Changeling The Changelings were liquid shapeshifting lifeform s native to the Gamma Quadrant of the Milky Way Galaxy . They were the creators and rulers of the Dominion , whose subject races knew them as the semi - mythical Founder s . Most Changelings existed as an amalgamated mass known as the Great Link . Biology . The natural form of a Changeling was a viscous orange liquid containing a structure known as a morphogenic matrix . ( ) They contained morphogenic enzyme s responsible for their shapeshifting ability . ( ) Changelings in solid form had to revert to their natural liquid state to regenerate every sixteen to eighteen hours . Preventing them from doing so would cause severe physical distress and their forms to begin to deteriorate and " flake " away . ( ) Changelings could take virtually any corporeal form , ranging from humanoid alien s to fog to reflective surfaces . They did not seem to be able to exist as or change to forms of energy . ( ) They , or at least the Founders , also had the ability to closely mimic humanoid personalities to the point where even close friends and family often could not distinguish them from the originals . ( ) They could transform parts of themselves into smaller electrical devices , like a combadge , and make it operational , and were also capable of at least mimicking the shape and operation of a computer . ( ) Changelings could also mimic the form of fire and clouds . ( ) Starfleet sensor s , as of 2371 , failed to recognize Changelings when they mimicked other forms . The Obsidian Order created a prototype quantum stasis field generator that could prevent a Changeling from shape shifting . ( ) The thoughts and emotions of Changelings could not be read by Betazoid s . ( ) But , memories could be telepathically transferred by a Guardian to one in the Trill Zhian ' tara ritual , and they could participate as a past Trill host . Changelings could survive in the vacuum of space , and were highly resistant to disruptor fire . ( ) Changelings – or at least Odo – had no sense of smell . ( ) Laas stated , however , that if his hands had Klingon blood on them , they would emit a stench , possibly suggesting that after living among solid s for years , he was at least familiar with the concept . ( ) Even when in humanoid form , Changelings did not need to take in sustenance . Odo noted that he once attempted to eat after assuming humanoid form for the first time , but found the experience not only unsatisfying due to his lack of tastebuds , but " messy " for reasons he chose not to elaborate . ( ) Doctor Bashir once asked Odo for a sample of himself to replicate organs , which begs the question how he would get that part of himself back , if he never adds matter to his body . A telepathic energy matrix ( which caused the crew of Deep Space 9 to fight for control of that space station ) was rejected by Odo ' s lack of a humanoid brain . It did have the ability to warp his face and knock him unconscious , though he retained his humanoid shape . ( ) There was an apparent telepathic aspect to the Changeling species , evidenced in the fact Odo felt drawn toward the Omarion Nebula , which was once home to the Founders . ( ) However , it is possible that the instinctive desire to visit the nebula was " hardwired " into him . Changelings had the ability to sense , in most cases , the presence of other Changelings . ( ) The Jem ' Hadar may also have the ability to sense Changelings , though this ability might not be telepathic but an imprinted response to a Changeling ' s gelatinous state , as a child Jem ' Hadar who sensed Odo did not respond to him until he temporarily reverted to that state . ( ) Further suggestion of a telepathic trait arose when Odo ' s remaining morphogenic enzymes were stimulated by a plasma field , creating a miniaturized " Great Link " with Benjamin Sisko , Jadzia Dax , and Elim Garak . ( ) At the very least , there exists a " hive mind " among the species when joined with the Great Link . ( ) For instance , Odo once commented , " " During the Link , I sensed that the other Changelings were trying to hide things from me . . . faces , names . " " ( ) The Founder s of the Dominion were Changelings , and made up the majority of the Dominion ' s leadership . Changelings preferred to think of themselves as a drop ( the individual ) in the larger ocean ( what they called the Great Link ) . A Changeling , therefore , typically had little sense of individual identity . Being a liquid - based lifeform , in order to link with other Changelings , they simply reverted to this state and the liquid blended together , creating a link between them . ( ) It has been suggested that Changelings are biologically immortal and therefore never die of old age . ( ) However , it has been proven possible to kill Changelings by a number of means . Severe cases of radiation poisoning can prove fatal . ( ) Changelings have also been killed by phaser or disruptor fire , at sufficiently high settings . ( ) A Changeling has also been observed succumbing to trauma following the impact of a ship crashing into a planetary surface ( a crash in which the ship ' s intertial dampener s had failed ) . ( ) Chagelings could assume the forms of both male and female humanoids . ( ) The majority of Changelings appeared to favor either a male or female form , even when impersonating individual solids . ( ) It was unknown if this indicated a true biological gender or gender identity , or was simply a matter of personal preference . Changelings could experience feelings of physical attraction and love towards solids , and were capable of sexual intercourse with them , and with each other while in humanoid form . However , a Changeling could not have children with a solid . ( ) Changelings began their lives in an " infant " state , as a small quantity of seemingly inanimate liquid . In this state they were capable of limited shapeshifting , usually into simple geometric shapes , and responding to external stimuli such as moving away from an electrical charge . Over time they developed into maturity , increasing in mass and gaining greater understanding of their surroundings and control over their shapeshifting abilities , eventually becoming capable of verbal communication and assuming complex forms . ( ) Dr . Bashir once jokingly suggested that Changelings may experience an equivalent to puberty or menopause ( ) . Despite the existence of infants , it was unknown how Changelings reproduced . Garak expressed doubt over whether or not Changelings have mother s . ( ) Changelings regarded all other members of their species as their " family " , although it is unclear if this indicated a genetic relationship , or merely a social one . ( ) A Changeling could also be transformed by the Great Link into a solid permanently . ( ) Also , an infant Changeling once transformed Odo into a Changeling again , absorbing itself into his body , but it died in the process . ( ) Culture . Changeling culture revolved around the Great Link and shapeshifting . While in the Link , a Changeling had little sense of time or its individual self , and saw itself as a part in a larger whole . Changelings hated to be separated from their people , and would seek out the company of other Changelings with whom they had personal conflicts rather than remain alone . ( ) Changelings considered linking with one another the ultimate form of intimacy , and many found spoken language and other expressions of intimacy such as sex limited . ( ) Being in the Link was described as " paradise " for a Changeling , and even Odo , who bitterly opposed the goals of the Founder s dreamed of returning to it . ( ) Most Changelings , including Odo , displayed a marked preference for order , efficiency and following rules , which Odo interpreted through the lens of justice but other Changelings viewed through the lens of control . ( ) Throughout their entire history , no Changeling had ever harmed another . ( ) Above all else , the Changelings wanted their people to all be united in the Great Link , and renegades such as Odo were given ample opportunities to return home with all transgressions forgiven . Weyoun 4 informed Odo that the Founders wanted him back after he first rejected them . ( ) The Changeling who impersonated Colonel Lovok allowed Odo to leave the Battle of the Omarion Nebula unharmed , and the impostor Krajensky attempted to convince him to escape the self - destructing Defiant with it . ( ) The Female Changeling prioritised returning Odo , who was previously banished , back to the Link over the outcome of the Dominion War . ( ) Shapeshifting gave Changelings physical empathy with other lifeforms , allowing them to gain knowledge of them , though they spent most of their existence in the Great Link . ( ) Mirror universe . In the mirror universe , the Bajoran wormhole remained undiscovered as of 2375 . Therefore , Changelings and other species native to the Gamma Quadrant remained unknown to the peoples of the Alpha Quadrant . The only exception was , who was killed on during a workers ' revolt in 2370 . ( ) Appendices . Background information . Examining the species . The writers of DS9 believed there was a common " rigidity " among both the Founders and Odo . Robert Hewitt Wolfe described this characteristic as basically being " an obsessive - compulsive control freak . " ( " " , p . 