Space Marine Physiology

==Summary==
The Adeptus Astartes, also known commonly known as the Space Marines are a breed of genetically-enhanced transhuman warriors engineered by the Emperor of Mankind for his Great Crusade.
Undergoing grueling selection processes designed to weed out all but the strongest and smartest, pre-teen males are then screened for the upmost genetic compatibility with the various gene-seed organs they will have implanted into them to turn them from ordinary boys into the ranks of the superhuman soldiers of the Imperium.
There are 19 of such organs to be implanted, each of them designed to aid the Marine in being an all-terrain unstoppable killing machine, each engineered from the Emperor himself from the template of his 20 Primarchs. The organ implantation process begins from early adolescence and finishes roughly during very early adulthood.
The organs ensure that no direct genetic engineering is performed upon the Marines, instead with the organs acting as grafted gene implants, comparable to a cyborg but all biological. This ensures that the Astartes do not fall under the banner of abhumans, or specific mutations upon the human genome.
The majority of these implants are grown in vitro, however some of them must be grown inside the Aspirant's body utilizing his own physiological processes. Only males can be used for this procedure, as the genetic material was based on the DNA of the Emperor himself, who displayed interest in female subjects but never managed to produce them.
Furthermore, Primaris Marines possess 3 extra organs which are implied to have been part of the Emperor's original design, yet for whatever reason were never utilized, until Belisarius Cawl managed to decode his notes.
==Uses==
Here follows several of the regular abilities one gains by being a Space Marine:
*Enhanced Senses: Astartes possess greatly enhanced senses, with their hearing, sight, and smell being all boosted to superhuman level. The Occulobe implant allows for total genetic restructuring of the eye, resulting in them being able to see in pitch black almost as well as daylight, the Neuroglotis allows them to tell basic chemicals apart simply by tasting them, and their hearing is enhanced to such a degree that they can hear heartbeats and accurately deduce if someone is lying. Their sense of smell is so precise they can detect individual scents in blasted warzones or tropical forests filled with flowering plants easily.
*Information Analysis: Thanks to the Omophagea implant, Marines are capable of "learning by eating", utilizing four specialized nerve bundles connected to the stomach wall that read or absorb genetic material ingested by the Marine, transmitting information to their brain in the form of memories and experiences.
*Immortality (Type 1 and 3): Although inconsistent at times, Astartes are generally immune to the effects of aging, with only superficial signs of advanced age plaguing them (graying hair, loosening skin folds). However, this has no bearing on their ability to fight. They also possess a regenerative healing factor that generally takes care of their wounds.
*Regeneration (High-Low): Astartes possess the healing factor necessary to heal wounds of this magnitude, though it is noted that scarring can remain.
*Limited Memory Manipulation: Pieces of creatures that they eat can be analyzed, their DNA/RNA being transformed into parts of memories and added to the Marine's knowledge.
*Acid Manipulation: The Betcher's Gland, one of the Marine's many implants, is a gland which stores extremely deadly and corrosive venom for the Marine to spit out when necessary. It can dissolve flesh, rock and even metals given enough time.
*Technology Manipulation: The Black Carapace allows Marines to connect with pieces of equipment specifically designed for them. This mostly manifests in them wielding their Power armor like a second skin, though they can also plug themselves into other vehicles for similar effects.
*Underwater Breathing: Via the Multi-lung, an organ that allows Marines to breathe in low oxygen environments, poisoned atmospheres and even water.
*Adaptation: Astartes possess an implant that controls the amount of melanin in a Marine's skin. Exposure to different levels of sunlight will result in the Marine's skin darkening or lightening to compensate. It also protects the Marine from other forms of radiation.
===Primaris Uses===
Due to the presence of three extra organs, Primaris possess further increased strength, size, possible intelligence, regeneration, along with the following abilities:
*Rage Power: When close to death, a Primaris' Belisarian Furnace acts as a "last stand" organ, supercharging the Marine's regenerative capabilities and flooding his systems with a massive adrenaline rush.
*Possible limited Resurrection: It is is implied that during the process of creating a Primaris Space Marine from a regular one, the Belisarian Furnace plays a vital role in jumpstarting the body, which is effectively dead. However, whether this could be combat-applicable beyond the regular boost, has yet to be seen.
==Resistances==
*Poison Manipulation: Thanks to the Preomnor, an pre-stomach organ which essentially acts as the body's decontamination area, a Marine may ingest poisonous or indigestible foods. It may also isolate itself from the rest of the body if it has to deal with particularly dangerous substances. The Oolitic kidney may also help in detoxifying the blood beyond any ordinary human, but if the poison is so strong as to require the activation of this organ, the Marine may fall asleep during the process.
*Disease Manipulation: Marine possess extremely powerful immune systems that make them essentially immune to any diseases suffered by normal men, up to and including genetic disorders and cancers. The only afflictions implied to be capable of affecting them are those possessing of the power of Chaos.
*Radiation Manipulation: The Melanchromic organ produces melanin far more effectively for a Marine should they be exposed to greater than normal amounts of UV rays, along with protecting them from other forms of deadly radiation as well.
*Heat Manipulation: The Mucranoid implant allows the Marine to sweat a substance that coats the skin and makes them insusceptible to extremes of cold and heat, while also helping in surviving for a limited in a vacuum.
*Pain Manipulation: Due to a variety of implants, training and indoctrination, a Marine is capable of shrugging off injuries that would be immensely painful or even downright deadly to a regular human. The loss of limbs or even headshots that are not directly lethal are barely even registered in the heat of combat.
*Telepathy: Marines can usually resist the effects of psyker attacks on the mind and probing to a higher extent than regular humans.
*Soul Manipulation: Similarly, daemons and psykers have more far difficulty bending and enslaving Marine souls than regular humans.
*Corruption: Marines are far more resistant to the corrupting effects of the Warp and Chaos in general.
*Possession: It is incredibly hard for even daemons to possess Marines.
*Madness Manipulation: Marines are far more resistant to the maddening effect exposure to Warp energies and Chaos magic usually entail.
Category:Verse-specific Powers and Abilities
Category:Warhammer 40,000
Category:Adeptus Astartes