If Mass Effect is to be examined for its mutants then it is necessary to establish who fits that description. Mutant characters are characters who have been created by some ‘unnatural’ intervention. They inherently destabilise what is considered to be the natural cycle of life. As science has evolved, this no longer means crude visions like Frankenstein’s creature. Mass Effect explores the evolution of technology, and the ramifications for ‘mutants’. There are numerous mutants in both the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies. This introduction to mutants will look at those who feature most prominently.
Miranda Lawson (and Oriana Lawson)
Miranda Lawson becomes one of the main characters in Mass Effect 2. She was genetically engineered to be superior to other humans in almost every way, including: intelligence, beauty, a longer lifespan, a stronger immune system and even has stronger biotic powers. These characteristics were all chosen by her father, who tried to make many daughters but only two survived, that we know of: Miranda and Oriana.
Miranda allows us to question exactly why Henry Lawson made certain decisions. She’s human, and that allows the audience to make comparisons to our own society. Women have long been controlled by their presentation to the world, but Henry lawson’s eugenicist actions took this a step further to try to create a ‘super human’. Whiteness was prioritised, being invulnerable to disability was essential and Miranda had to conform to conventional ideas around beauty to be ‘desirable’. Oriana briefly appears in both Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3, but curiously despite the pair being described as “genetically identical”, they look nothing alike. While minor characters got far less attention in the series for their appearance, it is jarring when both appear in scenes together. But while a plot-hole, it should be considered whether Henry Lawson changed his ‘design’ after Miranda broke free from his tyranny.
Grunt
Grunt is another genetically engineered creature designed entirely by a eugenicist – but he’s krogan. The salarians and turians unleashed a “sterility plague” on the krogan that dramatically decreased the rates of viable pregnancies. If a krogan did become pregnant, it was far more likely the pregnancy would result in a stillborn child than a living one. Because of this, Warlord Okeer was determined to create the ‘perfect krogan’. He did not wish to cure the genophage, instead wanting to create the greatest krogan warrior in the galaxy as revenge, and to restore krogan pride.
Okeer gave his life to protect Grunt. Grunt never got to speak to his creator; when Okeer died Grunt was still in the tank. It is the playable character of Commander Shepard that can choose to release the ‘perfect’ krogan, or hand him over to terrorist organisation Cerberus for research purposes.
Kaidan Alenko
When she was pregnant, Kaidan’s mother was exposed to element zero. Kaidan survived this, and acquired biotic abilities. Humans exposed to element zero do not always become biotics, and can develop disabilities as a result. Biotics can create mass effect fields, which are accessed through biotic-amps. Biotics can trap people in singularities, throw bodies and cause significant damage with their powers.
When Kaidan’s mutant biotic potential was realised, he was given implants to enhance his abilities further. As a result of the implants, he regularly experiences migraines. Kaidan was also sent to a camp for biotics, to hone his abilities further. Kaidan was abused by his trainer, with the excuse given that if he was pushed again and again it would increase his biotic abilities.
Kaidan speculated on whether his mother’s exposure to element when she was pregnant had truly been accidental.
Commander Shepard
At the beginning of Mass Effect 2, Commander Shepard is blasted into space. It takes Miranda Lawson and her Lazarus team, two years to rebuild Shepard who was clinically dead. This is achieved partly through cybernetic implants and numerous invasive medical procedures, even making a clone in case “spare parts” were needed. Miranda is tasked with bringing the Commander back exactly how they were before, but the player does get the chance to make adjustments to Shepard’s appearance and skills, contradicting the in-game lore.
Shepard may also be read as a mutant if they are, at any stage, granted biotic abilities. Unlike asari, humans are not naturally biotic. Those abilities can only develop after exposure to element zero.
Jack
Jack was exposed to element zero in the womb. Once she was old enough to show biotic potential, the terrorist organisation, Cerberus, abducted Jack so that they could train her to become a more powerful biotic fighter. Jack was tortured during those years. Cerberus conditioned Jack to fight and drugged her as a way to empower her biotic abilities.
The kett
The kett are the main antagonists of Mass Effect Andromeda. Kett biology is comprised of genetic information from a range of species. This is assumed to be to counter stagnation, but little is still known about the kett. They are unable to reproduce naturally and can only ‘create’ new kett through the process of exaltation, that converts other species to kett. The arrival of the Initiative to Andromeda, means that the kett have new species to harvest so to improve their genetic diversity. This is not dissimilar to the main enemies in the original trilogy – a hybrid race of machines called reapers seek to harvest genetic material, and then destroy all advanced organic life.
Mutant Theory 
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