# Vatborn & Biosynthetics

## Introduction
While multiple species and groups pursue the creation of artificial life, one of the categories that rose to prominence in the galactic community is that of biological nature.

Vatborns, as their name suggests, are individuals born artificially, commonly inside artificial 'vats' that form their namesake. Often, these Vatborns are genetically modified or taken from a 'production stock'; however, specialist growers also exist due to fields such as 'designer babies.' This technology is not limited to any single species, but the Vikara Combine is known to be the first pioneers of this technology, while humanity is famous for its exploitation of it.

Biosynthetics, on the other hand, are considered the evolution of the concept of creating biological life and are more closely associated with mainline synthetics. Contemporary scholars often classify vatborn technology as a type of biosynthetic; however, they are distinct enough to warrant their own category.

Biosynthetics are particularly differentiated from other types of artificial life by incorporating both biological and artificial structures in their creation. Due to this, the term Biosynthetic can both refer to those individuals as a species, but also specific products and items.

## Biology
Vatborn biology is relatively equivalent to that of their native species. However, depending on the quality of their production defects can take place, and other groups intentionally modify Vatborns through both augmentation and genetic modification. In this respect, the line between Vatborn and Biosynthetic classification can blur.

All types of Biosynthetics and Vatborn often share nomenclature, even within subclasses and subraces.

In terms of reproduction, Vatborn and Biosynthetics drastically vary based on their manufacturer. Some intentionally imprint the inability to successfully reproduce, often times as a form of patent and rights management of the technology. Others are fully capable of reproducing with whatever beings their host species are capable of. In civilized space like the Orion Confederation, limiting a synthetic's right to reproduce is highly illegal. This does not, however, prevent this from occuring across the galaxy.
Offspring of these individuals are often a mix of the genetic traits of both parents. However due to the commonality of genetic modifications, some manufacturers will intentionally make a Biosynthetic or Vatborn's traits more dominant or recessive, which is also a way for manufacturers to circumvent aforementioned laws regarding reproductive restrictions.

While less common, a Biosynthetic does not require any form of organic tissue to be present; examples of this could be a machine with self-repairing functionality based on organic cell systems. Alternatively, a 'living' being could be constructed completely out of biosynthetic material and structures, with their respective 'organs' functioning similarly to their natural counterparts. More often, biosynthetic designs seek to fuse purely synthetic technologies into their organic counterparts, to the point that both of them form a single system and often become interdependent. A commonly used augmentation, the 'Neural Implant Framework' or NIF, could be considered this type of technology. It similarly represents how nano/micro technology is often crucial to the creation of biosynthetic products.

Due to their nature, biosynthetic individuals tend toward the extremes of compatibility with additional modifications to their bodies; some are expressly incompatible with augmentations, while others are naturally predisposed to modifications.

Purely natural creations that are artificially modified or produced can also fall under the 'Biosynthetic' category, a prime example of this being Vatborns.

The hybrid nature of Biosynthetics gives rise to a variety of methods and structures for their intelligences that can take the form of purely synthetic, organic, or more esoteric forms.

Artificial intelligences often take the form of positronic brains or equivalent technologies that, instead of being installed within an Integrated Positronic Chassis (IPC) or other synth-body, are incorporated into a biosynthetic one instead. In a way, this is the inverse of an organic person installing themselves into an artificial body.

On the other side, it is possible to create a biosynthetic body capable of housing and maintaining the condition of an organic mind, such as the brain of a living being. This can be done both with and without cybernetic alterations to the mind, and this type of technology often blurs with traditional 'genemodding' and sleeve technology.

The most common forms of biosynthetic minds are perhaps unsurprisingly ones that are too biosynthetic in nature. These come in many forms, from brains heavily modified with micro/nano technologies, to brains installed in man-machine interfaces (MMI) or 'cyberbrains', depending on one's choice of nomenclature. More technologically advanced examples include completely artificially-grown minds which utilize 'wetware' instead of software to emulate intelligence, unlike what you would find within a synthetic.

## Origins
Vatborn technology first entered the galactic stage from Vikaran research and development, particularly from the Skrell's mastery and fascination with biotechnology. However, a major explosion of this technology occurred when humanity entered first contact with the Combine, where the sharing of research resulted in humanity rapidly developing their own versions of this technology, which they were eager to exploit. The first appearance of 'Biosynthetics' in common terminology was a result of humanity combining its mechanical knowledge with biotechnology.

Primary reasons for creating Biosynthetics are similar to their standard synthetic counterparts. Depending on the technologies used, they are capable of being produced at a fraction of the financial cost of a synthetic, though arguably with greater ethical considerations. From a standpoint of their utility, Biosynthetics tend to be more durable and can last longer without external maintenance, similar to that of a living being. It is also easier to have a Biosynthetic bypass the 'uncanny valley' effect you would find in certain synthetics.

Biosynthetics could be considered to be an evolution of vatborn technology, of which vatborns are classed within. As biological science progresses within a society, there is a tendency to at least consider the synthetic production of biological organisms. Food, replacement body parts, and even people can become a possible commodity to produce through artificial methods, depending on a certain group's ethical codes.

Various methods exist to produce Biosynthetics, from 3D bioprinting and technologies similar to sleeving. More primitive methods also exist, such as artificial growth vats taken from their Vatborn counterparts.
These production methods are capable of being scaled for the purposes of mass production, which certain nations and species have pursued.

## Galactic Status
The civil rights for Vatborn and Biosynthetics follow a similar trend to Synthetics, and have been something hotly contested and debated within every species that has pursued artificial life.

Particularly in the early days of the technology in human space, the personhood of these artificial people was often put into question, leading certain factions to treat them as property or even cattle. Others instead formed unique cultures based on their reliance on the technology, as one might have found in the enigmatic Warborn of Mikoyan.

Some prejudices against Biosynthetics carry on to the current day with stereotypes, often attacking that certain types of Biosynthetics and Vatborn are mass-produced to the point that their appearances or archetypes are identical. Idiosyncrasies can also be common or even coded into their production, which can lead to pejorative labels and attitudes.

Most civilized regions recognize Biosynthetics and Vatborn as sapient beings.
The Orion Confederation is a major supporter of Biosynthetic, Vatborn, and synthetic rights, and discrimination against them is outlawed in most of Confederation space.
Trans-Stellar Corporations (TSCs) similarly do not often discriminate against them, and such individuals can be found at all levels of employment in the vast majority of the galaxy's biggest players.

This does not, however, mean that moral gray areas do not exist even within the morally upstanding sectors of space. Other areas even discriminate against or outlaw the people and technology to this day.
Certain groups create Biosynthetics with pre-programmed intelligence, a common point of contention for galactic lawmakers. The Tri-Star Compact is particularly accused by its neighbors of these practices, though the Compact disputes that its production methods respect a Biosynthetic's right to self-actualization.
One of the longest-running controversies regarding these biosynthetics is 'Designer-Mates,' a highly criticized usage of the technology to create individuals specifically tailored to be the ideal partner for another. The questionable ethics of this have led to large-scale bans of this practice within the Orion Confederation, though enforcement remains difficult to enact, especially on the frontier.