Parent / Legends A parent was the progenitor of biological offspring . Some species , such as exogorths , had only one , asexually reproducing parent . Most species , however , reproduced sexually : a male or female parent was called a father or a mother , respectively . " Parent " also referred to a caretaker of the offspring . In many societies across the galaxy , the biological parents were responsible for raising their young ; however , this varied from species to species , and between different cultures . Sometimes , a child , or youngling , would be raised by their grandparents or other family members . Some parents , such as adoptive parents , were not biologically related to their children at all . Biological parent . One of the important criteria that formed a universal definition of " life " , was reproduction : living organisms create more living organisms . Some people believed that the very purpose of life was to create new life , and that creating life was the greatest act a living creature could commit . One progenitor . Some species had only one progenitor . Most gastropod s , for example , reproduced asexually , and plant - based species reproduced themselves . Notable examples were : Some species were fully parthenogenetic - that is , every member of the species was female and reproduced without fertilization . Theoretically , the offspring should therefore be genetically identical to its mother , which was the nature of parthenogenesis . M ' shinn were a humanoid species in which every individual was female , who reproduced through a form of parthenogenesis . In areas where their food was plentiful , a M ' shinn would give birth to a single infant once every standard three years . All M ' shinni looked almost identical , although each generation ' s genetic code was subtly altered . The reptilian Sekct were fully parthenogenetic . Every individual would lay a single egg every two years , from which a single infant hatched . The genetic code of the Sekct were very susceptible to change , and random mutations ensured that each offspring was different from its parent . Cloning referred to the process of reproducing a near symmetrical duplicate of a being through artificial means . Boba was created by Kaminoans as an unaltered clone , at the request of his " father " , the Mandalorian bounty hunter Jango Fett . Boba was raised as Jango ' s offspring , and his father always put his son first - like any father should , according to Boba . During the Clone Wars , Vianna D ' Pow , a Zeltron albino bounty hunter , placed an order for a solitary clone of herself from Kaminoan cloners . Two progenitors . Many species had two progenitors . Most of these species reproduced sexually , with one female progenitor and one male . For some , the process of creating a new organism involved the fusion of cells from each parent ; examples were Bith , Bothans and Humans . Many species reproduced by laying eggs . For some of them , sera from one parent fertilized the egg created by another parent . Reptilians , for example , reproduced by laying fertilized eggs ( although the Sekct of the planet Marca actually reproduced without fertilization ) . Other notable examples were the amphibious Ishi Tib and Issori , and the insectoid Verpine . Some species were actually genderless , but two individuals were still required in order to create offspring . Notable examples included : Members of different species were usually incapable of producing viable offspring ; although exceptions to the rule did exist . An individual with parentage from more than one sentient species was known as a hybrid . Humans , for example , were able to inter - breed with Near - Human s with few exceptions and could also interbreed with the Coynite , Twi ' lek Kalai and Sith . Other compatible hybrid combinations included Borneck with Etti , and Arkanian with Sephi . Bothans were able to interbreed with at least one species , resulting in the so - called half - Bothan s . Some species could interbreed only with the help of genetic manipulation ; Humans could interbreed with Anzati , Qiraash , Rattataki and Umbarans this way . Many species ostracized members who bore hybrid children . Others . The Shard s of Orax were a unique life form . These silicone - based sentient crystals did not reproduce and had no progenitors in the common sense of the word . They formed from an interaction between the ion - charged atmosphere of their homeworld and the natural crystals and mineral - rich water , " growing " Shards in clusters . When a Shard had reach full size and “ adulthood ” , the accretion of crystal would begin to produce a new Shard . The Bartokk were a mysterious insectoid species with exceptional regenerative abilities . If their brain was cut in half , each half would regenerate into a separate twin , creating an entirely new individual . Adoption . Adoption was a process where a person assumed the parenting for another . An adoptive parent is one who nurtures and raises the offspring of the biological parents but may not be related to the youngling . The actual process varied from planet to planet , and between different cultures . On the planet Coruscant , people who wanted to adopt had to fill in an application and several datafiles , and gather " all the other stuff " that the official would want before the actual adoption took place . Among the Mandalorians , on the other hand , the process was rather simple . In a ritual known as the " gai bal manda " — " name and soul " , a prospective Mandalorian parent needed only to recite the phrase ni kyr ' tayl gai sa ' ad — " I know your name as my child " — followed by the name of the individual to be adopted . Humans ( and presumably many other species ) viewed adoption as charitable . Some people chose to become adoptive parents because they could not have any children of their own ; for example , Bail and Breha Organa had many difficulties in producing an heir , and doctors had informed them that another attempt to conceive a child would probably kill Breha . This led to discussions about adopting a baby girl , and