Genetic memory

2010-08-17T05:25:15Z

70.70.189.10: New section, Flaws in the Theory.

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{{dialogue|Dr. Vidic|Our DNA functions as an archive. It contains not only genetic instructions passed down from previous generations, but memories as well. The memories of our ancestors.|Desmond|And the Animus lets you decode and read these DNA files.|Vidic explaining genetic memory concept to Desmond}}

'''Genetic memory''' is the controversial theory that the memories of one's ancestors are genetically passed on to subsequent generations. In the ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'' universe, genetic memory exists, and plays a critical role in the plot.

==The Theory==
{{quote|What if I told you the human body not only housed an individual's memories, but the memories of his ancestors as well? Genetic memory, if you will. Migration, hibernation, reproduction. How do animals know when and where to go? What to do?|[[Dr. Warren Vidic]]}}
The theory is controversial. Proponents point out examples of what seem to be genetic memory happening in reality, such as birds knowing where to migrate in the winter, and other forms of instinct. However, the mechanism for the preservation of memories in DNA has not been found.

==Flaws in the Theory==
There are still many flaws in this theory, such as if the memory continues after the ancestor's child is born, or if it abruptly stops there.

==The Animus==
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[[File:Animus.jpg|thumb|The [[Animus]], a machine used in ''Assassin's Creed'' to decode genetic memory.]]In the world of ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'', genetic memory exists. The [[Animus]] is a machine developed to read a subject's genetic memory, and, from it, create a simulation of the ancestor's life that the subject can interact with, "playing" as the ancestor.

In ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'', the Animus is used by [[Abstergo Industries]] on [[Desmond Miles]] to decode the memories of his ancestor, [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]], who lived during the [[Third Crusade]]. In ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'', it is again used upon Desmond, this time to learn about his later ancestor [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], who lived during the [[Renaissance]]. Before [[Desmond Miles]], Abstergo had already used the Animus on [[Subjects|16 different subjects]].

In the second game, Desmond's dream of Altaïr explains, the point of which the genetic memories of an ancestor are passed on is the moment of conception of the next descendant.

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[[Category:Genetic skills]]

Bleeding Effect

2010-08-17T05:22:29Z

70.70.189.10: Grammar.

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{{Quote|Prolonged exposure to the Animus caused a 'Bleeding Effect' within Subject Sixteen's genetic structure. The result was a blending of genetic and real-time memory.|[[Lucy Stillman]]'s e-mail to [[Warren Vidic]]}}

The bleeding effect is a disorder caused by overexposure to the [[Animus]], suggested by [[Lucy Stillman]] to be similar to 'certain forms of multiple personality and delusional disorders'. With increasing exposure, subjects begin to experience a blending of their own real-time memories and their genetic memories, leading to difficulty in distinguishing the two, and ultimately mental breakdown. The effect is suffered notably by [[Subject 16]] and [[Desmond Miles]].

[[File:Crypticmessages.jpg|thumb|Due to the bleeding effect, Desmond develops the ability to use [[Eagle Vision]], allowing him to see [[Subject 16]]'s [[Cryptic Messages]].]]

==Symptoms==
{{Quote|Though the specific symptoms may vary from subject to subject, the end result is the same: they lose their minds.|[[Lucy Stillman]]'s email to [[Warren Vidic]]}}

*'''Desmond''' gains the fighting and free-running abilities of his ancestors, as well as the ability to use [[Eagle Vision]]. This is followed by hallucinations; in [[Assassin's Creed II]], Desmond is told that as long as the visions are shorter than thirty seconds, "he'll be fine". They start out ghost-like and indistinct, but become longer and more vivid, at one point causing Desmond to black out.
*'''Subject 16''', known as an extreme case, is seldom described before his breakdown. In his messages to Desmond through the [[Glyph|glyphs]], he has difficulty remembering who he is and what year it is; however, he thinks clearly enough to keep the goal of revealing [[The Truth]] in mind, and to leave messages and clues to do so. He becomes increasingly obsessed with this, leading him to drain his own blood to write with.

==Assassin's Creed==
The bleeding effect is at first only hinted at, with [[Lucy]] and [[Vidic]] implying that using the Animus for prolonged periods was dangerous. Later, Lucy's [[Vidic's E-mail|email to Vidic]] describes it in much more detail: having been forced to use the Animus for days at a time, Subject 16 gradually became unable to control the bleeding effect, and was driven to insanity by the genetic memories he experienced outside the Animus. Eventually, after writing [[cryptic messages|warnings]] to future subjects in his own blood, Subject 16 committed suicide.

Meanwhile, by the end of [[Assassin's Creed]] the bleeding effect is starting to show its side-effects with Desmond, allowing him to use [[Eagle Vision]] outside of the Animus.

==Assassin's Creed II==
After their escape from [[Abstergo]], Lucy attempts to use the bleeding effect to train Desmond as an [[Assassin]] much more quickly than would otherwise be possible. He is quickly able to learn skills such as [[Free Running]] in the Animus by following the life of [[Ezio]]. The bleeding effect gets progressively worse and Desmond begins to hallucinate about his other ancestor [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad|Altaïr]], who he recollected memories from in the first Animus. This allowed him to see how Altaïr chasing Maria up to a tower, where the conception of their child happened. Despite the side-effects Desmond continues to use the Animus.

Subject 16, apparently able to see [[Abstergo]]'s past plots through the bleeding effect, leaves an intricate trail of evidence through the memories of his and Desmond's common ancestor, Ezio.

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Genetic memory

Bleeding Effect