Genetic engineering Genetic engineering , genetic programming or genetic manipulation was a process in which the DNA of an organism was selectively altered through artificial means . Genetic engineering was often used to produce " custom " organisms , such as for agricultural or medical purposes , as well as to produce biogenic weapon s . The most common application of genetic engineering on intelligent beings in the Federation was corrective DNA resequencing for genetic disorders . A far more dubious application of genetic engineering was the genetic enhancement of individuals to produce improved senses , strength , intelligence , etc . Human . During Earth ' s 20th century , efforts to produce " superhumans " resulted in the Eugenics Wars . Genetically engineered individuals such as Khan Noonien Singh attempted to seize power . ( ) This would lead to the banning of genetic engineering on Earth by the mid - 22nd century , even research which could be used to cure critical illnesses . This ban was implemented because of the general fear of creating more tyrants such as Khan . It was also felt that parents would feel compelled to have their children genetically engineered , especially if " enhanced " individuals were allowed to compete in normal society . Some , including geneticist Arik Soong , argued that it was simply convenient for Humanity to denounce the attempts at genetic " improvement " of Humanity , that it was inherently evil because of the Eugenics Wars . He argued that the source of the problem , in fact , wasn ' t the technology , but Humanity ' s own inability to use it wisely . Imprisoned for , among other crimes , stealing the embryos of a number of Augment children , Soong wrote long treatises on the subject of genetic augmentations and improvements . His works were routinely taken and placed into storage ( although his jailers often told him that his work was vaporized ) . Captain Jonathan Archer expressed his hope to Soong that research into genetic engineering that could cure life - threatening diseases would someday be resumed . ( ) Others , however , chose to establish isolated colonies , as became the case with the Genome colony on Moab IV , which was established in 2168 . It became a notable and successful example of Human genetic engineering in which every individual was genetically tailored from birth to perform a specific role in society . However , after a five - day visit by the – when the ship came to the colony in an effort to save it from an approaching neutron star which , eventually , the craft was able to effectively redirect – twenty - three colonists left the colony aboard the craft , possibly causing significant damage to the structure of their society . The reason for the societal split was that those who left the colony had realized their organized , pre - planned world had certain limitations , lacking opportunities to grow that were offered by the " Enterprise " . ( ) By the 24th century , the United Federation of Planets allowed limited use of genetic engineering to correct existing genetically related medical conditions . Persons known to be genetically " enhanced " , however , were not allowed to serve in Starfleet , and were especially banned from practicing medicine . ( , ) Nevertheless , some parents attempted to secretly have their children genetically modified . ( ) Unfortunately , most of these operations were performed by unqualified physicians , resulting in severe psychological problems in the children due to their enhancements being only partially successful , such as a patient ' s senses being enhanced while their ability to process the resulting data remained at a Human norm . ( ) In some cases , genetic engineering can be permitted to be performed " in utero " when dealing with a developing fetus to correct any potential genetic defects that could handicap the child as they grew up . Chakotay ' s family history included a defective gene that made those who possessed it prone to hallucinations , the gene afflicting his grandfather in Chakotay ' s youth , although the gene was suppressed in Chakotay himself . ( ) In 2377 , The Doctor performed prenatal genetic modification on Miral Paris to correct a spinal deviation , a congenital defect that tends to run in Klingon families ; Miral ' s mother had undergone surgery to correct the defect in herself at a young age . Unfortunately , learning of this capability , B ' Elanna briefly became obsessed with having her child modified to remove all Klingon DNA traits to try and ' protect ' her daughter from the discrimination she had experienced as a child , even going so far as to reprogram The Doctor so that he would believe these changes were necessary to prevent later illness , but she was talked out of it by her husband ( ) . Dominion . The Founder s of the Dominion performed extensive genetic modifications on their two servant races , the Jem ' Hadar and the Vorta , in order for them to better serve their roles and to ingrain a fanatical devotion to the Founders . ( ) As a result of these modifications , neither species reproduced in the traditional biological sense . ( ) According to Vorta legend , they were originally ape - like creatures who were gifted sentience by the Founders after they helped a changeling escape pursuit . ( ) The Dominion also genetically engineered biological weapon s , such as the blight they unleashed against the people of the Teplan system . ( ) Suliban . During the 22nd century , the Suliban were no more evolved than Humans . However , a number of Suliban , from a faction known as the Suliban Cabal , became recipients of some very sophisticated genetic engineering thanks to a mysterious humanoid from the 28th century . These enhancements included subcutaneous pigment sac s , a bio - mimetic garment , modified alveoli , more bronchial lobe s and eye s with compound retina s – which allowed them to see things starship sensor s likely could not detect . The Suliban considered these " enhancements " as " progress " . ( ) Others . When they were captured by a pre - warp civilization in 2152 , Jonathan Archer and Malcolm Reed claimed to be prototypes of a new breed of supersoldiers to conceal the existence of alien life from the civilization . ( ) Genetic engineering had been employed on Denobula since the twentieth century , to generally positive effect . ( ) Genetic programming was Surmak Ren ' s major field of study at the University of Bajor . ( ) The Angosian s used psychological and biochemical modifications and mental programming to make the perfect soldier such as Roga Danar . ( ) The were engineered by the Hunter s to be prey for their traditional hunts . ( ) The Son ' a used genetic manipulation as part of a range of strategies to retard aging . ( ) The Brunali were proficient at genetic engineering , which they used to create modified crops capable of surviving on their Borg - devastated homeworld . However , they also genetically engineered some of their children to produce a pathogen deadly to Borg . These children were then allowed to be assimilate d , so that they could spread the infection to their Borg vessels . Icheb was one such child , the pathogen causing the cube that he was on to break down , killing all of the active drones and causing the young drones in their maturation chambers to activate before they were fully processed into the Collective . ( )