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Progenoid

From Lexicanum

Space Marines Portal

Progenoids (gene-seeds) are a pair of glands implanted into a Space Marine during the 18th phase of his initiation. One gland is situated in the neck, the other deep within the chest cavity. These glands are vital to the survival of the Marine's Chapter, as they are a chapter's only source of new implants which create a Marine. The Progenoid creates germ cells, each corresponding to one of the other implanted organs in the Marine. These germ cells develop within the Progenoid. After five years, the neck Progenoid is mature and ready to be removed. After ten years, the chest Progenoid becomes mature and is also ready to be removed.

A mature gland can be removed by an Apothecary and new organs artificially cultured from them. This is the only source for new implants, so a Chapter depends on its Marines to create other Marines. In the battle-mysticism of the Astartes, the gene-seed is regarded spiritually - though a fallen Marine's body is dead, he lives on as gene-seed which returns to the Chapter.

Apothecaries remove Progenoids after they've matured, or, in battle situations, after a Marine has died in service to the Emperor.

A Marine's gene-seed may be rendered useless by exposure to high levels of radiation. Over time the Chapter's gene-seed may also change through genetic mutations, so that specific implants become corrupted, producing new effects in Marines, or becoming useless altogether. A corruption in the chapter's genetic material can lead to the chapter's extinction. This is why gene-seed must be constantly monitored for mutations. Each Chapter is obliged to send 5% of its genetic material to the Adeptus Mechanicus. The first purpose for this is that it enables the Adeptus Mechanicus to monitor the health of each Marine Chapter. Secondly, it enables the Adeptus Mechanicus to store gene-seed with a view to founding new Chapters.

The Chaos legions and chapters maintain the process of gene-seed implantation and harvesting, allowing new recruits to be turned into Marines.