History Main / BiotechIsBetter

ScienceFiction works have a tendency to portray OrganicTechnology as being the bleeding edge of technology or even used by SufficientlyAdvancedAliens. This may stem from fairly recent real-life advances in biotechnology, the visceral themes, the appeal of equipment that repairs itself, or some sort of "full circle" theme -- humanity started with only our bodies, developed technologies, improved technologies, and eventually came back to [[BioAugmentation improving our bodies]] (and also building {{Living Ship}}s and stuff, but that isn't as poetic.)

Science-fiction works have a tendency to portray OrganicTechnology as being the bleeding edge of technology or even used by SufficientlyAdvancedAliens. This may stem from fairly recent real-life advances in biotechnology, the visceral themes, the appeal of equipment that repairs itself, or some sort of "full circle" theme -- humanity started with only our bodies, developed technologies, improved technologies, and eventually came back to [[BioAugmentation improving our bodies]] (and also building {{Living Ship}}s and stuff, but that isn't as poetic.)

* In ''Franchise/DragonBall'', Dr. Gero's strongest creation wasn't any of his Androids ([[NonIndicativeName some of which were actually cyborgs]]), but Cell, whom he created from the cells of Earth's strongest warriors [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg plus]] [[BigBad Frieza]] (though at the end of the day, [[DownplayedTrope a lot of his power comes from absorbing two of said Androids in the first place.]])
* ''Manga/NausicaaOfTheValleyOfTheWind'': The most advanced pre-[[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt Seven Days of Fire]] technology was organic, including the [[HumongousMecha God Warriors]], [[DeathWorld the Forest]] and the [[MasterComputer Crypt of Shuwa]]. Now only the most technologically advanced factions have some access to it, mostly thanks to the Crypt.

* The above case is {{Subverted|Trope}} in ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged''. Cell is much more dangerous than the Androids, just like in canon--but here it seems to be because [[OmnidisciplinaryScientist Dr.]] [[SubvertedTrope Gero]] was a ''terrible'' programmer that couldn't make [[ArtificialStupidity a proper AI]] to save his life.

* In the climax of ''Film/IronMan3'' the Extremis super soldiers rip several Iron Man suits to pieces. Killian is only killed by [[spoiler: Extremis-enhanced Pepper wearing a gauntlet she ripped off one suit.]]

** Though one of the later New Jedi Order novels notes that the Republic and Empire have an easier time replacing their losses as fabrication is still faster than growing ships and weapons.

** At one point the Vong also run into trouble when their living armor has an ''allergic reaction'' to some pollen from a grove of Ithorian trees. It's so severe that many of the Vong troops end up either crushed or suffocated by their own armor. It's such a potential problem that the Vong unleash a bioweapon on the planet that, combined with one of their immense "worldships" crashing to the planet, all but destroys the planet's biosphere. Hundreds of years later, visitors ''still'' need to wear protective gear.
* In Scott Westerfeld's ''Literature/{{Leviathan}}'' series, the Darwinists' "fabricated beasts" often seem to have the advantage over the Clankers' machines. A couple of times, the titular living airship takes on Clanker planes and zeppelins two-to-one and wins. Of course, it's packed with flechette bats and strafing hawks that can ZergRush the Clankers and breed reinforcements for the next battle, and partway through the first book is equipped with Clanker-made engines that make it faster than any other Darwinist airship.
* In the later ''Literature/OldMansWar'' novels, the CDF starts phasing out their cybernetic [[BrainComputerInterface BrainPals]] in favor of completely biotech ones. It's implied that their long-term goal is to introduce the genes to the baseline human population. In addition, the [[SpacePeople Gameras]] are 100% biotech, in contrast to the CDF's normal soldiers that are a mixture of bio- cyber- and nanotech with the objective of eventually making them capable of breeding true and forming a human species that doesn't need to compete with aliens for planets.