the adoption of their daughter Leia . Sometimes , a stepparent would adopt a stepchild . On the planet Gand , the so - called Findsmen of the species would sometimes find a child for couples who could not conceive . The Findsmen would wander into the enshrouding mists of the planet and find the child they desired . These " mistborn " children were a gift and raised by the people as their own . Adoption was extremely common in Mandalorian culture , even adoption of adults . As a warrior - people , Mandalorians had a savage reputation , but they cherished family life . Adoption of war orphans was quite common , even children of a defeated enemy , whereas other species might kill them . The Mandalorian way of life was a dangerous one , and Mandalorian families never hesitated to adopt orphans . Despite the importance placed on fidelity and chastity prior to marriage , a partner who acted unfaithfully during a long separation would be forgiven so long as any child that resulted from the indiscretion was raised together by the couple . Adoption could even be done posthumously . Some species had no need for adoption . A notable example was the Issori species . On their homeworld Issor , the conception of a new child was something that was negotiated between families , and not connected to romantic love at all . Families would agree on breedings ( a process in which eggs which were fertilized by an agent packet ) , and the families would raise the children . Therefore , they had no unwanted children , and even those who were orphaned were the responsibility of the families of those who were bred to create them . Step - parent . A stepmother or stepfather was the spouse of one ' s biological parent and not one ' s natural mother of father . If the other biological parent was deceased or had moved out of their children ' s life , the stepparent would often take their place as the second parent to the children ; examples of this includes Shmi Skywalker Lars and her new family after she married Cliegg Lars , clone trooper deserter Cut Lawquane , who married Suu Lawquane and adopted her two children , Jek Lawquane and Shaeeah Lawquane ; and Nina Galfridian and her family . Hold - parent . A hold - parent was a close friend of a youngling ' s parents and an honorary title . Hold - parents would often bring gifts and toys to the child . In extreme circumstances , a hold - parent might assume the parenting of the youngling if something happened to the parents . Grandparent . Grandparents were the parents of a person ' s own parent , whether that be a father or a mother . One could also be a step - grandparent . A female grandparent was called a grandmother and a male grandparent a grandfather . " Grandmother " and " grandfather " were the same word in " Mando ' a " , the Mandalorian language ( which was gender - neutral ) . Norms and customs . The norms and customs concerning reproduction and parenting varied greatly between species , and sometimes within different cultures of a species . The Horansi , for example , were comprised of several sup - species . Though they could cross breed , these occurrences were rare , primarily due to cultural differences . Valuing children . The way parents valued their offspring varied between species as well . Among the Ebranite , for instance , children were seen as little more than slaves , and had very little freedom . Neimoidian young were raised in communal hives from berth , where they had only limited amounts of food . Many died as a result . The Ortolans had few children . Education of the offspring was the responsibility of the parents , who pass their knowledge and skills they learned from their parents on to their children . When a child shows extraordinary aptitude in skills that are beyond the parents ' expertise , they ask another Ortolan family to teach the child in return for some other service . However , parental obligations end when the child reaches an age equivalent to seven years old , at which time they are simply thrown out of the house to forage on their own and fend for themselves This is done in order to conserve the family ' s supplies , although exceptions are sometimes granted for children with a talent particularly valuable to the family ' s well - being . Tusken Raiders cared for their children , but they were not considered people until they had endured a ceremony that declared their adulthood . Babies often perished because of the harsh desert life , and Tusken Raiders took great pride knowing that only the strongest survived . However , there were many species where parents were expected to love their children and be their teachers and protectors . The planet Cona , for instance , was a dangerous place for the immature and uninitiated , and the Arcona society arose from the need to ensure the safety of the young . Arcona parents would look after their hatchlings until they had learned the ways of the jungles of their homeworld . Because hatching a brood was a long - term commitment , Arcona did not lightly into parental partnerships . Children formed the center of the Chadra - Fan community ; they were adored , and cared for by all . Everyone shared the duty of parenting one another ' s children , and households were open to anyone at all times . Members of this quick - witted rodent species lived together in large clans , and children left their clan only to marry . The married couple resides with and bears children for the clan that currently has the fewest infants . Yarkoran children were few and far between , and every child was dodted upon and treated as a firstborn . Kubaz also loved to dote on their families . Dugs were extremely loyal to their family and would protect them and their children with passionate violence if they were insulted or attacked . Although Gamorreans took great pleasure in slaughter and violence , they were also loving with their children and mates . The Shistavanen and the Talz did not send their younglings to school ; instead , the family units " were " the school . The Shistavanen were home - schooled using a government - approved system . The