Generation 3 synth

Third generation synths, or gen 3 synths, are the apex of the Institute's research into creating a race of servants necessary to maintain their subterranean habitat.
==Background==
The most advanced synthetics created by the Institute are fundamentally different from their predecessors, the result of nearly five decades of research, from 2178 to 2227. The research used a sample of the Forced Evolutionary Virus and was intended to produce effective synthetic organics, but it ground to a halt in March 2224, as the research team concluded that the organic synth project could not proceed despite perfecting two FEV strains for the project. Radiation-induced hereditary damage proved too much of an obstacle.FEV research notes 
Before developing the first truly organic synths, the Institute prototyped the next generation as mechanical synths like generations 1 and 2. Two prototypes were developed distinctly from each other, one testing independent development through experience and one based on a pre-existing personality derived from pre-War brain scans. Each developed their personalities with promising results but both escaped sometime before the Institute could continue experimenting. In 2229, a 3rd generation prototype designed to mimic a human man was field tested in Diamond City and malfunctioned, causing the Broken Mask incident and vilifying the Institute in the eyes of the Commonwealth.Fear the Future?
In 2227, the organic synth project was spun off from the FEV research initiative due to the acquisition of Shaun and his undamaged pre-War genetic code. He was recovered by Conrad Kellogg,The Sole Survivor: "Human synths? Really?"Shaun: "" "" "" "" "" ""(Shaun's dialogue)Out of Time and his DNA became the basis of the third generation of synths in a project led by Dr. Walter.Implant update session No. 7 The infant Shaun became Father to a whole family of engineered synthetic beings.
==Biology==
Despite sequential numbering, third generation synths are unrelated to their mechanical counterparts, but are derived from Shaun's pre-War DNA and extensively modified using the Institute's own research into the Forced Evolutionary Virus, combining the advantageous adaptations encoded into FEV with the versatility of the human body shape. This allowed the Institute to create a variety of synths of varying races and appearances despite the base DNA coming from only one source.FEV lab terminal entries; terminal, 2277.7.10FEV lab terminal entries; terminal, 2286.4.10FEV lab terminal entries; terminal, 2287.2.10
Organic synths are assembled inside Institute Robotics from scratch: The skeleton is assembled by giant machines and serves as basis for artificial soft tissues woven on top of it, including analogues for all human components: Brain, lungs, digestive tract, muscles and so on. The unfinished synth's organs are then kickstarted using powerful electric charges and placed in a fluid bath that completes the activation process by rapidly covering the synth in artificial skin. The synth then emerges with the mental faculties of a full-grown adult human. The blank synth is then ushered for processing: Programming and job assignment.Synth manufacture process inside Institute Robotics. Though entirely biological, each Gen 3 synth contains a neurological implant inside their brain allowing them to be "programmed" and manipulated via voice commands. This implant cannot be detected or removed without killing the synth.
Synth components and programming seem to be unreliable at best in Gen 3s, with some Institute synths requiring repeated wipes, and others escaping when sent to work on the surface. Mind wipes in particular have a high failure rate that results in moderate to severe brain damage. Even the Institute's recall codes are unreliable, with Justin Ayo admitting that too often, returned synths are "unsalvageable".The Sole Survivor: "I'd like to know more about the synth reclamation process."Justin Ayo: " Once a Courser has located a rogue synth, it uses that synth's recall code to wipe its memories and render it inert. We then begin the delicate process of restoring the neural pathways to their original configuration. In those cases where the procedure is successful, the synth returns to duty with no memory of its time on the surface. "(Justin Ayo's dialogue) The Institute also avoids relying on programming for surface agents: instead of building coursers, they observe third generation synths for specific traits, then train and upgrade them.The Sole Survivor: "You mentioned that Coursers undergo special training. Tell me more about it."Justin Ayo: "The SRB constantly monitors our gen-3 synth population, looking for specific traits. Those who show tenacity, fearlessness and independence undergo a rigorous training regimen. We teach them armed and unarmed combat, investigative techniques, psychology and mechanical skills. Those who pass a final evaluation become Coursers. The rest have their memories wiped and return to their former duties."(Justin Ayo's dialogue) When they decide to replace a wastelander, they do not take the original's memories and implant them in the synth. Instead, they either send the replacement to directly kill and replace their target,The Sole Survivor: "Why don't you just tell me how this happened?"Art: " "(Art's dialogue) or if they are replacing a person of importance, they may capture them and torture them for information to help the replacement blend in.Institute BioScience terminal entries; BioScience terminal, Project Implementation This not only takes longer, but relies on getting an honest and self-aware self-assessment from the wastelander. This explains why Institute infiltrators are usually uncovered because their personality and behavior are seen to have changed significantly overnight.
