Question in title. In season 5 of DS9, we learn that Dr. Bashir
was a genetically re-engineered creation, like Khan Singh.
Was he written that way from the beginning? Did the actor know this ahead of time?
I seriously doubt it, since that episode made a big deal about genetic engineering being highly illegal, yet this contradicts the second-season TNG episode “Unnatural Selection”, in which a bunch of scientists are genetically engineering children far more elaborately than Bashir (whose own modification was apparantly done to treat a case of mild retardation). The children in that episode were telepathic and telekinetic and whatnot, including have an aggressive immune system that created serious problems for the “normals”, yet there was no indication the research was illegal or even frowned upon.
Unless I’m mistaken, wasn’t there precedent from TOS that the type of genetic manipulation done on Bashir (like Khan before him) was highly illegal throughout the Federation? Obviously the mentioned TNG episode is flatly contradictory with Bashir’s backstory; I’m just not sure which should be taken as agreeing with general Trek canon.
If I recall, that TNG episode was also the one where we learn that transporters can reverse ageing. Another never-used miracle technology.
No, they did not. If you watch the DVD “extra features” discs that come with each season, one of the writers (IIRC) specifically mentions Bashir’s back story as something they just came up with one day while trying to think of story ideas, as opposed to something that was written in from the beginning.
In fact, Bashir really didn’t have ANY kind of backstory or personality to start with. They threw him in there just because every Trek show needs a doctor. It was a while before they started trying to make him a real character. Again, according to one of those DVD interviews.
This implies he acquired one eventually… :dubious:
Bashir’s history. For one thing, it was referred to after that episode.