300 ) Though Odo and Laas have been described as male and the Female Changeling as female , it is unclear what anatomical differences , if any , exist between male and female Changelings . Odo was able to asume the form of the Female Changeling , in . Also , although an infant Changeling appears in , it is never made clear exactly how Changelings reproduce . Odo did display romantic affection for some female humanoids , most notably Kira Nerys , and was capable of sexual intercourse with humanoid species . He even had a sexual encounter with the Female Changeling , suggesting that two Changelings can mate in humanoid form , though the Female Changeling considered this version of intimacy unnecessary for their race , and pale compared to the Great Link . ( ) Ronald D . Moore opined that Odo could not reproduce with solids as he did not have the " authentic . . . gear " to fertilize an egg . The Changelings frequently assumed a form similar to that of Odo ; however , Odo ' s unique appearance was the product of his difficulty with assuming convincing humanoid forms , not mandated by his racial makeup . Other Changelings have no difficulty with assuming convincing humanoid forms . The first time this was established was in . " " Not only do they look like you , but they copy your brain and know what you know . That ' s very dangerous , " " said René Echevarria . ( " Captains ' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages " , p . 91 ) As the Changelings other than Odo are capable of looking identical to humanoids , they must therefore assume an Odo - like form out of choice . This may be because , before meeting Odo and the races of the Alpha Quadrant , they had no need to reveal themselves individually to outsiders , and thus had no need for a unique humanoid form to differentiate themselves from other species . Odo would have provided them with a useful template . Ronald D . Moore commented , " " Odo modeled his look after Dr . Mora and the Founders then modeled their look after Odo . They did this initially as a compliment and way of reaching out to their long - lost Changeling , and later they kept doing it as a dig and reminder to him of his own limitations . " " Although much older than Odo , Laas also seemed to have similar facial features , probably because of the same reason . Having been found by the Varalan s , it can be assumed that the unique bumps on his forehead are typical Valaran features . ( However , Odo doesn ' t have the Bajoran facial features of Mora Pol and other Bajorans ; he comments in that he always had trouble with their noses . ) The Female Changeling appears to be left - handed in . However , Odo seems to be right - handed during the course of the series . It is unclear whether a Changeling has a dominant hand when assuming humanoid form , or simply chooses which hand to use for different tasks . Odo assumes the shape of a computer in , but it is unknown whether he could simply mimic the computer ' s form or whether he could actually perform the complex calculations a computer makes . Changelings do grow physically , to a point ; as Changelings don ' t eat or drink , it is unclear exactly where the ' new ' mass and energy come from . In , Julian Bashir asks Odo for a sample of his liquid form , and Odo only agrees on the condition that he will get it back after Bashir ' s tests are complete . The articulated goo of the Changelings was probably one of the most challenging special effects to create for . The standard process of creating the effect and inserting it into scenes typically involved action plates , background plates , blue - screen photography , and CGI , all integrated together , as seamlessly as possible . The Changeling goo ( also known as " Odo goo " ) was specially designed computer animation . There was also a generic wire - frame CGI model that could be animated for representing the beginning of a Changeling transforming from its liquid state into its humanoid form . ( " Cinefantastique " , Vol . 27 , No . 4 / 5 , p . 104 ) Episodic developments . Apart from Odo , Changelings were first mentioned in . In , it is suggested that a malevolent Changeling ( who turns out to be Odo ) is responsible for several attacks on space station Deep Space 9 , although Ira Steven Behr was unimpressed with this plot point . " " The red herring didn ' t quite work for me all that much , " " Behr commented , " " but it ' s window dressing [ . . . ] It doesn ' t annoy you because you ' re buying the package . " " ( " Captains ' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages " , p . 68 ) Changelings other than Odo were referred to again in , which Robert Hewitt Wolfe noted was one of the first mentions of the Changelings having a mythology and being mythological lifeforms . " " [ It ] was a really nice bit . It ' s just one of those things ; it ' s like that little seed that you start rolling down the hill , and it just gets bigger and bigger . " " ( " Section 31 : Hidden File 02 " , DS9 Season 2 DVD special features ) The Changelings were thereafter introduced in . In that episode and , Michael Westmore was required to create the makeup for the Founders as well as Odo . For the non - speaking Founders , Westmore simply used foam latex appliances from the exact same molds as were used for Odo . The makeup designer specifically requested casting , for these parts , actors whose faces were similar in size to Odo actor Rene Auberjonois . For each of the Founders with dialogue , a mold was taken of their face then an Odo - like mask was sculpted over it . Explained Westmore , " " It ' s all one solid piece that glues down around the mouth and eyes . The problem with that face is it has to line up perfectly with the mouth and eyes . " " ( " Cinefantastique " , Vol . 