- by Andrew Groen
- July 26, 2010 09:43 AM PT
Scientists in a variety of fields including entomology, evolutionary biology, systems ecology, astrobiology, and physics, help us determine how much of the technology featured in the StarCraft universe is entirely science fiction and what could actually exist in real life.
- The Overmind
To control the vast billions that comprise the Zerg race, a hivemind consciousness rules over the species. This consciousness, known as the Overmind, provides direction for the raging masses of the Zerg brood. it is even suggested that individual Zerg have no conscious mind whatsoever. Are there examples of this kind of hivemind on Earth?
Construction occurs in an entirely opposite context to a hivemind." -Dr. Gene Robinson, Professor of Entomology
it is currently impossible to say with any certainty whether there could be a race like the Zerg out in the vastness of space. However, our own planet has a wonderful variety of life forms in extremely diverse environments. So it's possible that looking inward at our own planet could give us a decent idea of what Zerg-like aliens would be like.
"Construction occurs in an entirely opposite context to a hivemind," says Dr. Gene Robinson, professor of Entomology at the University of Illinois, about bee and ant behaviors. "Bees respond to local cues with a behavioral response, without knowing what the global state or goal might be. Local actions give rise to phenomenal global patterns, with no one in charge."
We don't have a consciousness that mirrors the Zerg, but the end result can still be similar.
in 2009, scientists learned that separate ant colonies in Japan, Europe, and South America were actually part of a massive global super-colony. This is theorized to have been accomplished by stowing away on human transport, and overthrowing native colonies. So even with a different type of hivemind, Zerg-like tendencies can still emerge.
- Verdict
- Plausible
Sarah Kerrigan (infested Terran and hybrid species)
- Hybrid Species
The three central races of the Starcraft universe are perfect foils for one another. not only in terms of perfectly balanced gameplay, but also biology and story. So it was inevitable that they would start trying to meld their races together, to create extremely powerful hybrids capable of turning the tide of the war.
This is already happening -– transgenic animals are commonly created to express human diseases in lab animals like mice as well as weird animals like bunnies that glow and goats that produce spider silk in their milk." -Dr. Michael Alfaro, Professor of Evolutionary Biology at UCLA
The Zerg show this capability in their infestation of Kerrigan, while the Terran are known to have experimented with implanting Protoss tissue into their spy units, Ghosts. even the extremely powerful Xel'naga race of Starcraft lore experimented heavily with combining Zerg and Protoss DNA. but is it likely that the DNA of species separated by half a galaxy could be combined?
"The easiest way to meld two species would be to use genetic engineering to insert the desired genes of one species into another," says Dr. Michael Alfaro, professor of evolutionary biology at UCLA. "This is already happening -– transgenic animals are commonly created to express human diseases in lab animals like mice as well as weird animals like bunnies that glow and goats that produce spider silk in their milk."
"This does not mean that biologists can create a [hybrid] animal with any desired mix of traits," Alfaro continues. "Though it is not so far-fetched to imagine a technologically advanced society doing something like this."
- Verdict
- True
- Zerg Assimilation
The overwhelming success of the Zerg species in conquering worlds can be attributed to their modus operandi of "assimilating" powerful species into their gene pool. The Overmind instructs them to seek out species with abilities or traits that they desire, and to bring that into the Zerg DNA. The ultimate goal being to kill off all weak races, and dominate all strong races.
you could even consider viruses as master assimilators." -Dr. Michael Alfaro
The Zerg are obviously a unique race, but can we see any evidence of this kind of behavior in our own world?
The short answer is, yes, it is possible. though we certainly haven't observed anything resembling something as terrifying as that of the Zerg race. Professor Alfaro tells us of an accepted theory in biology that explains how ancient plants cells acquired the ability to use sunlight for energy by accidentally merging with photosynthetic bacteria. which then -- due to this incredibly useful new ability -- led to plants becoming one of the dominant forms of life on Earth.
"You could even consider viruses as master assimilators," says Alfaro. "[Viruses] take over the replicating machinery of an invaded cell and insert a new instruction set so that the DNA of the host cell creates millions and millions of copies of the virus. Eventually the host cell bursts, releasing these copies to invade nearby healthy cells."
it may not be the most polite comparison, but it seems fairly apt to compare the Zerg to a type of virus.
- Verdict
- Possible
if you like this "Real Science" story, be sure to check out The Real Science of Mass Effect 2 too after continuing on to page two.
The Real Science of StarCraft 2
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