* In ''Series/BabylonFive'', the [[{{Precursors}} First Ones]] use living ships that are vastly superior to most of the younger races' vessels, until they start building new ships that incorporate biotech.
* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager''
** The ship itself has bio-neural gelpacks that allow the computer to "think" more flexibly and operate faster. (The downside being that they could also be infected with viruses and bacteria.) It's one of the things that marks ''Voyager'' out as one of Starfleet's most advanced ships.
** Species 8472 has "bioships" which resist Borg assimilation, are vastly superior to Borg cubes, and can destroy a planet by linking together. The Borg started the war with them because they wanted 8472's capabilities so bad.

* Played with in ''Series/{{Westworld}}'': The more up-to-date Hosts use OrganicTechnology down to the bone, instead of just as a facade over a mechanical framework, but the Man in Black claims this was because it's ''cheaper'' that way [[GoodOldWays and doesn't see it as an improvement]].

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'', [[BioAugmentation bioware]] is presented as being the latest and greatest thing in bodily augmentation. In game rules, it is more expensive than traditional [[{{Cyborg}} cyberware]] but does less damage to your [[CyberneticsEatYourSoul Essence]], making it preferred for mages. In the EverythingIsOnline world of the latest edition, it also has the advantage of having no wireless capability, meaning it can't be [[HackYourEnemy bricked or worse by an enemy decker]].
** ''Shadowrun'''s pure-science-fiction contemporary, ''TabletopGame/{{Cyberpunk}}'', goes the same route of 'pricier, but you can get more of it before you cap out'. The 'cap' here being 'before you disassociate from humanity and go on a killing spree', since even if it has kevlar and polymers lased through the flesh and bones, it's still ''your'' arm doing the punching. The bioware here also has some varied and weirdly specialized applications, from a nanobot-based auto-grooming system (alongside the more obvious HealingFactor system) to a gland that secretes organic antifreeze.
* In ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}} TabletopGame/TranshumanSpace'' biotech is generally preferred when possible, and [[ArtificialHuman bioroids]] are cheaper than sapient androids.

* In ''TabletopGame/HcSvntDracones'', Transcendent Technologies Inc is widely believed to have the most advanced technology in the civilized solar system and they use OrganicTechnology. However, the second rulebook shows that Applied Sciences and Robotics has some secret projects that involve RealityWarping as well, and the sapient robots known as Cogs can receive Transcendent Implants, albeit illegally as TTI doesn't want that to be known.

* ''VideoGame/GalacticCivilizationsIIDreadLords'': The [[AbusivePrecursors Dread Lords]] have ships that look and act like they were alive. Not even the most technologically advanced ships that can be built by the playable races can match them, the only way to beat them is through [[WeHaveReserves attrition]].
* ''VideoGame/{{Colobot}}'': In the later stages of the game you finally start finding nests of giant ants you were encountering earlier. In these nests, you can find what can be best described as green, gooey pods that spawn pieces of organic goo. One of the missions concentrates on acquiring one of such pieces and bringing it back to the base, where you can examine it and use it to unlock a new type of robots: ones that walk on ant-like legs and quite literally look like half-robots, half-ants. They are faster and more capable of getting past steep hills than robots driving on wheels or on caterpillar tracks.
* In ''[[VideoGame/EscapeVelocity EV Nova]]'' Polaris ships are OrganicTechnology grown over an artificial skeleton. Their ships have [[GameBreaker frankly ridiculous firepower]] and are well-shielded, but they're quite fragile once the shields go down.
* ''VideoGame/IWasATeenageExocolonist'': The technology left behind by Vertumna's previous sapient species is all-organic and [[RagnarokProofing still functional after 20,000 years]]. Humans settling the planet are using advanced, but still non-organic technology that is almost guaranteed to break down within the next few decades.
* ''VideoGame/{{Warframe}}'': The Technocyte Plague merges biological and mechanical systems into dangerous amalgams of twisted flesh. While the normal Infested enemies are a bit weaker than the other factions (their main advantage is [[WeHaveReserves limitless numbers]]), properly cultured and controlled, the plague can be used to create near-invincible super soldiers that can fight entire armies. [[spoiler:This is actually the origin of the warframes. The Orokin couldn't use traditional technology against the Sentients (since the Sentients could just control it), so they infested hosts with a modified Technocyte Plague, giving them skin as strong as steel and reinforced organs.]]
** On a related note the Sentients themselves are ambiguously biotech; despite appearing as machines at first glance they have gelatinous flesh and blood, and their cores are described as organs. They also have all the advantages of this trope, and are generally the one thing that really seems to be a threat to the Tenno.