Third gens are human-like, but some liberated synths do not consider themselves human at all. The reasons for this are multiple, chief among them being the assembly process.The Sole Survivor: "How do they make synths?"Glory: " "(Glory's dialogue) Third gens are physically incapable of gaining weight past a predetermined limit.Institute Robotics terminal entries; Binet quarters terminal, Fancy Lads Snack Cakes Max Loken, a scientist in Robotics, claims that synths do not require sleep at all to function properly, are completely immune to disease, and do not require the intake of food to function.The Sole Survivor: "What makes them superior?"Max Loken: "The list of improvements is exhaustive. I can talk for an hour and still not cover all of it. Imagine what you could accomplish if you could live without fear of hunger or disease. Imagine what you could create if you could use every waking moment of your life as you saw fit, with no need of sleep? Like I said, a momentous time."(Max Loken's dialogue) However, synths evidently still feel sensations of hunger and sleepiness,Curie: "All of these bodily functions. How do you keep track of them all? I am hungry, I am sleepy. The list goes on."(Curie's dialogue) and Alan Binet also claims that his synth Eve has been dreaming while she sleeps, observing involuntary twitching and rapid eye movements during sleep.Max Loken: "Come now, Alan. It could have been anything. It was probably just a glitch in the nervous system. The fine motor control software could use an update."Alan Binet: " "Max Loken: ""Alan Binet: " "Max Loken: "If you disapprove of the work we do here, Doctor Binet, you know where to find the teleporter."Alan Binet: ""Max Loken: "Well it's an unwanted distraction. We're men of science, not philosophers. You'd do well to remember that."(Alan Binet and Max Loken's dialogue) Synths can also still eat and digest food and even appreciate taste. All third generation synths share an affinity for Fancy Lads Snack Cakes, mystifying Institute scientists. Synths may also merely be more infection-resistant rather than fully immune, evidenced by the upgrade notes for a new model of synth blood.Institute Robotics terminal entries; robotics terminal, upcoming projects According to a conversation between Janet and Enrico Thompson, the child synth Shaun will not age, which means that possibly no synth does.Enrico Thompson: ""Janet Thompson: ""Enrico Thompson: ""Janet Thompson: ""Enrico Thompson: ""Janet Thompson: ""Enrico Thompson: ""Janet Thompson: ""Enrico Thompson: ""(Enrico Thompson and Janet Thompson's dialogue)
===Upgrades===
Third generation synths undergo frequent upgrades and patches in a manner similar to robots, and upgrades are constantly in development. Additional implants apart from synth components are often used on Coursers, such as neuro-servos and other implants which were common around the 2240s.The Lone Wanderer: "The android is dead. See, here's an internal component. <Lie.>"Zimmer: "What? Let me see that! This is a Neuro-Servo... Unique to the A3-21... I... And you say you got this from his corpse? I suppose there's no other way you could have obtained it. Well... damn it. I was afraid this would happen, out here in this, this... Wasteland. Well. Here's 50 caps for your troubles. Try to buy yourself an education out here in this hell. Good day."(Zimmer's dialogue)Harkness was made in 2242 and likely received his implants during creation or slightly later. According to cut terminal entries, the most experimental upgrades concern their synthetic brains, through the enhancement of specific areas. Institute Robotics terminal entries; Robotics terminal 2, Unique Project For example, 2287 saw a major upgrade to synthetic optic nerve tissue for over thirty synthetics, increasing visual acuity by 10 to 12 percent.Institute Robotics terminal entries; Robotics terminal, Current Project Other upgrades the Institute implements in its synths are:
* Software package updates, which can provide incremental increases in eg. firing accuracy. The software used by third generation synths may become bugged and require patching.Institute Robotics terminal entries; Robotics terminal, Maintenance Requests
* Transfusions, which swap out the entire synthetic blood used in organic synths for superior types that provide improved clotting and infection resistance. Artificial blood strains are identified with codes and the latest upgrade in 2281 switched from blood 77-01 to 90-10.
