts?

 

[Citiprime]

I'm guessing this is a combination of the scientific definition of "species" confronting the science-fiction.

Usually distinct species can't interbreed with each other. However, there's some wiggle room with the accepted definition since it's usually stated that distinct species can't "regularly" breed with each other, since there are all sorts of different species that can technically have offspring but for one reason or another don't normally (e.g., technically a donkey and a horse are distinct species but are capable of producing offspring; mules).

Also, given that the genetic building blocks for all humanoid species are tied to a progenitor humanoid race that seeded planets throughout the galaxy (TNG's "The Chase"), it might make the situation different where there's fewer stumbling blocks to overcome.

 

[Sci]

To the best of my knowledge, the only time it's been explicitly established that two species are interfertile without genetic intervention is with Cardassians and Bajorans ("Covenant" [DS9]). The rest we either know need genetic intervention (Trill and Klingons, as you cite) or the canon seems to strongly imply they need genetic intervention (Humans and Vulcans, per "Demons"/"Terra Prime" [ENT]).

Given that, I would hypothesize that Cardassians and Bajorans are actually two subspecies of the same species, and that Cardassians are the descendants of a long-forgotten ancient Bajoran colony. I hypothesize that all other hybrids require genetic intervention, including with B'Elanna and Miral.

 

[Rahul]

Saw the movie "Splice"?
My handwave explanation is: If it's made out of DNA, Trek medicine can make chimaeras. (So inter-species kids with energy beings, crystalline lifeforms, or other non-carbon based aliens like the Tholians are not possible).
In theory, they could make a child between a human and an animal, like a frog, as well. But for obvious ethical reasons they won't.
So for interspecies Trek couples I think they have a lot of gene therapy to make a "as natural as possible" offspring. For two complete aliens (like Spock or B'elanna's parents) probably need some artificial insemination together with DNA modification. Whereas the next generation (B'elanna's kid, Worfs son Alexander) can be created "naturally" and just need some DNA therapy to survive.

(Two sidenotes: 1. That limits what Khan-like "Augments" are, as gene therapy could not be forbidden in general, only "unnatural improvements" and 2. This is also my headcanon for the Xindi - five sentient species on one planet - that they didn't develop "naturally" but are exactly the result of their own histories inter -species cross-breeding/gene-splicing experiments)

 

[Kilana2]

We never learned what a child from Kes with Neelix would look like as Kes postponed her family planning. The Doctor didn´t mention any incompatibilities either.

There are Romulan and Vulcan hybrids - or Romulan and Human (Saavik, Simon Tarses and Sela.....). Vulcans and Romulans are genetically close.

Genetical intervention is unlikely when the child is the result of rape or a forced relationship.

 

[Vger23]

Procreation is so much FUN!

 

[Kilana2]

Procreation is so much FUN!