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I know Geneseed is some sort of genetic material collected and stored from past marines, but what exactly is it, and how does it work? is it just DNA? is it entire Organs? how does it effect the space marine recruits who get it? does it cause change in their own DNA upon implantation?

It's a 'marine in a box' implant (pregenoid glands) that gets implanted in two places in the marine's body.

It basically rewrites the recruit's DNA and grows some new organs What it actually is could be anything from a chemical resevoir that warps the DNA to a packet of nanites that rebuild the body.

Aside from it being a clubhouse sign- 'boys only, no girls allowed' they don't really go into much detail, as far as i can tell.

The Geneseed of a Space Marine is a set of Stem-Cells or potentially some form of Viral RNA/DNA. It is collected in the Progenoid Gland of a Space Marine over around 55 years, after which it is ready to be harvested. Essentially, it's the blue-prints for a single, or multiple, set(s) of Space Marine organs, or it is some form of Genetic Material which allows for the acceptance of the organs.

a space marine grows a set of organs in his body over the course of several years.

once mature, the geneseed can be harvested. its unclear weather thy can be harvested while the marine is still alive or if its only upon death. its also theorised that a marine might grow a new set when they are removed.


in these Progenoids are Stemcells collected from the various marine implants.


once harvested, each progenoid provides the Stemcells to grow a new set of Marine Implants(including 2 immature Progenoids)



the Progenoids are basically opened and the stemcells used to grow new implants to put in a new space marine. the cycle then begins anew.

does the new marine on the receiving end receive specific benefits? like exceptional skills that the donor had? or his memories? is the geneseed of Marine A better than that of Marine B? potentially?

Nothing in the fluff suggests it. It's not a form of genetic memory, just an individual set of blue-prints.

Oh I just say that because I remember in DoW 2 an entire mission centers around protecting and retrieving "Brother Endymion's Geneseed" like it was a really big deal. maybe just the principles of the thing.

It's a huge deal. The geneseed is essential for the continued survival of The Chapter, ever one lost is another set of organs lost for the next generation. It takes 55 years to re-coup such a loss.

Its more of a spiritual significance then an actual physical one.


their brothers legacy must continue, it is the final honor for a marine. that his geneseed return to the chapter.

It's far, far, far more than simply spiritual. That Progenoid Gland is literally the future of The Chapter.

Why can't chapter that lost it's geenseed borrow another one from archives?
Surely when 4/6 of all Chapters have Ultramarine geneseed it's not much of a problem. Is it?

yes, the spiritual aspect is the individual space marine and desire for his geneseed in particular.

The desire for his geneseed is essential for the survival of the chapter, it is the most important reason.

Brother Coa wrote:Why can't chapter that lost it's geenseed borrow another one from archives?
Surely when 4/6 of all Chapters have Ultramarine geneseed it's not much of a problem. Is it?

Because that wouldn't be grimdark...

Brother Coa wrote:Why can't chapter that lost it's geenseed borrow another one from archives?

No one will let them.

occasionally, a chapter might be given some of its geneseed tithe back if it needs it.


but its very rarely done and such requests can take centuries to process.


a chapter needs to maintain its geneseed stock. otherwise its a very common cause of a chapter's destruction for it to have taken massive losses and lost its geneseed stock in the process.



still, as long as there is at least 1 apothacary left, a chapter can recover from even a handful of marines. especially if they are able to recover the geneseed of dead brothers.

Because collecting it after battle ensures a steady supply. Sure they could go back and get more from the source but that takes time and eventually will run out.

Earlier you asked if there were specific benefits/drawbacks fom donor to recipient. While not usually on an individual level, gradual changes can occur over time. Usually this winds up showing itself in a Chapter wide deviation from the norm. MOST Chapter suffer some form of 'genetic breakdown' from geneseed mutation. Such genetic mutation is what results in the skin/hair color of the Salamanders, the elongated canines of the Space Wolves, and other, more bizarre mutations.

Grey Templar wrote: its also theorised that a marine might grow a new set when they are removed.