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* Like so many other sci-fi tropes, ''Webcomic/QuentynQuinnSpaceRanger'' has a rebuttal for [[http://rhjunior.com/QQSR/QQSR0000.html#Comic=76 this one]]. The strip claims that biotech has so many downsides that it's more trouble than it's worth. An organic machine can heal from damage a mechanical machine wouldn't have had to worry about in the first place, they can get sick and/or die, etc.
[[/folder]]

Also, biotech can seem "more alien" since it's further away from reality-- the aforementioned advances are mostly in the fields of health and agriculture; we have no absolutely no idea how a biotech weapon or spaceship would work, whereas we do have synthetic weapons and spaceships, and theories about more advanced ones. Therefore, [[ClarkesThirdLaw since biotech is less understandable, it must be more advanced]].

Science-fiction works have a tendency to portray OrganicTechnology as being the bleeding edge of technology or even used by SufficientlyAdvancedAliens. This may stem from fairly recent real-life advances in biotechnology (granted, mostly in agriculture and medicine, rather than the fields typically portrayed in these works), the visceral themes, the appeal of equipment that repairs itself, or some sort of "full circle" theme -- humanity started with only our bodies, developed technologies, improved technologies, and eventually came back to [[BioAugmentation improving our bodies]] (and also building {{Living Ship}}s and stuff, but that isn't as poetic.)

** And it's also worth noting that the Vong biotech isn't presented as being ''better'' so much as ''different''. It has its own set of weaknesses, but at the beginning of the story the Vong know the galatics' weaknesses (due to advance scouting), while the galactics don't know the Vong's.

* ''Series/TheExpanse'' uses this to establish class disparities. After a man loses his lower arm in a workplace accident, he's told he could go for the biogel that regrows limbs. He admits that he's much likely to be able to afford a prosthetic cyberlimb.

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'', [[BioAugmentation bioware]] is presented as being the latest and greatest thing in augmentation. In game rules, it is more expensive than traditional [[{{Cyborg}} cyberware]] but does less damage to your [[CyberneticsEatYourSoul Essence]], making it preferred for mages. In the EverythingIsOnline world of the latest edition, it also has the advantage of having no wireless capability, meaning it can't be [[HackYourEnemy bricked or worse by an enemy decker]].

Science-fiction works have a tendency to portray OrganicTechnology as being the bleeding edge of technology or even used by SufficientlyAdvancedAliens. This may stem from the fairly recent advances in biotechnology (granted mostly in agriculture and medicine rather than the fields typically portrayed in these works), the visceral themes, and the appeal of equipment that repairs itself.

Contrast with its near-mirror twin, ArtificialLimbsAreStronger.

* In ''Franchise/DragonBall'', Dr. Gero's strongest creation wasn't any of his Androids ([[NonIndicativeName some of which, himself included, were actually cyborgs]]), but Cell, who he created from the cells of Earth's strongest warriors [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg plus]] [[BigBad Frieza]] (though at the end of the day, [[DownplayedTrope a lot of his power comes from absorbing two of said Androids in the first place.]])
* ''Manga/NausicaaOfTheValleyOfTheWind'': The most advanced pre-[[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt Seven Days of Fire]] technology was organic, including the [[HumongousMecha God Wariors]], [[DeathWorld the Forest]] and the [[MasterComputer Crypt of Shuwa]]. Now only the most technologicaly advanced factions have some access to it, mostly thanks to the Crypt.

