The Jem Hadar are originally a pseudo-reptilian species from the Gamma Quadrant that were
genetically engineered by the Founders of the Dominion, the Changelings. As the Founders
are inherently all about that control, (even the nice ones) it should come as no surprise
that they took maintain a firm grip on their army. The form of this control is multi-layered
and in all ways a perversion of nature. They have enacted numerous genetic modifications
to the Jem Hadar that have tailored the species down a path of their choosing, not evolution
and imbued them with numerous traits. It’s a list of these traits that this video
is going to quickly go through. First up, is that they made them reliant on an un-replicatable
enzyme contained within a nutrient known as Ketracel White. Either the Founders engineered
the Jem Hadar to lack this isogenic enzyme, or they introduced a dependency into their
biology. Doesn’t matter how it happened, but the Jem Hadar are effectively at the whims
of the Founders and their Vorta handlers because they cannot live without it, and the Founders
control the supply. The second method of control is that the Jem
Hadar are genetically programmed to perceive the Founders as god-like, and obey any command
given to them by a changeling. This level of adherence does not extend to the Vorta,
however, maintaining the hierarchy that places the Changelings on top of the Dominion.
Biologically, that was not all was done to the Jem Hadar. They are born looking more
mammalian than reptilian and reach full adulthood in a matter of days, before their aging stabilizes.
Such accelerated growth is incredible because it leaves no ill effects on the developing
individual, and their minds adapt at similarly advanced rate. They are all male, meaning
that there is no procreation outside of the hatcheries controlled by the Dominion. While
we don’t know if they were always a mono-gendered species, it seems unlikely.
Upon reaching adulthood, they no longer require food, drink or sleep. The Ketracel White compound
contains all the nutrients that they need to survive, and they are fighting fit. So
there are obviously extensive modifications to how they ingest or process nutrients and
that the need for sleep has been removed. Traits which emerged as they aged.
Another extreme adaptation to them was their ability to “shroud” themselves by turning
invisible at will. This was not a feat of some cloaking devices in their drawers, but
an actual biological ability. Again, it’s origin is uncertain, it may have been a form
of natural camouflage that the species had before they were snatched by the Founders,
but it does also create a field effect around the body, akin to a cloak because their uniform
and carried objects vanish from sight too and a faint electromagnetic aura can be detected
as the only sign of their proximity. Although even sensors often fail to detect this, suggesting
it was tailored to avoid scans. Additionally, to aid them as hunters, their
vision was excellent, although we don’t have a direct comparison.
On top of this, the Jem Hadar were notably physically stronger than a human and had an
inherent desire to battle, to test themselves against a foe, growing restless if this was
not placated. Their tough scales and durability made them difficult foes to best in combat
too, although they were not a durable as a Klingon it seems. One factor stands out to
me too. It seems a deliberate genetic modification to them was to alter their body chemistry
so that they were immune to most stun effects. This was an advantage in combat to be sure,
but it had the nefarious ulterior motive behind it; it ensured that the only way to defeat
a Jem Hadar was to use lethal force. So no prisoners could be taken.
I have already done an extensive video exploring the Jem Hadar’s culture, as well as the
other aspects of the Dominion, so I won’t reiterate it here.
Sufficed to say, that almost every aspect of the Jem Hadar was tailored to the Founder’s
designs, to make them soldiers. Increased strength, resilience, vision, aggression,
the ability to shroud, and the fact that they needed no downtime to revitalise. Despite
his however, their control was not all encompassing, and genetic variations did crop up because
life always finds a way. Rarely, a Jem Hadar produced the enzymes from the Ketracel white
naturally, but few ever realised this, and their genetic compulsion to obey the Founders
could be overcome through determination. This has led to instances of renegade Jem
Hadar, which are then quickly quashed by the Dominion, because to the founders, anything
not under their control is a threat. Thanks for watching this quick breakdown on
the Jem Hadar’s genetic alterations, I won’t do another on the Vorta, because it’s not
as extensive. Basically the Vorta are immune to poisons, have excellent hearing, close
range vision, share the same genetic compulsion to obey the Founders and are sometimes psychic.
I’ll see you next time for another video on Trek or something else, I’ve been Ric.
Goodbye!