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[[File:Worf-de-evolved.jpg|thumb|[[Worf|Lieutenant Worf]] after being devolved by Barclay's Protomorphosis Syndrome]]
 
[[File:Worf-de-evolved.jpg|thumb|[[Worf|Lieutenant Worf]] after being devolved by Barclay's Protomorphosis Syndrome]]
 
[[File:Troi de-evolved.jpg|thumb|[[Deanna Troi|Counselor Troi]] after being devolved by Barclay's Protomorphosis Syndrome]]
 
[[File:Troi de-evolved.jpg|thumb|[[Deanna Troi|Counselor Troi]] after being devolved by Barclay's Protomorphosis Syndrome]]
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[[File:Reginald Barclay devolved.jpg|thumb|[[Reginald Barclay|Lieutenant Barclay]] after being devolved by Barclay's Protomorphosis Syndrome]]
'''Barclay's Protomorphosis Syndrome''' is an artificial disease, accidentally created by Dr. [[Beverly Crusher]] aboard the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} in [[2370]]. Attempting to cure [[Lieutenant]] [[Reginald Barclay]] of [[Urodelan flu]], Dr. Crusher used synthetic [[T-cell]]s to activate the [[gene]] that would fight off the infection. However, an anomaly in Barclay's genetic structure caused the T-cell to mutate and activate ''all'' of Barclay's dormant [[gene]]s, including his latent [[intron]]s. Interaction with the Urodelan virus caused the T-cells to become airborne, spreading throughout the ship and causing the crew to "de-evolve." The syndrome was cured by using amniotic fluid to create a [[retrovirus]], eliminating the effects.
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'''Barclay's Protomorphosis Syndrome''' (also known as the '''intron virus''') was an artificial disease, accidentally created by Dr. [[Beverly Crusher]] aboard the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} in [[2370]]. Attempting to cure [[Lieutenant]] [[Reginald Barclay]] of [[Urodelan flu]], [[doctor|Dr.]] Crusher used synthetic [[T-cell]]s to activate the [[gene]] that would fight off the infection. However, an anomaly in Barclay's genetic structure caused the T-cell to mutate and activate ''all'' of Barclay's dormant [[gene]]s, including his latent [[intron]]s. Interaction with the Urodelan virus caused the T-cells to become airborne, spreading throughout the ship and causing the crew to "de-evolve." The syndrome was cured by using amniotic fluid to create a [[retrovirus]], eliminating the effects.
   
 
Initial symptoms of the disease include abnormal behavior, irritability, hyper-activity or decreased activity, chills, fever and paranoia.
 
Initial symptoms of the disease include abnormal behavior, irritability, hyper-activity or decreased activity, chills, fever and paranoia.
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Though every lifeform aboard the ''Enterprise''-D was affected, the following is a list of people actually shown to have been affected:
 
Though every lifeform aboard the ''Enterprise''-D was affected, the following is a list of people actually shown to have been affected:
   
* [[Reginald Barclay]]: a spider-like creature
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* [[Reginald Barclay]]: a spider-like creature.
* [[Dern (flight controller)|Dern]]: had the syndrome, but was killed before mutation began
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* [[Dern (flight controller)|Dern]]: had the syndrome, but was killed before mutation began.
* [[Livingston (fish)|Livingston]]: a jellyfish-like creature
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* [[Livingston]]: a jellyfish-like creature.
* [[Alyssa Ogawa]]: an ape-like creature
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* [[Alyssa Ogawa]]: an ape-like creature.
* [[Jean-Luc Picard]]: nearly turned into a primitive primate (possibly similar to a lemur or pygmy marmoset)
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* [[Jean-Luc Picard]]: nearly turned into a primitive primate (possibly similar to a lemur or pygmy marmoset).
* [[William T. Riker]]: an early hominid ([[Australopithecine]])
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* [[William T. Riker]]: an early hominid ([[Australopithecine]]).
* [[Spot]]: complete transformation into an [[iguana]]
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* [[Spot]]: complete transformation into an [[iguana]].
* [[Deanna Troi]]: an amphibious humanoid
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* [[Deanna Troi]]: an amphibious humanoid.
* [[Worf]]: a savage, primordial reptile of the [[Klingon]] [[Qo'noS|homeworld]], capable of spewing [[acid]]
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* [[Worf]]: a savage, primordial crustacean of the [[Klingon]] [[Qo'noS|homeworld]], capable of spewing [[acid]].
 
== Background ==
 
The science behind {{e|Genesis}} is mostly apocryphal. Activating the transcription of pseudogenes within or outside of introns would not make a [[Human]] "de-evolve." Instead, the large number of aberrant [[protein]]s created would most likely cause death by any number of pathways; however, Dr. Crusher does claim that the synthetic T-cell had mutated, which would no doubt have unknown and unexpected effects on a body.
 
 
Further, as the progenitors of insect-like organisms (including spiders) and of all vertebrates (including humans) diverged relatively early in Earth's history, the pseudogenes necessary for Lt. Barclay's transformation into a spider would not have been present in his DNA. The last common ancestor of the two lineages would instead likely appear more worm-like in shape.
 
 
Toward the end of the episode, Dr. Crusher comments to Barclay that it is traditional to name new diseases after the first sufferer. If true, this tradition apparently appeared after our own time period. Eponymous diseases (those which carry a name) have almost always been named for the first person to describe them in medical literature (Parkinson's disease; Down's syndrome; Marfan's syndrome; Kartagener's syndrome). Rare exceptions from our time include "Legionnaires' disease" (so named because the first known outbreak occurred at an American Legion convention) and "Lou Gehrig's disease" (informally named for its most famous sufferer, though today called Amyotrophic Laterosclerosis [ALS], a form of muscular dystrophy). Therefore, following modern-day nomenclature, Dr. Crusher would have likely named it "Crusher's Protomorphosis Syndrome", or simply, Crusher's Syndrome.
 
 
   
 
[[de:Barclay'sches Protomorphosesyndrom]]
 
[[de:Barclay'sches Protomorphosesyndrom]]

Revision as of 05:44, 20 October 2013

File:Worf-de-evolved.jpg

Lieutenant Worf after being devolved by Barclay's Protomorphosis Syndrome

Troi de-evolved

Counselor Troi after being devolved by Barclay's Protomorphosis Syndrome

Reginald Barclay devolved

Lieutenant Barclay after being devolved by Barclay's Protomorphosis Syndrome

Barclay's Protomorphosis Syndrome (also known as the intron virus) was an artificial disease, accidentally created by Dr. Beverly Crusher aboard the USS Enterprise-D in 2370. Attempting to cure Lieutenant Reginald Barclay of Urodelan flu, Dr. Crusher used synthetic T-cells to activate the gene that would fight off the infection. However, an anomaly in Barclay's genetic structure caused the T-cell to mutate and activate all of Barclay's dormant genes, including his latent introns. Interaction with the Urodelan virus caused the T-cells to become airborne, spreading throughout the ship and causing the crew to "de-evolve." The syndrome was cured by using amniotic fluid to create a retrovirus, eliminating the effects.

Initial symptoms of the disease include abnormal behavior, irritability, hyper-activity or decreased activity, chills, fever and paranoia.

Ultimately, the newly active genes aggressively express themselves, drastically altering the body and causing the suffering patient to physically regress into an earlier form of his or her respective species, or possibly even a combined form of multiple animal types. (TNG: "Genesis")

List of victims

Though every lifeform aboard the Enterprise-D was affected, the following is a list of people actually shown to have been affected: