Genophage: For or against?

**snuggans** · July 19, 2011, 09:54 AM

brief overview:

The genophage was a biological weapon deployed against the krogan by the turians during the Krogan Rebellions. It was designed to severely reduce krogan numbers by "infecting" the species with a genetic mutation. The genophage's modus operandi is not to reduce the fertility of krogan females, but rather the probability of viable pregnancies: many krogan die in stillbirth, with most fetuses never even reaching this stage of development. Moreover, every cell in each krogan is infected, to prevent the use of gene therapy to counteract it.
The genophage was originally developed by the salarians. They believed that, as the consequences would be so devastating, no one would ever deploy the genophage, thus wielding it as a deterrent. However, the turians had different military attitudes, the turians only appreciating an approach of "massive retaliation". Once the genophage was complete, the turians immediately used it, and krogan numbers began to dwindle rapidly. Any female krogan who could carry young to term became a prize of war who was viciously fought over. Taking advantage of this, a female warlord named Shiagur used her fertility as a bargaining chip to attract the strongest males to her army.

A few individuals, such as Wrex, have attempted to rebuild the species, or at least curtail its decline, by focusing on breeding, but the inherent belligerence of the krogan usually frustrates their efforts.

There is no known cure for the genophage. Some krogan groups have invested in companies such as Binary Helix to try to discover one; however, efforts have so far been thwarted by a lack of krogan scientists and a disinterest of other species in a revived krogan population. At one point, the Krogans started to evolve a resistance against the genophage. The SSTG developed a second, modified genophage to deal with this.

The krogan are a shadow of their former glory. While the Rebellions took place centuries ago, they are constantly reminded of the horror of the genophage and of their inability to counter it. The release of the genophage is still controversial, bitterly debated in many circles.

Mordin Solus sheds light on the genophage he helped create, insisting that its purpose is not to wipe out the Krogans but to stabilize their large growth. He points out that during the development of the genophage, it was very possible to have made it so that it would wipe them out; he did not choose that path.

it would also do everyone well to remember that before any of this happened, the Krogan grew to very large numbers in their homeworld and ended up killing each other in great numbers with nuclear warfare (and also succumbing the planet to a nuclear winter that still affects it). they also conquered world after world and defied the council which requested it to withdraw from its colonies, thus triggering the bloody Krogan Rebellion war.

with krogans it seems like you'll wind up with death either way,

on one hand, you're killing krogan fetuses. (fact)
on the other hand, there exists the likely possibility that krogans will once again go on a conquest rampage and take many lives. (supposition, but anecdotal evidence)

the question to ask is, is it possible, that under the right leadership and free from the genophage, the krogans would be able to grow and and coexist peacefully with the other races? that's a very big if, and would require a distancing from their more traditionalists views. they are, after all, violent by nature. i am unsure if Wrex's death being official canon has any relevance, but if he's still alive in your game, he might be that leader to make this possible.

what do you folks think?

**Stavroforos** · July 19, 2011, 10:00 AM

I agree with the original genophage, and the new one Mordin helped create and spread. The Krogans were given access to advanced technology and spacefaring long before they were in a position to use these technologies in a way acceptable to the rest of the Council races, and so because of the threat they posed they had to be limited. Unfortunately the genophage has hurt Krogan society and culture and made it even more reliant upon traditionalist violent views and with the culture of violence and the ample supply of mercenaries, Krogan cannot be released from the genophage yet.

It will take many years (think in terms of a century at least) before the genophage could be lifted, if the Krogans are united under the rule of a more progressive leader (think Wrex, but more progressive and unitarian).

**Top-Tier-Tech** · July 19, 2011, 10:07 AM

The only semi-reasonable Krogan's are still tough as nails and nearly as violent as non-sentient beasts so the genophage is necessary just to keep their numbers few enough that they don't overwhelm the galaxy.