Talz had no formal schools , and most children were home - taught via cooperative family tutelage . Mothers and fathers who stood out in certain subjects would partner with those who excelled in others , so that their offspring would receive as well - rounded an education as possible . The Ugnaughts would pass down vocations – so - called " blood professions " – from generation to generation within each family , teaching the children the necessary skills to mine or be a mechanic . Relationships between parents . The act of conceiving a child was typically connected with love and emotional attachments between the parents ; this was a common notion among many of the species who reproduced sexually . Among the Gotals , love at first sight was the rule rather than the exception , because Gotals could read each other so well with their unique head cones . Relationships built on love would usually last . They mated for life and would bear children as soon as their lifestyle permitted . Gotals took great delight in the raising of progeny , and their cone sensitivity enabled them to function well as a spouse and parent . Kel Dor couples would begin having children soon after marriage . Some Humans viewed sex as forbidden unless sanctioned by marriage ; Boba Fett , for example , believed that sex between those not married was immoral . Having a child out of wedlock was considered scandalous by some Humans . The Arcona regarded a commitment to marry as a commitment to parent , whereas the Nautolans would mate for life and saw a happy mating , or marriage , as a necessary requirement for existence . This was in stark contrast to species like the Goroth , who had no concept of marriage at all . There were many species , like the Ishi Tib of Tibrin , who would never marry and took no wife or husband . Amongst some species , the concept of romantic love did not factor into reproduction and the raising of children . For the Bith , reproduction was entirely a matter of rational selection . Prospective parents take a sample of their DNA to a Computer Mating Service ( CMS ) , which matches it up with other samples from members of the opposite sex . From these comparisons , CMS develops a series of computer models projecting the outcome of a union between the customer and a dozen suitable mates . A prospective parent ranks each combination according to their preferences , and a meeting is arranged between clients who have selected the same combinations in approximately the same order . The prospective parents or their agents will negotiate the number of offspring and how many each parent will receive . Upon arriving at an agreement , the parents send the necessary cells to a so - called Reproduction Center , where the genetic material is combined , fertilized , and incubated . After a year , the children are delivered to the parents ' door . As they had reproduced in this manner for so long , Bith had lost the ability to conceive naturally , because the organs necessary to reproduce organically had atrophied past the point of being able to function in procreation . Amongst the Issori , breedings were negotiated between families , and the female Issori laid eggs which were fertilized by an agent packet produced by a male . The children were raised by the families they were born into . Sometimes , eggs or packets from dead heroes or leaders were used in order to preserve the bloodline ; the families always cared for these newborns . Among the Ho ' Din , who worshiped Nature , reproduction was blessed only if the church carried it out . Ho ' Din would mate for life . A priestess " gathers " the " seed " of life from the male , distributing it to the female in imitation of the manner insects play a part in the reproduction of plants . Children born without the sanction of the church were drugged into sleep and killed , sacrificed to the forest floor where Nature could purify their soul . ( Ho ' Din parents rarely made such sacrifices , however , since the species were masters of herbal birth control ) . Many species and cultures , like the Besalisk and the Caamasi , placed great importance on monogamous relationships , although there were others species which did quite the opposite . For example : Some species had two progenitors , but the resulting offspring was raised by one parent only . Among the Mashi Horansi , the males would raise their young ( the Treka Horansi , on the other hand , shared a rough equality in regards to responsibility for their young ) . When Arcona reproduced , the males usually raised the children , as females were considered more reckless and irresponsible . Devaronian had vastly different personalities , and while the females would live their lives in comfortable homes and raise their young in villages , the males were driven by irresponsible wanderlust and preferred to live their life as vagrants . This kept males and females nearly constantly separated . After choosing a mate and siring children , male Devaronians typically took to the rivers and roads of their homeworld , and many left the planet entirely , rarely ever returning . However , the males would always send some of the money they earned back home to their wives and children . The females actually preferred financial support over having the males present . Among some species and culture , the male was killed by the female after mating . Among the insectoid Flakax species , one singular female ruled each community and produced all of its young . The sole job of the males was to aid in reproduction , and after they had served their purpose , they were eaten by the female . In the traditional H ' nemthe mating ritual , the female disembowels the male with her razor - sharp tongue . The male considered the ritual a culmination of spiritual fulfillment , as he moves on to the netherworld to guide his coming child . The Nightsisters of Dathomir were a culture of dark side witches . After mating , the child ' s father was killed by tradition . Many species , like Chagrians , Humans and Trandoshans would normally raise their children in private home groupings , usually