A theory about Changelings

[Reymet_2]

Originally posted here but since it's largely off topic for that thread, I've decided to create a distinct one.

The Female Changeling has told Odo that once the Changelings were solids but then evolved. Natural evolution in sentient species is basically impossible, so they most likely evolved artificially. In essence, Changelings are super augments of an unknown solid species.

If they are, it's possible that we can see how changeling-solid animosity was actually beginning. In DS9, we see humanity being very biased towards augments, despite the fact that their augmentation is really not that big - they are basically just more smart and strong than average humans but there are no really nature-altering modifications, superpowers etc. The species which the Changelings evolved from may have had the same sort of discrimination and hostility against augments - and the more augmentation, the more intense that hostility was and the more intense was the retaliatory hostility of changelings towards solids.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

Natural evolution in sentient species impossible?
Wut?

 

[Tosk]

Natural evolution in sentient species is basically impossible

Please explain.

 

[NCC-73515]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_evolution

 

[Reymet_2]

Natural evolution in sentient species impossible?
Wut?

Please explain.

Upon achieving a certain technological level, natural selection (which is the base of evolution) stops.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

Upon achieving a certain technological level, natural selection (which is the base of evolution) stops.

That is just plain wrong on so many levels.
You need to read up on biology.

 

[NCC-73515]

Selection pressure may decline, but mutations still happen. From survival of the best fit to survival of all

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

I’m gonna leave this here.
Granted this is over 4 years out of date, but the papers cited are all listed in the video description.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Now, that we got the real science out of the way, let’s get back to Star Trek. A universe where evolution is designed to lead to specific phenotypes and similarly functional beings that can easily crossbreed with one another.
And even individual beings are capable of evolving (or de-evolving) like Pokémon under the right conditions.

in that universe, the Changelings as described are not common but very possible.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Gould made this assertion about human evolution stopping. It's hard to imagine anything unimpeachable on the galactic scale with a sample size of 1.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Moreover, if we accept the notion that reaching a certain level of intelligence halts evolution, must we not then dispense with all species that evolve into non-corporeal beings, like the Q?

 

[Finn]

Upon achieving a certain technological level, natural selection (which is the base of evolution) stops.

No.That's quite absurd.


As for your theory...maybe. who knows.

 

[Reymet_2]

must we not then dispense with all species that evolve into non-corporeal beings, like the Q?

I would rather assume that they also evolved artificially.

 

[Finn]

Why?

 

[somebuddyX]

I always thought they were always just goo monsters but then learned to shapeshift. The Founder says "Eons ago we were like them, limited to one form, but then we evolved." I figured the original changelings were just straight goo monsters who couldn't shapeshift but gained that ability to hide. I never thought of them as humanoids walking around. They take humanoid form to run their business. Maybe that's just me though.

 

[TedShatner10]

They could've been an AGI computer network that millions of years ago diverged into partial biomechanics (less resource/energy intensive) then from point, an offshpot evolved into a near liquid gloopy state that eventually became the Founders....

 

[Farscape One]

Considering their homeworld was a rogue planet (though it was never stated if it was their original homeworld or just one they found so they could remain hidden), I have wondered if the Changelings are related to the silver blood goo from VOY's "DEMON" and "COURSE: OBLIVION".

Despite that goo group being from a completely different type of planet as the Founders' rogue planet (Y class planet in the silver blood's case), I still wonder about the possible relation given their mimetic properties.

Another possible cousin... the coalescent being from TNG's "Aquiel".