The latest models of the third generation display increased autonomous behavior, resulting in a greater number of escapes. Alan Binet, head of Robotics and their chief designer, came under suspicion, leading the SRB to order a full examination of the behavioral mapping in these models, looking for signs of interference.Institute scientist: ""Alan Binet: ""Institute scientist: ""Alan Binet: "" (Institute scientist and Alan Binet's dialogue)
===Identification===
Generation 3 synths are physically and mentally indistinguishable from ordinary humans, having lab-grown bodies of real human flesh, bones, and organs instead of plastic and metal. Even their DNA is close enough to human to seem ordinary. For example, the Brotherhood of Steel keeps their members' DNA on file, and only discovered one member was a synth once they had Institute records of synth DNA to check against.The Sole Survivor: "That's impossible!"Elder Maxson: " "(Elder Maxson's dialogue) Dr. Roslyn Chambers, a scientist researching a foolproof way to detect synths, found that no medical tests or procedures can identify someone as a synth without killing them.The Sole Survivor: "You can't seriously want to kill all the synths..."Doctor Roslyn Chambers: " "(Dr. Roslyn Chambers' dialogue) Psychological tests, such as Covenant's SAFE test, show some promise but are dubious at best.The Sole Survivor: "And the SAFE test works?"Doctor Roslyn Chambers: " "(Dr. Roslyn Chambers' dialogue)
Rumors abound in the wasteland about traits or behaviors that identify a synth, but even mind-wiped synths such as Captain Avery or Gabriel are unable to tell what they are and firmly believe they are human until it is proven to them.The Sole Survivor: "I have proof that DiMA killed the original Captain Avery. Here."Captain Avery: " "(Captain Avery's dialogue)The Sole Survivor: "If you're lying to me, this is your one chance to come clean. Understood?"Captain Avery: " "(Captain Avery's dialogue)The Sole Survivor: "Gabriel, you aren't who you think you are. You're a synth, and we're here to take you home."Gabriel: " "(Gabriel's dialogue)
==Discrimination==
Although gen 3 synths would qualify as sentient beings by the standards of most of the wasteland, they are generally perceived as agents of the Institute and treated as hostiles if discovered.
In the Institute, most are keen on keeping synths under their direct control as servants. The Institute says repeatedly that synths are essential to its continued existence and will redefine humanity, but do not seem to have any intention of allowing them free will or status as full members of the Institute. The disastrous actions of some synths "liberated" by the Railroad, such as Gabriel, are cited as evidence that synths cannot be trusted to make their own decisions.
Few challenge the ideology and those that do are considered radicals. Robotics head Alan Binet is a noted radical, with his impassioned speeches about artificial sentience and machines a constant feature of Robotics. Binet is keenly aware that his words fall on deaf ears, and when reminded of the option to trade the Institute for the wasteland, is quick to remark that he is only trying to broaden the horizons of his colleagues. His ideas are unpopular, especially when he suggests that synths could be the redefinition of humanity. The situation is made worse in the light of the recent increase in autonomous behavior among the latest gen-three models.
==Appearances==
Generation 3 synths appear and .
==Gallery==
===Magic: The Gathering===
Fallout Magic Synth Infiltrator.png|Magic: The Gathering card
Fallout Magic Synth Infiltrator PipBoy.png|Variant
==References==
Category:Fallout 4 robots and computers