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Let us imagine that a space marine chapter decided to do the heretical and tamper with the gene seed, with the intent of giving it certain animal qualities (qualities that can be useful in battle, both physically and mentally).
Would such an endeavour be achievable for the apothecaries and gene-experts of a simple chapter, or is such an undertaking out of their league?


Also what kind of animal (earth animal) would you prefer to use for this experiment?

Take a look at Space Wolves... Canis DNA all over that.

Not sure if it's possible in the current 40k; heresy and all that, not to mention technological decline.

As for myself; I'd splice in some Kangaroo DNA for some awesome jumpin' Marines with baby Marines in their pouches firin' baby bolters.

Depends on what traits you're after, for example:
Gorilla - increased strength.
Canine/feline - increased smell and hearing.
Tortoise - increased life expectancy.
The list goes on and on.

Yes it would be possable.

To deliberatly tamper with the Geneseed would be Heretical. And since Marines are required to send a sample to Terra every so often for analysis it is difficult to hide such things.

The Black Dragons manage to avoid suspicion though.

Grey Templar wrote:Yes it would be possable.

To deliberatly tamper with the Geneseed would be Heretical. And since Marines are required to send a sample to Terra every so often for analysis it is difficult to hide such things.

The Black Dragons manage to avoid suspicion though.

I would imagine they could set aside untampered gene-seed specifically for sending in. then use the tampered seed all they want.

then again im not 100% on how the process works.

Oh and the tortoise "extra life expectance" thing. space marines can already live an extreamly long time standard. they just don't live that long due to their ocupation.

Space Furries. do not want.
THats EXTRA heresy!

Engine of War wrote:

Grey Templar wrote:Yes it would be possable.

To deliberatly tamper with the Geneseed would be Heretical. And since Marines are required to send a sample to Terra every so often for analysis it is difficult to hide such things.

The Black Dragons manage to avoid suspicion though.

I would imagine they could set aside untampered gene-seed specifically for sending in. then use the tampered seed all they want.

then again im not 100% on how the process works.

Oh and the tortoise "extra life expectance" thing. space marines can already live an extreamly long time standard. they just don't live that long due to their ocupation.

Space Furries. do not want.
THats EXTRA heresy!

Also how would they get the DNA in the first place? I mean earth is rock, no animal/planet life for the most part. So I'm guessing that most of the animals that once lived on earth are now extinct. Plus how would some Space Marine Chapter in Bum F@#K nowhere get DNA of a kangroo? It would make more sense if they used DNA of local. Wild life.

With that said give them flat worm DNA. So that they can regrow lost limbs and organs instantly, and still not become furies.

Actually, most of Earth's animal life has since been transplanted elsewhere in the galaxy. Those that didn't go extinct before mankind left for other planets anyway.

blood guard26 wrote:Depends on what traits you're after, for example:
Gorilla - increased strength.
Canine/feline - increased smell and hearing.
Tortoise - increased life expectancy.
The list goes on and on.

The changes don’t necessarily have to be a physically one. The genetic makeover could be an attempt at altering the way marines thinks and behave in combat. An example of this could be the “pack” mentality of the SW, which allow for even better coordination between the members of the pack.

The animal we are looking for here needs to be a social one, that allows for team cooperation (wolf packs e.g.) but also one that can work independent should the need arise (like SW scouts who are lone wolfs).

Lions or Buffalo.

Grey Templar wrote:Lions or Buffalo.

Ay I can see how lions would work, but buffalo

Can you elaborate on what specifically made you choose these two species (especially the buffalo one?)

Buffalo are extremely durable and can be very agressive. Rhinos also work for the same reasons.

Yo dawg, I heard you like rhinos, so we put Rhino Marines in yo' Rhinos!

It's possible, if you Read Fulgrim, you'll find that Fabius Bile was experimenting with chemical stimulents, new implants and altering the Geneseed(with Xenos DNA) of some of the Emperors Children.

Thaanos wrote:It's possible, if you Read Fulgrim, you'll find that Fabius Bile was experimenting with chemical stimulents, new implants and altering the Geneseed(with Xenos DNA) of some of the Emperors Children.

And we see how far that got him


I'm intrigued by the gorilla suggestion. As primates are close to humans genetically speaking, and SM are genetically modified humans, would it be possible to genetically modify gorillas into Space Marines? King Kong in Power Armour you say? Count me in.

Ecurb...

Catachan Devil Marines.
OR better YET!!!!!!!!
Plants, Give them photo synthesis.

Octopus marines.

Skin that changes color and texture.

Bioluminesence.

Can open any container (bust any bunker).

Multiple limbs.

Poisonus.

Cool looking chaper iconography... DE corsair bits....

Where did you find that AWESOME king kong marine picture!

Space Marine genetics already contains non-human DNA.

Dakkadood wrote:Ecurb...

I approve of this image.

Dakkadood wrote:Ecurb...

Brings new meaning to the phrase:
"Come on you apes! Do you want to live forever?"

(the 'apes' referenced in the quote refer to the SST mobile infantry who look like nothing so much as armoured gorillas).

SM works fine as they are now , no need for change .
but if you want , visit the 1000 sons lab

chromedog wrote:

Dakkadood wrote:Ecurb...

Brings new meaning to the phrase:
"Come on you apes! Do you want to live forever?"

(the 'apes' referenced in the quote refer to the SST mobile infantry who look like nothing so much as armoured gorillas).

Hell most modern scifi owes a lot to him. He came up with "Alien Bugs" (from which we get nids, xenomorphs, etc.), Troopers (Space Marines, United States Colonial Marines, Spartans (from Halo)), and a lot of other stuff.
And Robert Heinlein ( I love his work) got it from this.

"Come on you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever?"
Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daly, 4 June 1918.
Leading Marines at Belleu Wood. The battle that made the USMC what it is today.


Later, Daly told a Marine Historian,
"What I really yelled was: For Christ's sake, men-COME ON!
Do you want to live forever?"
Dan Daly served with Marine Fourth Brigade in WWI and is one of the great legends of the Marines.
Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daley was awarded two Medals of Honor and a lot of other awards/medals.

http://www.realwarphotos.com/ww_i

Besides, don't marines have an extra organ that allows them to gain something from creatures they eat? I'm pretty sure some of the more barbaric Chapters would do this sort of thing ritually or as some kind of rite of passage. Hunt the savage Greater Clawbeast and eat it's heart so you can return and apply for a veteran position etc.

that is whatkroot doing
space marines got a organ that got inside their memories and DNA

Yeah, Space Marines can eat brain tissue to temporarily gain the memories of whatever it was they ate. It also works with Blood(although it only gives vague generalities)

Tampering with geneseed would be unthinkable heresy as the purity of geneseed is a point of pride for chapters. Practically, much of the technology has been lost (SWs can't even stabilize the Canis Helix), and the apothecaries and biomancers are really just struggling to preserve what they have.

Tampering with it would likely produce unstable mutations. the only ones actively engaged in such activities are those desperate or depraved such as Fabius Bile who produces monstrosities even a haemonculus couldn't love. Of course, he is often working with degenerate stock, so a loss isn't as big of a deal.

Grox - Makes them taste better?