She was a 'mom' plot device pure and simple. They only used her scientific qualifications for a plot device in her first appearance where she confesses to being pregnant. Even when she was trapped on the shuttle it was to show us how her daughter worried and what she might do without her. Considering she was just about the only scientist who ever had lines apart from Gerron - and he should have been used a few more tijmes too - it was a real waste of the character.
