Progenoid

Space Marines Portal

Progenoids are one of the 19 Space Marine organ implants. Their only purpose is to reproduce gene-seeds. Progenoids are a pair of glands implanted into a Marine during the 18th phase of the implantation process. 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 have matured or if a Marine has died in combat.

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.

Chaos Space Marines

The renegade Legions and Chapters maintain the process of gene-seed implantation and harvesting, allowing new recruits to be turned into Marines.

Chapters with known gene-seed flaws

• Blood Angels: Black Rage and the Red Thirst.
• Imperial Fists: Missing Betcher's Gland and Sus-an Membrane.
• Space Wolves: Enlarged canine teeth and Mark of the Wulfen.
• Raven Guard: Missing Mucranoid and Betcher's Gland. Pale skin and dark eyes.
• Blood Ravens: Can't experience R.E.M. sleep and have perfect recall.
• Salamanders: Onyx black skin and bright red eyes. (Malfunctioning Malenochrome gland)
• Blood Drinkers: Having blood-drinking rituals and suffer a literal blood-lust, due to a mutation.

See also

• Creation of a Space Marine

Sources

• Codex Imperialis
• White Dwarf 98, Chapter Approved by Rick Priestley (reprinted Games Workshop Space Marine Creation List) (accessed 2007.06.11)
• Salamanders (Novel) by Nick Kyme