** And it's also worth noting that the Vong biotech isn't presented as being ''better'' so much as ''different''. It has its own set of weaknesses, but at the beginning of the story the Vong know the Galactic's weaknesses (due to advance scouting), while the galactics don't know the Vong's.

* In Scott Westerfeld's ''Literature/{{Leviathan}}'' series the Darwinists' "fabricated beasts" often seem to have the advantage over the Clankers' machines. A couple of times, the titular living airship takes on Clanker planes and zeppelins two-to-one and wins. Of course, it's packed with flechette bats and strafing hawks that can ZergRush the Clankers and breed reinforcements for the next battle, and partway through the first book is equipped with Clanker-made engines that make it faster than any other Darwinist airship.
* In the later ''Literature/OldMansWar'' novels the CDF starts phasing out the cybernetic [[BrainComputerInterface BrainPals]] in favor of completely biotech ones. It's implied that their long-term goal is to introduce the genes to the baseline human population. In addition the [[SpacePeople Gameras]] are 100% biotech in contrast to the CDF's normal soldiers that are a mixture of bio- cyber- and nanotech with the objective of eventually making them capable of breeding true and forming a human species that doesn't need to compete with aliens for planets.

* In ''Series/BabylonFive'' the [[{{Precursors}} First Ones]] use living ships that are vastly superior to most of the younger races' vessels, until they start building new ships that incorporate biotech.

* ''Series/TheExpanse'' uses this to establish class disparities. After a hauler on the ''Canterbury'' loses his arm below the elbow to an ice block, he's told he could go for the biogel that regrows limbs. He admits that he's much likely to be able to afford a prosthetic cyberlimb.

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'', [[BioAugmentation bioware]], first introduced in the 1st edition sourcebook ''Shadowtech'', part of the core rulebook in 4th ed, is presented as being the latest and greatest thing in augmentation. In-game rules it is more expensive in terms of cash than traditional [[{{Cyborg}} cyberware]] but does less damage to your [[CyberneticsEatYourSoul Essence,]] making it preferred for mages. In the EverythingIsOnline world of the latest edition, it also has the advantage of having no wireless capability, meaning it can't be bricked or worse by an enemy decker.
** ''Shadowrun'''s pure-science-fiction contemporary, ''TabletopGame/{{Cyberpunk}}'', goes the same route of 'pricier, but you can get more of it before you cap out'. The 'cap' here being 'before you disassociate from humanity and go on a killing spree', since even if it's has kevlar and polymers lased through the flesh and bones, it's still ''your'' arm doing the punching. The bioware here also has some varied and weirdly specialized applications, from a nanobot-based auto-grooming system (alongside the more obvious HealingFactor system) to a gland that secretes organic antifreeze.

* Played with in ''TabletopGame/EclipsePhase''. Many of the most powerful morphs are synthetic, and cheaper (in credits, but not build points) than equally strong biomorphs. But biomorphs are easier for transhuman Egos to adjust to and many polities discriminate against synthmorphs.
* In ''TabletopGame/HcSvntDracones'' Transcendent Technologies Inc is widely believed to have the most advanced technology in the civilized solar system and they use OrganicTechnology. However, the second rulebook shows that Applied Sciences and Robotics has some secret projects that involve RealityWarping as well, and the sapient robots known as Cogs can receive Transcendent Implants, albeit illegally as TTI doesn't want that to be known.

* ''VideoGame/IWasATeenageExocolonist'': The technology left behind by Vertumna's long-gone sentient species is all-organic and still functional after 20,000 years. Humans settling the planet are using advanced, but still non-organic technology that is almost guranteed to break down within the next few decades.

