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Since playing space marines I've always been bugged by one question. It's probably been answered, so I apologize if it's in an obvious place on the forum, but my curiosity is piqued:

Who actually makes the space marines? What are they called? I assume they're just normal human artificers of a sort, but what are they called?

Thanks for any help.

Here is a break down of how a marine is created. http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Creation_of_a_Space_Marine#.UabqfJz_dPs

the actual rank of marine involved with this in a chapter is called an Apothecary. They are charged with the implantation of geneseed and overseeing the physical aspects of an aspirants progress. They also are in charge of collecting geneseed from the fallen warriors.

Lexicanum still doesn't really tell who makes the Space Marines but I remember hearing something about the Apothecaries doing the job.

Yep, it's the Apothecaries. You kinda have to piece it together from the Codex fluff. However, we also know (I believe from previous White Dwarfs) that it's not a one-man job, so once the Apothecary's done with the surgery some tasks will likely fall to Chapter Serfs and perhaps Servitors. Serfs are often referred to in Marine fluff, and can be Aspirants that showed promised but didn't quite make the grade, recruited straight from the homeworld as a position bearing honour to those back on the planet, or as Marines too old or injured to be useful in combat. Those last ones usually find other duties in things like training drills and strategy/tactics lessons, however.

Thanks so much for the info, everyone!

Yes, in a standard chapter the Apothecaries are in charge of creating new Space Marines. Since there are so few of them they are assisted in this by servitors and human servants of the Chapter. In the case of a Chapter which is in the process of being founded the Adeptis Mechanicus spend upwards of a century growing geneseed in slaves. This is then used to implant the first members of a new Chapter.

Apothecaries do the surgery and organ implantation. I think chaplains and librarians do the psyco-engineering and indoctrination.

 Super Ready wrote:
Yep, it's the Apothecaries. You kinda have to piece it together from the Codex fluff. However, we also know (I believe from previous White Dwarfs) that it's not a one-man job, so once the Apothecary's done with the surgery some tasks will likely fall to Chapter Serfs and perhaps Servitors. Serfs are often referred to in Marine fluff, and can be Aspirants that showed promised but didn't quite make the grade, recruited straight from the homeworld as a position bearing honour to those back on the planet, or as Marines too old or injured to be useful in combat. Those last ones usually find other duties in things like training drills and strategy/tactics lessons, however.

Or ones who did make the grade but had the wrong genetics (in the case of chapters that scan for that thing before implantation-- for other chapters, those people generally die horrible painful deaths).