**Jaketh** · July 19, 2011, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by Top-Tier-Tech

The only semi-reasonable Krogan's are still tough as nails and nearly as violent as non-sentient beasts so the genophage is necessary just to keep their numbers few enough that they don't overwhelm the galaxy.

The council should use them like the zerg and just spam them against the reapers and then once the reapers are dead bring them back to heel.

**snuggans** · July 19, 2011, 11:24 AM

they are great shock troops, if it wasn't for them, the Rachni would probably have won. but what you're suggesting is even more manipulative and controlling than just afflicting them with the genophage; they essentially become a chained dog.

**Captain Jin** · July 19, 2011, 11:57 AM

I agree with the genophage for now simply because every krogan you meet besides Wrex is a brutal beast waiting for the opportunity to conquer, kill, destroy, etc.

Anyways, where do you get that Wrex being dead as canon? I haven't seen anywhere that indicates that and it says he'll be in ME3 unless you killed him on Virmire.

**Habelo** · July 19, 2011, 12:12 PM

I think a genophage should had been dropped on the salarians, it was just as much their fault afterall. They should have taken responsibility.

**snuggans** · July 19, 2011, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by Captain Jin

Anyways, where do you get that Wrex being dead as canon? I haven't seen anywhere that indicates that and it says he'll be in ME3 unless you killed him on Virmire.

yes, it is likely he'll appear in ME3 if the game will make use of ME2 saves and he lived on Virmire, but his death is canon because it is the way Bioware has chosen to tell the story. if you start up ME2 with no ME1 save, he's dead. some other Krogan is leader of the Urdnot clan. also that the ME1 council died during the Citadel attack, and whether Kaidan or Ashley lives depends on the gender of your Shepard.

**Numenor** · July 19, 2011, 12:34 PM

I think the genophage is a good thing. Since the birth rate of the krogans was extremely high due to the harsh conditions of their planet, it would have made sense in that world, but with new technology, they basicly become a threat due to the war culture + extreme birth ratio it would involve.

The reason the genophage exists in the first place is because the krogans where so warmonger.

**Knight of Heaven** · July 19, 2011, 01:32 PM

Well i voted no, becouse it goes against the natural process of evolution, but probably, the bigest mistake of the Salarians, was to give technology, and Nuclear weapons to the Krogans, and use then to defeat the rachni. naturaly they would feel obligated to correct that mistake, seeing how dangerous the Krogan could be to the galaxy if they reached very high populations, meaning a new era of galatic expansion by the krogans.
Still i think the genophage is wrong, but again i think its not as bad as most people think, given certain circustances, it could be applyed, for the better of the whole, and genophage does not mean species erradication, genophage means population control.
And i recall, it was a very specifc situation, when a semi civilized species, gained much power, and knowledge to quickly, that allmost the krogan destroy thenselfs, so the genophage compared to what the salarians did first, is a small felony. The true crime was to get envolved in the natural cientific, society, economic evolution, of a civilization that wasnt mature enough to handle it, and use then as shock soldiers.

**Inhuman One** · July 19, 2011, 01:44 PM

I wanted the option to support Wrex in ME1 but somehow the option was not given, I was agreeing with him. If there's a cure it could be given to just a select group who is trusted, a small colony like Urdnot clan.

**Stavroforos** · July 19, 2011, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by Captain Jin

I agree with the genophage for now simply because every krogan you meet besides Wrex is a brutal beast waiting for the opportunity to conquer, kill, destroy, etc.

Anyways, where do you get that Wrex being dead as canon? I haven't seen anywhere that indicates that and it says he'll be in ME3 unless you killed him on Virmire.

The default story one chooses in Mass Effect 2 is based off of the canon ending of ME1.

The Council is lost, Wrex dies, are canon.

**ChivalrousKiller** · July 19, 2011, 04:38 PM

For.

I found this to be a good reason:

Originally Posted by Captain Jin

I agree with the genophage for now simply because every krogan you meet besides Wrex is a brutal beast waiting for the opportunity to conquer, kill, destroy, etc.