Interesting situation...genetically, she's your daughter.

She's a robot.

Not later if you do the quest.

Her body is that of an android, put together from grown/manufactured synthetic human parts. (I don't think they clarify exactly how the pieces of synth are created, but I imagine they are grown somewhere in robotics) The pseudo-science of them being based on Shaun's unspoiled DNA cannot possibly mean they are entirely his biological children (or genetic clones), otherwise they would all look like him. Bethesda of course leaves it vague (it is fiction after all), but having the same DNA means inheriting given traits (predisposition to diseases, features, etc.) Synths can be constructed to mimic anyone's DNA (e.g. Mayor McDonough is an exact copy, apart from being "superior" and the cranial synth components). If synths are truly genetic children to Father (or clones/siblings), then those genes are nothing like those in the real world.

Only thing I can think of would be that Sean's DNA was used as a sort of control for future synth production. They needed his DNA not so much as to directly clone from, but as a comparison to see what kinds of mutations arise from environmental effects. Remember, they couldn't use their own genes because they had already been exposed to Radiation long enough for it to permanently affect future generations.


By having a pure strain example, you can easily see how radiation affects the DNA structure, and possibly reverse those effects.


For Synth production, you'd have a better grasp of what changes to their DNA they will likely be at-risk for by operating above ground, and can tinker around to lessen those effects. That way, they can stay on the field for longer periods of time without loosing (unplanned) operational effectiveness.

If you put it that way, shouldn't she be your grand-daughter ?

Genetically, she's probably not. I think Gen 3 synths would look more similar to each other if they were clones of Shaun, they probably only get a small portion of their DNA from him.

it's not that simple

she's originally a mister (!!) handy.

dr collins (iirc) of vault 81reprograms her ai with a personality matrix modeled after his wife, with some upgrades.

he also encourages her to develop a sense of personality by granting her personal property (her terminal).

86 (iirc) years later, you enter the scene and help her get transferred into a synth body because her robot body limits just that personality's development.

so, what we're romancing, folks, is essentially: a transgender robot's ai, remade to resemble a man's memories of a dead woman, running on bio-hardware that is genetically your daughter.

i'd like to quote an expert on this.

prof. goodfeels?

"faaaaaaar out..."

:-)

She's not the SS's daughter.

Shaun's DNA was used to map the 'pure-human' genome which was later replicated and used in the manufacture of the Synths synthetic organic components. Genetically speaking, the Synths are probably no more related to the sole survivor than any of us are to each other.

I said genetically.

You can put whatever spin on it you want, and throw in some pseudo science based on who knows what (in game terms), but the basis of her DNA is that it derives from the player character, and his or her wife/husband.

What we do know from talks with 'Father', is that only his DNA has been used to create the Gen-3 synth's, meaning that she is cloned from Shaun, certainly not identically cloned obviously.

You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig.

basically what they did was use shauns DNA as a basis for a genetic soup to create the synths outer skin. similar to the terminators. Shaun himself calls them his children when you first meet him.

I don't think it works that way. 1) I don't think synths can reproduce so any actual blood kinship is irrelevant. 2) I think the Institute basically needed to map a human genome that wasn't riddled with radiation induced mutations. So I don't think they are cutting off little pices of Father and growing synths from it. I think they are just using his DNA as a baseline for what healthy human DNA *should* look like.

And, genetically speaking, she's not.

I mean if want to continue to pretend you're committing incist with her, by all means.

Indeed. Essentially, they mapped the "pure-human" genome (i.e. the undamaged and altered human genome) using Shaun's DNA. Creating that baseline you describe which they could replicate in production of The Synths. This is how its described in-game.

Okay, so if she has Shaun's DNA, how is she not genetically related to you?

Beth just came up with some pseudo science to explain it...you simply can't create something from nothing, even when playing god with genetics.

Fun fact: in terms of genetic diversity, once you get to the second cousin they may as well be strangers.

Hmmm. I've been out of touch with a few of my cousins for FAR too long. Haha, jk....

Synthetic living tissue modeled after "Fathers" DNA I think is the easiest way to explain it. So, no you are not related to synths they just used his DNA as a model for synthetic DNA.

Then the doctor on the prydwen asked you about you had had six with non humans the answers could have been far more interesting.

Robots dont count right? Does ghouls?

Let me see, 5 ghouls an supermutant, two robots, 7 synts not sure if one of them count as synt or robot here.

The truth: how many companions has triggered lovers embrace.

you tryin' to bang the whole commonwealth? )

(the non-human parts anyway)

With that French accent I don't really care. Rrrrrrrrrrow!

I don't think that's really an accurate interpretation of the situation. They used the genetic material as something of a base material for building the synths, but that's a great deal different than actually being a biologically related family member or anything like that.

q: what else makes somebody "closely related" but their genes?

Spin it any way you want but actually she's your son...

Actually she's your transgendered robot son...

It really doesn't matter where her genes came from, as there is no indication that s synth can biologically reproduce.

So there would be no worry of inbred mutant children. She is essentially a love-bot, with an intoxicating accent.