Star Trekused Khan Noonien-Singh (Ricardo Montalban) to introduce genetic engineering into the franchise, much to the detriment of those who’ve come after him. They are seen as dangerous because Khan’s ambitions of world domination made him a threat to Starfleet officers. They are seen as untrustworthy because Khan tried to use the kindness of Captain Kirk (William Shatner) to make submissive followers out of the Enterprise crew. They are banned from Starfleet because officers fear someone likeKhan having access to Federation resources or secrets.
InDeep Space Nine, this judgment doesn’t take into account that genetic alterations sometimes happen to a child too young to refuse them. InStrange New Worlds, it didn’t consider genetic enhancements as a part of cultural practices. InProdigy, no one imagines how such negative stereotypes could harm a genetically engineered teenager. All anyone seems to focus on is that making genetic alterations is bad, regardless of the circumstances. In some ways, it’s unfair to those whose genetically-altering experiences might have been out of their hands. In other ways, though, the fear is well-founded for anyone who remembers the Eugenics Wars and Khan’s part in them.
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Who Was Khan Noonien-Singh?
Self-improvement is never a bad thing, andStar Trekhas always emphasized its importance as part of the pursuit to leave old human atrocities behind. However, there’s a big difference between being the best version of one’s self and using science to be better than others. During the late 20th century, scientists implemented Project Khan to create and study genetically enhanced humans. It resulted in individuals known as Augments who possessed senses, strength, and intellect far beyond that of most of their non-enhanced peers.The Original Seriesshowed fans the tip of this terrifying iceberg when Khan tried to take over the Enterprise in season 1, episode 24, “Space Seed.”
He proved to be cunning and highly intelligent, but he was also manipulative and controlling with a nasty temper. When the Enterprise found Khan’s ship floating in space, they had no idea who they’d stumbled across until it was much too late. They later discovered Khan to be the same genetically-enhanced tyrant who ruled over the lands from Asia to the Middle East during the Eugenics War. He took Lt. Marla McGivers’ (Madlyn Rhue) obsession with powerful warmongerers of the past, and used it to bully her into helping him gain control of the ship.Khan’s deceptive, honey-like charmeventually turned into arrogant cruelty when he threatened to kill the Enterprise crew if they didn’t cooperate with him and his fellow Augments.
Why Is Starfleet Still So Afraid?
Luckily, Captain Kirk and crew lived up to their reputation as creative thinkers in tricky situations. When Khan stood by while an Augment named Joaquin (Mark Tobin) repeatedly struck Lt. Nyota Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) in the face, it was just further motivation for the crew. They managed to wrestle control of the ship back from Khan and his followers, who were later sentenced to isolation on the uninhabited Ceti Alpha V.This seed they planted would later sproutthe crop of catastrophe that reared its devastating head inStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Augments came too close to regaining power for Starfleet’s comfort, and it left them even more paranoid about genetically enhanced individuals.
During the Eugenics War from July 14, 2025, to Aug 02, 2025, Augments became obsessed with their individual power and began fighting each other. It was the only thing stopping them from collectively obtaining galactic control. This war, as well as Khan’s incident, are what spring to the minds of most Starfleet officers when they hear about genetic alterations. They’re afraid that Augments will one day come back for domination in a way that can’t be stopped. More than that, though, they fear the tendency of scientists to unthinkingly apply their skills toward creating monsters while trying to improve people.
Genetically Modified Star Trek characters
This fear led to a Federation ban on any genetically enhanced individuals working in Starfleet. However, this only stopped genetically enhanced applicants from being honest. InDeep Space Nine, Dr. Julian Bashir revealed that his parents had him genetically enhanced as a child in season 5, episode 16, “Doctor Bashir, I Presume.” Amsha (Fadwa El Guindi) and Richard (Brian George) Bashir thought they were giving him a fair chance to make up for the ways he’d been struggling in school. Instead, they left him with a dark secret that almost got him thrown in prison once Starfleet found out.
Una Chin-Riley/Number One (Rebecca Romijn) had a similar experience onStrange New Worldswhen Starfleet discovered her Illyrian heritage. This race of beings was known for using genetic engineering to make themselves adapt to their planets, rather than the other way around. Season 1, episode 3, “Ghosts of Illyria” revealed Una’s species, and she was later arrested for it in season 1, episode 10, “A Quality of Mercy.” She’s currently on trial in season 2, and fans are on the edge of their seats in anticipation of what will happen to her next. It’s ironic, since fellow crewmember La’an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) is a direct descendant of Khan and even carries his last name. But she’s had an easier career than someone whose only connection to the Augment is their experience with genetic alterations.
Dal R’El (Brett Gray) probably has the saddest history when it comes to being genetically enhanced. He’s a human hybrid with 26 different alien variants making up his genetic coding. Like Una and Bashir, he didn’t choose that for himself. Unlike them, though, he was still very young when his secret came out, and it left him vulnerable to the manipulations of an overzealous geneticist inStar Trek: Prodigy. Dr. Jago (Amy Hill) played on Dal’s insecurities in season 1, episode 15, “Masquerade” to implant a chip that would activate his enhanced genes. Onlythe swift actions of his crew and friendssaved Dal from becoming the worst version of himself.
A common theme with many genetically enhanced individuals is their lack of choice. Another one is that Starfleet is more interested in using them to set an example than they are in understanding their stories.
Khan left a strong impression onStar Trekfans. They’ve spent years gushing over everything from his personality to his handsome appearance. Starfleet remembers him and other Augments with much less love, and for good reason.Khan represents aspects of humanitythat the Federation has spent a long time desperately trying to hide. They want to forget about the Eugenics War and the Augments who started it. They want time to be the pillow between their hopeful present and their dark past
However, history is repeated when it is not understood, and when the lessons it can teach are swept under the rug. One day, Starfleet will have no choice but to let go of the past and stop allowing it to punish good people. When that day comes,Star Trekwill enter a whole new phase of how it treats genetically enhanced individuals – hopefully for the better.
