| rdfs:comment | - Information: the lifeblood of modern (and likely, future) civilization. It can be stored in analog form, in digital form, or in organic form, on an organic or even biological matrix. When the latter is used, it's frequently depicted as persons smuggling information in a biomolecular format (amino acids, for example, seem to be a common matrix for this type of information storage). Related to (real world theories of) organic and biomolecular computing. It's an emergent technology in Real Life, but it's been played straight in Speculative Fiction at least since the early nineties, and probably before that. It's present in Cyberpunk and Bio Punk, but also pops up in other subgenres of Speculative Fiction like Space Opera, usually for the purpose of espionage, or as a message from an ancient r
- Biodata contained information on a person's history and timeline (like temporal DNA). If a person's biodata could be manipulated, his entire time stream could be altered. (PROSE: Alien Bodies) A biodata signature was also referred to as an "artron imprint." (AUDIO: The Inquiry) Omega used the biodata of the Fifth Doctor in an attempt to escape the anti-matter universe. (TV: Arc of Infinity) Faction Paradox used biodata in their rituals. They used a biodata extractor to take biodata from a subject, though blood would work, since it contained biodata. (PROSE: Alien Bodies)
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| abstract | - Information: the lifeblood of modern (and likely, future) civilization. It can be stored in analog form, in digital form, or in organic form, on an organic or even biological matrix. When the latter is used, it's frequently depicted as persons smuggling information in a biomolecular format (amino acids, for example, seem to be a common matrix for this type of information storage). Related to (real world theories of) organic and biomolecular computing. It's an emergent technology in Real Life, but it's been played straight in Speculative Fiction at least since the early nineties, and probably before that. It's present in Cyberpunk and Bio Punk, but also pops up in other subgenres of Speculative Fiction like Space Opera, usually for the purpose of espionage, or as a message from an ancient race of Precursors to descendants. It's a given when dealing with Organic Technology, and Wetware CPUs. A retroviral encoding vector is another significant variation. This does not cover the opposite, where information about a biological organism is recorded by digital computers or otherwise non-organic devices. That's a separate trope. Also does not cover inorganic storage system implants, for example in Johnny Mnemonic. A silicon memory chip in the brain is not an example of this trope; but a port implant that allows Memory Uploading from computer to brain or brain to brain would count: it all depends on the storage medium. See also Genetic Memory, for which this is sometimes given as a Hand Wave. A staple of Cyberpunk and Bio Punk, but as mentioned, common in other genres such as Space Opera. Compare:
* Neural Implanting: downloading computer files, images, databases, or abilities into a person's brain.
* Neuro Vault: Burying data in a person's subconscious through post-hypnotic suggestion.
* Brain Uploading: Preserving consciousness organically or inorganically for transfer to a new host. Examples of Biodata include:
- Biodata contained information on a person's history and timeline (like temporal DNA). If a person's biodata could be manipulated, his entire time stream could be altered. (PROSE: Alien Bodies) A biodata signature was also referred to as an "artron imprint." (AUDIO: The Inquiry) On Gallifrey there were stores of all Time Lord biodata in the form of biodata extract. Excitonics was the technology underlying its circuitry. was able to gain access to the Fourth Doctor's biodata extract to summon him to Gallifrey. (TV: The Deadly Assassin) Certain artefacts could also alter biodata, such as the Sash of Rassilon and other Presidential artefacts changing the biodata of Time Lord presidents to allow them to access certain secrets that only the President was authorized to use (PROSE: Alien Bodies). Omega used the biodata of the Fifth Doctor in an attempt to escape the anti-matter universe. (TV: Arc of Infinity) Faction Paradox used biodata in their rituals. They used a biodata extractor to take biodata from a subject, though blood would work, since it contained biodata. (PROSE: Alien Bodies) A Little Brother of Faction Paradox altered the Eighth Doctor's biodata to change his origins and to remove his ability to perceive the colour violet. The Doctor later fixed this change. (PROSE: Unnatural History) Compassion evolved into a TARDIS after a receiver given to her by the Doctor warped her biodata by processing signals from the TARDIS as Block Transfer Computations that altered her physiology. (PROSE: The Shadows of Avalon) The Faction had developed biodata viruses that could infect potential Faction members to convert them to share the Faction's beliefs and abilities. Normally these viruses were too weak to infect Time Lords, but the virus was able to infect the Third Doctor when his history was changed and he was killed on Dust, resulting in him regenerating ahead of schedule and the virus infecting him while his immune system was in chaos during the change. (PROSE: Interference - Book Two) Fortunately, the Doctor's TARDIS detected the change in the timeline and took the virus into itself, protecting the Doctor from its influence even as the future where he would succumb to the virus still existed, allowing him to eventually erase the timeline where he had been infected and died on Dust and restore his original third regeneration. (PROSE: The Ancestor Cell) Braxiatel had a Biodata Archive, with the biodata of every Time Lord in every regeneration, so that Gallifrey could be rebuilt should it fall to the Dogma Virus. (AUDIO: Panacea)
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