27 , No . 4 / 5 , p . 113 ) Another issue with the Changeling makeup during the making of the " The Search " two - parter was that each mask could be accidentally broken by its wearer laughing . ( " " , issue # 222 , p . 30 ) Although the makeup department attempted to use the Odo mask for other Changelings as they started appearing , some of the faces of the performers portraying main Changeling characters were so unique and different that Auberjonois ' mask couldn ' t be a one - size - fits - all prosthetic appliance . Consequently , the makeup department ultimately had to craft new masks for principal Changelings . A typical example of such makeup ( Odo ' s ) usually took two hours to apply . ( " " , pp . 137 & 139 ) The sophistication of the average morphing shot was increased tenfold for . Visual Effects Supervisor Glenn Neufeld was hugely surprised by the complexity of that footage , which the visual effects team had only six weeks to do . ( " Cinefantastique " , Vol . 27 , No . 4 / 5 , p . 105 ) Morphs performed by Changelings in " The Adversary " were actually designed by Glenn Neufeld and executed with CGI by VisionArt Design & Animation . ( " Cinefantastique " , Vol . 27 , No . 4 / 5 , p . 114 ) " " We had a ton of morphs , " " said David Livingston . " " You ' re never going to see more morphs in forty - three minutes than you will on this show . " " The extreme amount of morphs in " The Adversary " resulted in the episode having an unusually long production period . ( " Captains ' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages " , p . 99 ) Michael Eddington actor Kenneth Marshall witnessed , first hand , the shooting of some of the footage required for the morphs . " " It ' s fascinating how they do the morph sequences , " " he commented . " " I haven ' t actually seen them do the special FX , but they shoot it three different ways on the set . In the last shot , everyone tiptoes off the set so as not to disturb anything even a fraction of an inch . " " ( ) Due to the Founders infiltrating the Alpha Quadrant , there was much conjecture about which of the characters might be a Changeling . " " Many people have gone down many different paths with [ speculating ] who is a changeling and who isn ' t , " " observed Ira Steven Behr . " " There ' s some great theories . " " ( " " , p . 43 ) More Changeling sequences were created in CGI for " The Begotten " , involving Odo and the Changeling infant in separate shots . For one scene in which Odo watches the baby Changeling shape - shift into a rough approximation of his face , the two Changeling characters were filmed on either side of a split - screen shot . Also , both footage of Odo transforming into a hawk in " The Begotten " as well as a shot showing the demise of a slowly dying Founder in were created with CGI done by VisionArt . ( " Cinefantastique " , Vol . 29 , Nos . 6 / 7 , pp . 41 & 42 ) Several shots of Changelings were also created with visual effects for . In that case , the footage included Laas in the form of a fish - like creature , flying through space , and Odo representing shimmering lights . Both shape - shifting sequences were worked on by Visual Effects Supervisor David Stipes , Visual Effects Coordinator Adam Buckner , and CGI effects company Digital Muse , where Matt Merkovich participated in rendering the footage as CGI with the computer program LightWave 3D . Stipes was impressed by both of the two sequences . ( " Cinefantastique " , Vol . 32 , Nos . 4 / 5 , pp . 64 , 65 & 66 ) Robert Hewitt Wolfe remarked that the figurative seed he imagined being rolled down a hill with the advent of Changeling mythology in " Shadowplay " was , by the conclusion of the series , " just huge . " ( " Section 31 : Hidden File 02 " , DS9 Season 2 DVD special features ) Morphs done by Changelings in DS9 series finalé were created by Digital Muse and were intended to be as similar as possible to the other morphs in the series . " " David Lombardi is doing some of them , and Brad Hayes , " " noted David Stipes . ( " Cinefantastique " , Vol . 32 , Nos . 4 / 5 , p . 90 ) Apocrypha . In the novel " " , Odo learns from an elder Changeling that there are no " infant " Changelings , but just Changelings that are kept separate from the rest of the Great Link , as Changelings cannot reproduce since the departure of the ancient Progenitor centuries ago ; Odo , Laas and the rest of the Hundred were sent out to find the Progenitor . During the novel , Odo discovers what appears to be the corpse of the Progenitor , prompting the rest of the Link to disperse , leaving Odo and Laas as the only two Changelings left to manage the Dominion .