Cloning
From Wookieepedia, the Star Wars wiki.
Cloning was the process of creating a genetically identical or purposefully and specifically modified copy of an original organism. The Kaminoans of Kamino were known as master cloners, and their most notable achievement was the creation of the clone troopers of the Grand Army of the Republic prior to the Clone Wars.
Contents |
[edit] Uses
- "What can you teach a clone in a few months that a man takes a lifetime to learn?"
- ―Emperor Palpatine to Darth Vader[src]
Kaminoan scientists maintained a vast Military Complex within Tipoca City, where tens of thousands of clones were grown in Kamino cloning chambers and trained. The Kaminoans used growth acceleration techniques to double the rate of development in their clones, making them combat-ready within a decade following their creation. These clones had their genetic structures altered to suit the needs of their masters, and were thus independent yet fiercely loyal to their supreme commanders. The Kaminoans also taught the Polis Massans the secrets of their cloning techniques, which helped develop an advanced medical and genetic research station on Polis Massa. Although the exact rate at which clones aged is unknown, it appears to be at least twice as fast as ordinary beings. There is speculation that this rate increased as clones aged, leading to a dramatic shortening of the life cycle. This was a primary factor forcing the Empire to compose their stormtrooper corps primarily of recruits and conscripts by 0 BBY, prior to the Battle of Yavin. Clones, unlike lower-end Battle droids, could think and strategize, making them more creative and more effective, although this was not always the case.
The Yuuzhan Vong used a form of bio-engineered cloning to forge mutilated creatures and organic weapons for the war effort, including the Jedi-hunting voxyn, which were grown above Myrkr.
The Morgukai Shadow Army was made up of Morgukai clones to counter the Republic's clone army. They were presumably cloned from Spaarti cylinders.
Aside from these forms of cloning, other methods were used across the galaxy. Spaarti cylinders were the preferred method refined by the Galactic Empire, and were later used by Grand Admiral Thrawn to create a new clone army on Wayland. Some cultures fully embraced the possibilities of cloning, most notably the natives of Khomm, who engineered a clone society, entirely eliminating natural reproduction. Khommite clones from the Dorsk lineage were active in the New Jedi Order.
In 1 ABY, cloning technology was discovered in the Jedi Enclave on Dantooine. Similar to Spaarti cylinders in that they produced mature clones in a very short period of time, the cloning tanks were tended to completely by droids. The facility appeared to indiscriminately clone any being who entered it, collecting genetic material and even scanning the minds of those beings so that the clones could be implanted with memories. As a result, the clones were completely under the illusion that they were the individuals that they had been cloned from. The exact purpose behind this facility was not discovered. Darth Vader himself came to believe the technology found was what remained of research done by the ancient Jedi into cloning, however, it is unknown if there is any truth to this.
Palpatine as well made several clones of himself that his spirit possessed after he was killed on the second Death Star. Before that, his clones were ravaged by the dark side and not the nuturing power of the Force. Each clone would age and die more quickly than the last. It wasn't until his plunge into the Death Star core that he enters energy state and emerged into another body. Four years later, during the World Devastator crisis, Luke made attempts to destroy Palpatine's clones, but only one remained until destroyed at Pinnacle Base. But there was an auxilary facility, which Darkside adepts attempted to kill, again, leaving only one.
On Wayland, Joruus C'baoth cloned Luke Skywalker using the hand Luke had lost on Cloud City. The clone was named Luuke Skywalker and was armed with Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber.
Boba Fett was cloned from Jango Fett by the Kaminoans. Unlike the other clones that were created from Jango, Boba was unaltered; he had no growth acceleration and was otherwise completely Human. Albeit being unaltered he experienced the degration of his DNA due to the fact that he was artificially made and was a clone.
Ysanne Isard also produced a clone through unknown measures. She did this in order to be able to supervise the Lusankya prisoners herself and to be able to continue her leadership over Thyferra. The characteristic "pressure" caused by having a clone grown too rapidly may have contributed to her declining mental stability during the waning days of the Bacta War.
[edit] Appearances
content 
|
[edit] Sources
- Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, First Edition
- Dark Empire endnotes
Cloning in the Databank
- Attack of the Clones: The Visual Dictionary
- Revenge of the Sith: The Visual Dictionary
- Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary
- Guide to the Grand Army of the Republic
