Darwin Genetic Research Station

Darwin genetic research station.

The Darwin Genetic Research Station (or Darwin Station) is a Federation science facility located on planet Gagarin IV and headed by Dr. Sara Kingsley.

In the late 2350s and 2360s, a research project at the Darwin Station developed Human children who, among other unique qualities, had an aggressive immune system, capable of attacking disease organisms before they entered a Human body. The children's antibodies were also capable of attacking Human beings, a fact not discovered until 2365, when the entire crew of the USS Lantree was killed after exposure to the children.

The scientific staff of the Darwin Station were also afflicted by the antibodies and suffered symptoms resembling hyperaccelerated aging, but a transporter-based technique was successful in restoring all station personnel to normal.

After these events, the children were forced to live in quarantine until such time as the researchers would be able to make them safe to be around. In addition to their advanced immune systems, the children also possessed telepathy, telekinesis, and accelerated growth and maturity. (TNG: "Unnatural Selection")

Appendices

Background

According to the Star Trek Encyclopedia, the Darwin Station was named for naturalist Charles Darwin who postulated the theory of evolution.

The exterior of the station was a matte painting created by Illusion Arts. The painting was later re-used in other episodes, including as the science station in "Starship Mine" and "Descent".

The plot regarding the genetic engineering of advanced children apparently ignores the fact that such engineering is banned and outlawed in the Federation. This is stated in at least three different Star Trek series (ENT: "The Augments", DS9: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume", TNG: "A Matter of Time") albeit all of them were produced after the episode "Unnatural Selection" so the script writers at the time may not have been aware of this stipulation.

Apocrypha

The station was mentioned in passing in The Lost Era novel The Buried Age, where Picard called it an exception to the rule that should have never been allowed.