Midi-chlorian

> "Without the midi-chlorians, life could not exist, and we would have no knowledge of the Force. They continually speak to us, telling us the will of the Force. When you learn to quiet your mind, you'll hear them speaking to you."
> ― Qui-Gon Jinn, to Anakin Skywalker
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**Midi-chlorians** were intelligent microscopic life-forms that originated from the Wellspring of Life — found at the very heart of the galaxy — and lived symbiotically inside the cells of all living things. When present in sufficient numbers, they could allow their host to detect the pervasive energy field known as the Force. Midi-chlorian counts were linked to potential in the Force, ranging from normal human levels of 2,500 per cell to the much higher levels of Jedi and Sith alike. The highest known midi-chlorian count — over 20,000 per cell — belonged to Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker who, as the Chosen One, was believed to have been conceived by the midi-chlorians.

Midi-chlorian counts were measured through a blood test; the Jedi used this method to locate Force-sensitive children before their Order was purged by the Galactic Empire. With the rise of the Empire, research into Jedi and the Force was banned, and though midi-chlorians continued to be tested for, sometimes by the Empire itself to root out hidden Jedi and other Force-sensitives, knowledge of them was diminished and inquiries into them were branded as illegal medical research. Midi-chlorians were only rediscovered after the New Jedi Order was founded, thanks to knowledge of Jedi Purge survivors such as Jarik Shan and Ahsoka Tano.

When not forbidden, studies of midi-chlorians occurred among both those who could master the Force and those who could not. While medical teams worked to understand the relationship between midi-chlorians and the Force, Jedi healers performed their own studies of the organisms. Even more esoteric studies were conducted by the Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Plagueis, who discovered a way to manipulate the midi-chlorians to create new life. Darth Plagueis had even developed a deadly Force technique involving midi-chlorians, utilizing them to cause a high level of pain on other beings, even against powerful Force users like his Sith apprentice, Darth Sidious.

## **Biology**

> "Midi-chlorians are a microscopic life form that resides within all living cells."
> ― Qui-Gon Jinn, to Anakin Skywalker
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Midi-chlorian was the scientific name for a species of sentient and microscopic organisms that inhabited the cells of every life form in the Andromeda galaxy―in other galaxies such as the Milky Way, however, midi-chlorians were not known to exist. The existence of the midi-chlorians was integral to the all-encompassing energy field known as the Force, connecting the Living Force to the Cosmic Force. By serving as the link between the two aspects of the Force, the midi-chlorians made it possible to achieve immortality after death. With sufficient training and total immersion in the light side of the Force, the deceased could preserve their identity in the form of a Force spirit after becoming one with the Force.

In addition to their connection with the Force, midi-chlorians lived in a symbiotic relationship with their organic hosts—a bond that was especially strong with Force-sensitive beings, who possessed a high quantity of midi-chlorians in their cells. This mutually advantageous relationship allowed the midi-chlorians to communicate the will of the Force to their Force-sensitive symbionts, who were capable of utilizing the powers of the Force through the midi-chlorians.

## **Study and analysis**

> "I'm sure the two of you remember what your midi-chlorian count was, correct?"
> ― Xudi Irris, to Jarik Shan and Ahsoka Tano
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Midi-chlorians were detected through a scientific analysis of blood samples taken from a life form. In this case, the purpose of examining blood was to calculate the number of midi-chlorians that resided within the living cells of a subject, and therefore, determine the natural strength of the connection between said subject and the Force. Throughout the Old Republic Era, the highest known concentration of midi-chlorians in a life form —according to the records of the Jedi Order — was held by the legendary Jedi Knight and Sith Lord, Revan, with a count of 18,300, followed closely by his descendant, Jedi Grand Master Satele Shan, with a count of 17,500. Later, during the Republic Era, record for the highest known midi-chlorian count — approximately 20,000 — was broken following the discovery of Anakin Skywalker, whose midi-chlorian level greatly surpassed all Jedi, including Grand Master Yoda.

## **Appearances**

* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 1: Beginnings* — "Chapter 4: Introductions" (mentioned only)
* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 3: Revenge of the Sith* — "Chapter 7: Teachings of the Sith" (first mentioned)
* *Sun and Moon* — "Unpleasant Memories" (mentioned only)

### **Non-canon appearances**

* *The Legend of Reylea - Volume 1: The Avatar and the Force* — "Chapter 17: Out of the Past" (mentioned only in a vision to Caran)