68 – Doomsday Pt.2

2 Comments

1. 

   Omesh

   November 22, 2019 at 5:19 am

   Question… If adding extra genetic material into Doomsday makes him sterile, then would Jor-El adding extra genetic material (“Codex”) into Kal-El potentially also make him sterile?

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   • 

     DrAwkward

     November 22, 2019 at 2:59 pm

     Potentially, but I don’t think so. The difference is that the genes added to Doomsday is part of its own genes… not necessarily expressed (doesn’t mean Doomsday will exhibit any human or Lex traits) it’s just “junk” material that interferes with normal gene expression (just like with the triploids). We can presume that’s the case because Doomsday pre-existed the discovery or availability of Earth. Meaning you don’t need human genes to make Doomsday. Doomsday is not, in that sense, a human Kryptonian hybrid (in terms of expression)… meaning ANY extra junk genes could still get you the corrupted Doomsday. That said sequencing Doomsday will show a human Kryptonian hybrid… but all the human genes wouldn’t be expressed, they’d be in the junk section.

     How does this differ from Kal and the Codex?

     I don’t believe the Codex is a part of Kal’s code. I explain it here MOSAIC Ep. 3 [7:15-11:26] Basically, if it WERE a part of Kal’s genes, the drawing blood would have been sufficient to obtain the Codex. Literally any sample of Kal’s genetic material would provide the Codex in its entirety. However, Jax-Ur is only able to identify the fact that the Codex is there… NOT unlock it, solely with a sample of Kal’s blood. That encryption means it’s not a part of Kal’s sequence, expressed in any way, or interfere with expression of his genes.

     Basically, both Doomsday’s and Kal’s extra genetic info are in the “junk” category… but Doomsday’s AREN’T encoded and COULD be expressed (but aren’t, due to being in junk) and Kal’s ARE encoded and CAN’T be expressed (both to being in junk AND being encrypted). You could just directly “read” Doomsday’s junk folder and “see” human DNA… whereas Kal’s junk folder would be unreadable by itself and by his own biological processes.

     You can support this theory with the story three ways: 1) Jor-El all-but-commands Kal to make a hybrid race with humanity; 2) Jor’s Codex transcription tech differs from Genesis Chamber transcription; 3) Including the Codex at all; 4) Jor’s line…

     The latter is pretty visually intuitive. Zod’s body is taken up by tentacles and wrapped up in a womb. The DVS describes Doomsday as a mutant and the process seems to take hours if not days. That process of adding genes is completely different than what Jor does to Kal. Jor’s transcription is open air, uses light, and takes seconds. As Jax-Ur says, “The DNA of a billion people . . . BONDED it within his son’s individual cells.”

     So again, the Codex is not a PART of Kal’s code, it’s just physically attached and hitching a ride.

     For the former, in-film, it’s subtle, but Jor keeps talking about Kal bridging worlds, not being alone, co-existence, etc. There’s no implication that Kal should forever remain alone and unique. But he never comes right out and says, “Make babies, Kal!”

     However, Russel Crowe DOES say that explicitly in an interview which I might find for you later. But basically Crowe’s position was that Jor-El was a little mad and intended for Kal to start a new race that would be gods… but was sufficiently humble to know his intentions might be toxic to Kal.

     Third is Jor including the Codex at all. It’s clear that Jor doesn’t support the Genesis Chamber way of doing things. He never tells Kal to fire it up or use it. Heck, he never tells Kal about the Codex at all! Nonetheless, the desire to preserve it presumes its eventual judicious use, IMHO. Not at Jor’s insistence, but when the day comes that Kal is interested in his own genetic makeup, explores it with the help of human scientists, and then uncovers the Codex and decides what to do with it TOGETHER (Kryptonian and Humanity). That seed of hope presumes replication… so Jor isn’t intending that Kal be sterile.

     Fourth and finally, is Jor’s lines:

     “Give me control of the Codex. I will ensure the survival of our race. There is still hope. I have held that hope in my hands.”

     Jor was already intending to bond the Codex to Kal who is the “hope held in his hands”… so how would that mean anything if Kal was the last and going to die alone? Jor’s grand claims only carry if Kal is able to reproduce, IMHO.

     Thanks for the question…

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