the child ' s parents or family ( or both , like the Kel Dor and the Shistavanens ) . Another example was the Xi ' Dec , a unique species of more than 180 sexes , where family units lived apart from other family units while caring for their children within the confines of the family . Kubaz couples shared their apartment with their infants , but children went to live in a family crèche when they were still very young ; the equivalent of five standard years . At the crèche , they were cared for by single adult pressures . Among some species , raising and caring for the young was a task performed by whole group of individuals . The amphibious Multopos lived in tribes , whose primary function was to raise more Multopos . They spent a great deal of time caring for the eggs and the young together , and several adult Multopos would watch the water canals that served as " nurseries " . Among the Brubb , the parents went their separate ways after their egg hatched , and the hatchling became a ward of the " haba " , a group of 10 - 10 , 000 couples . Every youngling is considered property of the haba , and every adult takes responsibility for rearing each child . A Ranat female moved her children into a nursery after giving birth to them . There , she and the other mothers would take turns providing minimal care to all the children of the tribe . If the mother died , her children would not miss her - they did not know her from the other nursemaids . Among the Ishi Tib , the responsibility for raising the young fell to the community as a whole , and no one ever knew which child came from which parents . The Rybet were galactic nomads who only interacted with others of their kind to mate . Xenobiologist s estimated that fewer than a billion Rybet existed in the galaxy , possibly due to the pathological hatred male Rybet had for female Rybet and vice versa . Only an overwhelming compulsion to reproduce could overcome the males ' fear and loathing of Rybet females . Rybet felt a drive to reproduce only once every ten years after reaching adulthood . The only time where a male and female Rybet lived together for any length of time were in the first years of raising their young . For the first year or two , the parents would stay together , slaving their starships together and taking their parts in raising the young . This arrangement didn ' t last long , however - eventually , they would start to grate on each other ' s nerves , and after the first one or two years , the male either left or else would find himself dead or severely maimed . The mother would typically sell the dead male ' s ship and give the young the resulting credits as start - up money . For Brubb females , the process of bringing new life into the world was very stressful . Because of this , they usually died at a younger age than males ( in order to prolong their lives , an increasing number of females refused to lay eggs ) . Because of the toll that process took on their bodies , a Brubb female would lay only a single egg each Baros ian year ( 567 days ) . The female would select her mate with great care before the mating process . After mating , the male and female would usually protect the nest together . Sometimes , a male would mate with more than one female , which did result in some females being forced to protect the egg all by themselves . Having to guard an egg alone bore such a stigma of disgrace that it was often considered a legitimate excuse for the female to murder the philandering male . Some species and cultures would mate only " once " , for life ; to the Cathar , the custom was so important that when one mate died , the survivor never had a relationship with another . The Mashi Horansi , a Horansi sup - species , were another notable example . Other customs . To some species , creating offspring was a duty . The concept of furthering one ' s family was extremely important to the Sludir of Sluudren . To die without an heir was considered disgraceful , and to deprive a family of an heir was grounds for banishment or execution . A female Yarkora could only bear children every fifteen standard years , and usually only one at the time , making their species very sparse . Every female had to become a mother at some point in her life in order to save the species from extinction . Some species had rather unusual customs when it came to parenting : When the Huhks produced offspring , they left their young – the Lahsbees – with the other Lahsbees . The Huhks and the Lashsbees could not understand each other ' s languages , and the Huhks did not appear to feel any particular need to protect the Lahsbees . In fact , they found them annoying in the extreme . Sometimes , the number of children an individual was allowed to have , or whether they were allowed to have offspring at all , was regulated by local laws . The planet Algara II was home to the native Xan and immigrated Humans . The Humans settlers were in complete control of the planet , and the Xan were second - class citizens . As a result , the Human Algarians strictly regulated the number of children the Xan were allowed to have . The Kaminoans controlled their genetic codes through cloning and selective breeding . As such , they were one of the most genetically homogenous species in the galaxy , while the children were made within a set of strict , predetermined genetic parameters . Green eyes , for example , were not allowed , only gray , yellow and blue . There was no room for any other color , and children born with another eye color were killed . Many societies in the galaxy had techniques for conceiving " artificially " rather than organically . There were clinics where people could conceive a child via a donor , and a few species were unable to reproduce without technology : Bith had completely lost the ability to conceive naturally , and Columi had lost all predisposition towards physical contact , and reproduction had become a technological process . . Biological significance . Most species did reached sexual maturity at a certain age ; the Ho ' Din , for instance , did this at the age of 30 . The Jenet