By who? just you and a few internet fans? this is a very way off theory , there is no fluff to support this at all (other wise marines like Logan Grimnar could support a chapter by himself nearly).

romegamer wrote:I know Geneseed is some sort of genetic material collected and stored from past marines, but what exactly is it, and how does it work? is it just DNA? is it entire Organs? how does it effect the space marine recruits who get it? does it cause change in their own DNA upon implantation?

Progeniod Glands absord 'information' from all the other specialist organs, after a few years this gland develops into a geneseed (imagine a garlic bulb with each glove being the seed for a new organ). Once a geneseed is mature it can be removed and from it the 20 organs needed to make a space marine are grown ready for implantation.

Geneseed is not implanted into a recruit, it is the organs that get implanted in a semi-mature state (which then mature fully in the marine). The 2 progeniod glands from that geneseed then go on to mature and form 2 more geneseed ready for processing. Each organ does have an effect on the recruit though to a different level, some have a heavy effect on the body releasing hormones and genetic modifying material into the body.

do you have evidence that Geneseed doesn't grow back?



the very nature of such an organ would leave the possability open for it to grow back.

There is no fluff which says it doesn't grow back.


I am not saying it does grow back, just that its a posability.

Grey Templar wrote:do you have evidence that Geneseed doesn't grow back?

the very nature of such an organ would leave the possability open for it to grow back.

The very nature of an organ is that if you remove it, it cannot grow back. The progeniod gland develops into a geneseed, so after a geneseed is mature there is no progeniod gland to absorb more information.

And there is the whole fact that geneseed is clearly described as a cherished resource low in number, if every marine can produce a massive amout of geneseed in his life time it really does lower the story value of chapters like the Crimson Fists.

not when Stem Cells are involved.


Stemcells have the capability to grow anything back from a single cell.


if the Progenoid is nothing more then a storage organ for stemcells created elsewhere then this could happen.


the Progenoid, being mearly a storage compartment, grows back due to stemcells being present.

then the Progenoid is again filled with the Stemcells from the other organs.

Progenoids don't grow back.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/345427.page

Brother Coa wrote:Why can't chapter that lost it's geenseed borrow another one from archives?
Surely when 4/6 of all Chapters have Ultramarine geneseed it's not much of a problem. Is it?

If a chapter runs to the Admech(or whoever it is that maintains gene seed depositories) for the stuff all the time it greatly reduces their independence.

"I will grant you this favor. Someday, maybe never, I will call upon you to return it."

Not a position any Space Marine chapter would want to be in.

MountainSquid wrote:

Brother Coa wrote:Why can't chapter that lost it's geenseed borrow another one from archives?
Surely when 4/6 of all Chapters have Ultramarine geneseed it's not much of a problem. Is it?

If a chapter runs to the Admech(or whoever it is that maintains gene seed depositories) for the stuff all the time it greatly reduces their independence.

"I will grant you this favor. Someday, maybe never, I will call upon you to return it."

Not a position any Space Marine chapter would want to be in.

When you are near extinction ( like some chapters ) it is stupid not to ask for help.

Brother Coa wrote:
When you are near extinction ( like some chapters ) it is stupid not to ask for help.

Because if there is one thing Space Marines aren't, it's extremely proud.

From what little i have read i was always under the impression that it could only be harvested after death.

I believe there was a short story towards the end of Tales of The Heresy where the force commander of the Dark Angels force claims to have had his removed. I may be mistaken however. . .

KamikazeCanuck wrote:Progenoids don't grow back.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/345427.page

thats hardly evidence.


I still say that its possable that marines grow their progenoids back.

There isn't really evidence to the contrary and nothing precludes it growing back.


I realize lack of evidence against doesn't prove anything, but it shows there is the possability.



sadly, GW is extremely vague on these details.

Grey Templar wrote:

KamikazeCanuck wrote:Progenoids don't grow back.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/345427.page

thats hardly evidence.


I still say that its possable that marines grow their progenoids back.

There isn't really evidence to the contrary and nothing precludes it growing back.


I realize lack of evidence against doesn't prove anything, but it shows there is the possability.



sadly, GW is extremely vague on these details.

Since you are trying to prove something you must find evidence for it. Which you won't, because it doesn't happen.