* ''Manga/NausicaaOfTheValleyOfTheWind'': The most advanced pre-[[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt Seven Days of Fire]] technology was organic, including the [[HunongousMecha God Wariors]], [[DeathWorld the Forest]] and the [[MasterComputer Crypt of Shuwa]]. Now only the most technologicaly advanced factions have some access to it, mostly thanks to the Crypt.

[[folder:Film]]
* In the climax of ''Film/IronMan3'' the Extremis super soldiers rip several Iron Man suits to pieces. Killian is only killed by [[spoiler: Extremis-enhanced Pepper wearing a gauntlet she ripped off one suit.]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeTheMovie'', the denizens of Cobra-La are the original dominant species of Earth and exclusively use biotech. Their technology and wildlife are constantly shown to overpower even the most advanced weaponry and vehicles the Joes have to fight back with. They even have a biotech equivalent of [=WMDs=] complete with rockets.
[[/folder]]

* In Scott Westerfeld's ''Literature/{{Leviathan}}'' series the Darwinists' "fabricated beasts" often seem to have the advantage over the Clankers' machines. A couple of times, the titular living airship takes on Clanker planes and zeppelins two-to-one and wins. Of course, it's packed with flechette bats and strafing hawks that can ZergRush the Clankers and breed reinforcements for the next battle.

* In ''Manga/DragonBall'', Dr. Gero's strongest creation wasn't any of his Androids ([[NonIndicativeName some of which, himself included, were actually cyborgs]]), but Cell, who he created from the cells of Earth's strongest warriors [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg plus]] [[BigBad Frieza]] (though at the end of the day, [[DownplayedTrope a lot of his power comes from absorbing two of said Androids in the first place.]])

** Species 8472 of has "bioships" which resist Borg assimilation, are vastly superior to Borg cubes, and can destroy a planet by linking together. The Borg started the war with them because they wanted 8472's capabilities so bad.

* The Yuuzhan Vong in the ''Literature/NewJediOrder'' used nothing but organic technology, and they were shown to be devastating against the conventional fleets of the New Republic and Imperial Remnant. The first known encounter with one by [[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic Canderous Ordo]] had him describe it as firing plasma that melted his ship's armor-like wax, and then escaping at a speed that was impossible to keep up with. Three thousand years later, when the main force arrived in the galaxy, they would still have a considerable advantage.

* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' features Ravnica, a CityPlanet entirely controlled by ten 'guilds', each representing two out of the game's five colours of mana. In the case of the Simic Guild, this blends [[MightMakesRight green]] and [[ForScience blue]] mana to create {{Hybrid Monster}}s and BioAugmentation aplenty on the battlefield - and medicine and OrganicTechnology off it.

* In ''VideoGame/GalacticCivilizationsII'' the [[AbusivePrecursors Dread Lords]] have ships that look and act like they were alive. Not even the most technologically advanced ships that can be built by the playable races can match them, the only way to beat them is through [[WeHaveReserves attrition]].
* In ''VideoGame/{{Colobot}}'', at the later stages of the game you finally start finding nests of giant ants you were encountering earlier. In these nests, you can find what can be best described as green, gooey pods that spawn pieces of organic goo. One of the missions concentrates on acquiring one of such pieces and bringing it back to the base, where you can examine it and use it to unlock a new type of robots: ones that walk on ant-like legs and quite literally look like half-robots, half-ants. They are faster and more capable of getting past steep hills than robots driving on wheels or on caterpillar tracks.

* The above case is {{Subverted|Trope}} in ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged. Cell is much more dangerous than the Androids, just like in canon--but here it seems to be because [[OmnidisciplinaryScientist Dr.]] [[SubvertedTrope Gero]] was a ''terrible'' programmer that couldn't make [[ArtificialStupidity a proper AI]] to save his life.

[[folder:Film]]
* In the climax of ''Film/IronMan3'' the Extremis super soldiers rip several Iron Man suits to pieces. Killian is only killed by [[spoiler: Extremis-enhanced Pepper wearing a gauntlet she ripped off one suit.]]