s , on the other hand reached full maturity within only one standard year . This quick rise to self - sufficiency meant that Jenet females were free to bear children relatively often , and the time between litters would seldom exceed a standard year . Amongst some species , their biology meant that raising and caring for the young was done by a group rather than individual parents . The Qieg was a sentient insect species , where the females lay eggs that were fertilized by many males . There were no family units , but all the offspring were raised communally . The Qieg did not consider it important to claim offspring as one ' s own , and made no effort to determine whether a given infant was their child . The Ishi Tib of Tibrin had no spouses , and mating was governed by momentary desires on the part of the Ishi Tib . Ishi Tib would only mate to reproduce . Once fertilized , the eggs were laid in special hatcheries on the sandbars . The number of eggs allowed to mature was determined by the population requirements of the community , or " school " , and the resources of the area where the school lived . The responsibility for raising the young fell to the community as a whole , and no one ever knew which hatchlings came from with parents . Potential partners were tested to verify that no problems would arise for their offspring . The Rakaan s had five life phases which corresponded to unique sexes : Child , neuter , female , male and andro . Each Rakaan would normally experience at least three phases during a lifetime . In female phase , the Rakaans laid eggs , which were fertilized by the males . The female would then keep the eggs inside her body . After the gestation period was over , the eggs were released into a nesting chamber where the andros cared for the fertilized eggs . The Lyra were cephalopods with a rigid caste system intricately linked to the number of tentacles possessed by the individual Lyra . The fertilized eggs would hatch within a mother ' s body , upon which she released them into the sea to be cared for by the four - limbed caste . The Verpine hatchlings were cared for by the entire community . Priapulin were amphibious gastropods that had a rather bizarre symbiotic relationship with small creatures called food - kin , sentient , crab - like beings . The food - kin provided the Priapulin ' s nourishment , and were actually proud to fulfill their role as food . Once the Priapulin consumed them , the food - kin ' s offspring remained inside the Priapulin ' s body . After a time , the Priapulin gave birth to , and cared for , the food - kin ' s babies , who in turn would act as food , and so on . The Priapulin would have to eat the food - kin when their biological clock chimed , and before their children spoiled . Priapulin pilot Charza Kwinn even became a smuggler and a pirate in order to feed his food - kin , although he limited his prey to Imperial . Another species of note were the Fefze . These arthropods resembled beetles , and were one of the rare species with true hive intelligence . One of the highest priorities of a Fefze swarm was to recruit new hatchlings in order to spread its mind base and to prolong its life . This was usually accomplished through a " swarm dance " , which were ritualistic gatherings in which swarms met for the purpose of reproducing . Males from each swarm fertilized the eggs of females from other swarms . Most of these eggs were brought back to the swarms ' home territory of hatching . The two swarms would then work together to form an egg globule belonging to neither of them . This new globule was abandoned in the hope that it would mature into a new swarm . In this manner , the race was perpetuated through the formation of new swarms . The hatchlings from the egg globule , usually coming from a variety of mothers , matured together , playing and feeding as a group , eventually learning how to operate within one mind . Some species did not consciously decide to reproduce . For example , the Pulra s , who reproduced through fission , would simply start retaining food energy to nourish a new Pulra growing within their bodies . Natural biochemical fluctuations and subtle levels in the environment would dictate population levels . Among the M ' shinni , who reproduced through parthenogenesis , reproduction was triggered by climatic conditions ; in areas of plentiful food , they would give birth to a single infant once every three standard years . The Sekct , who were also parthenogenetic , would lay a single egg every standard two years , although only one in two eggs would hatch , because the species were so susceptible to random mutations . The Neti procreated by creating a few seeds seeds , which occurred only once every few centuries . Seeds would often sit for over a thousand years before germinating . Sometimes , the new saplings would burst out of the ground after their progenitors death . Some species also had a natural rhythm that ensured the continuation of the species . Rybet males despised and feared their female counterparts , and the only thing that allowed them to overcome this was the species ' overwhelming urge to mate and reproduce , which happened only once every ten years after reaching adulthood . Among the Rakaans , the biological change from one sex to another , and the distribution of the sexes , was directly regulated by nature . In times of famine , the neuter population would skyrocket , while in times of severe depopulation , children would mature more quickly , and the male , female and andro population increased at a rapid rate . Bilar s ate and slept in groups in order to survive . Bilars born within a few days of each other developed special affinities and became lifelong members of defensive communities . Within a few generations , the Bilar reproductive circle evolved to maximize each youngling ' s chance to bond with as many children as possible . Most Bilars were conceived and born within only a few hours of one or more other Bilars , and small group of expectant mothers would stay close so that the children would be born in physical proximity .