The Source of Characters' Abilities on Heroes

Nearly three years ago, when the television show "Heroes" premiered, I was positively enthralled by the concept of a science fiction show based on human evolution. It was the first time I was excited by a TV show and rearranged my schedule to spend 43 minutes or so to watch it on the network's web site. The idea of mere mortals having latent "abilities," which suddenly manifest under stressful conditions, appealed to my Sci-Fi geek side. September 22, 2008, after the Writers Guide of America strike, the third season began. I was eager to learn the source of the special abilities.

I was expecting the source of the abilities to be a product of Evolutionary Development or Evo Devo and epigenetics. According to Scientific American Magazine, evo devo is a gene regulation system that controls the processes associated with the development of anatomy.1 The function of this system is to "switch" genes on or off. It is the reason why an elephant is an elephant and not a mouse, even though they have a similar gene catalogue. Genetic switches are noncoding DNA (formerly known as "junk" DNA) attached to DNA-binding proteins that forms a DNA sequence that regulate gene expression,2 i.e. to determine if a mammal should become a chimpanzee or a human being.

Epigenetics translates from Greek as "upon" or "above" genetics. According to the European consortium The Epigenome Network of Excellence, epigenetics is "the study of heritable changes in genome function that occur without a change in DNA sequence".3 It is the environmental influences that act upon the genetic configuration, hence, epigenetic. The discipline of epigenetics reconciles the chasm between nature and nuture.4

Scientists still do not know all of the functions of noncoding DNA (also known as enhancers), but they do know enhancers are essential for switching genes on or off. What if enhancers are a reservoir of DNA waiting to be activated? Waiting to be switched on? Waiting to serve the next step in human evolution in case of extreme environmental conditions: adverse climate change, irreversible sudden colony collapse of bees, flu pandemic, plague. What if enhancers are the insurance policy for the continuity of homo sapiens sapiens?

Evo Devo, epigenetics, mutations, and an unhealthy dose of scientific curiosity could explain the source of the special abilities on Heroes. Mutation simply means change. It could be a deletion of or an addition to a gene. Mutations can occur on the genetic and/or the epigenetic level. Mutations at the genetic level produce changes in anatomy (think blue lady in X-Men) while mutations at the epigenetic level produce changes in physiology - how the body and body parts function. Mutations at both levels could produce an endless array of anatomical and physiological possibilities.

Let us examine the late Niki Sanders. Mind you, this is pure speculation. Evo Devo determined Niki should be of the homo sapiens sapiens specie. Niki's grandmother, as a child, experienced extreme stress: The Great Depression, famine, abuse, an alcoholic parent, etc.... This stress imprinted upon the grandmother's genes (epigenetic) and caused a mutation say, mutation Mgm. Niki inherited mutation Mgm. Over zealous doctors (Linderman, Zimmerman and Suresh) seized the opportunity to experiment using genetic and epigenetic manipulation.

The doctors discovered a way to tap into the vast reservoir of enhancers (noncoding DNA - evo devo) and paired it with a certain type of epigenetic mutation to produce a particular ability - the ability of flight, superhuman strength, etc.... In short, they mapped the human genome with the human epigenome. They figured out how to activate evolution.

Mutation Mgm was epigenetically determined on Niki's grandmother and by way of inheritance became part of Niki's genetic structure (evo devo.) Supposing mutation Mgm predisposes Niki to dissociative identity disorder (also known as multiple personality disorder.) The stress on Niki from growing up poor (epigenetic) caused dissociative identity disorder to manifest. Under these conditions, doctors now know which enhancers to activate to produce superhuman strength. This is why doctors Linderman and Zimmerman controlled where and under what conditions the special-abilities children lived. It is important to note that the stronger identity had the superhuman strength.

The special ability seems to be connected to the personality of the individual. Angela Petrelli dreamed of a better world and has the ability to dream about the future. Nathan was ambitious and had the gift of flight. Peter is gentle and kind-hearted and is an empath. Claire Bennett wanted to be a cheerleader - a physically demanding sport- and is indestructible. Matt Parkman always wanted to know what people thought about him and he can read minds and "push" thoughts on others. Speedster, Daphne Millbrook, had multiple sclerosis and always wanted to walk. Hiro believed in heroes since childhood and wanted to time travel. He has the ability to teleport. Tracy Strauss the cold-hearted Ice-queen Washington lobbyist has the ability to freeze. Lastly, Sylar's hunger to know how things work gave him the deadly ability to figure out and steal the abilities of other superhuman beings.

Three seasons have passed and I still don't know the source of Heroes. It is a shame that Tim Kring decided to cancel "Heroes: Origins." Maybe he will create "Heroes: Origins and Epigenesis" instead.

1 Sean B. Carroll, Benjamin Prud'homme and Nicolas Gompel, Scientific American Magazine, May 2008; Regulating Evolution; Page 62.

2 Sean B. Carroll, Benjamin Prud'homme and Nicolas Gompel, Scientific American Magazine, May 2008; Regulating Evolution; Page 62.

3http://epigenome.eu/en/1,1,0; The Epigenome Network for Excellence.

4http://epigenome.eu/en/1,1,0; The Epigenome Network for Excellence.