Ep 7. Unnatural Selection

The Star Trek franchise has been loved by generations for its daring exploration of the galaxy, fantastic creatures, and groundbreaking science-fiction technology. Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2 episode 7 continues this legacy with a thrilling and thought-provoking tale. In Unnatural Selection, the crew of the Enterprise face a troubling dilemma when they discover a colony of genetically engineered children suffering from a mysterious illness.

As the episode opens, the crew responds to a distress signal from a remote colony. Upon arrival, they discover that all the adults are dead, but the children are alive and in seemingly perfect health. However, as the crew investigates, they find that the children are not as healthy as they appear. A few of them are showing signs of rapid aging, and it soon becomes clear that they are suffering from a terrible disease.

Dr. Pulaski is tasked with investigating the disease, and she quickly realizes that the children's genetic engineering has made them vulnerable to a virus that has mutated to attack them specifically. Pulaski works tirelessly to find a cure, but the virus is too complex for her to unravel. She eventually discovers that the virus evolved so quickly because it was forced to fight off an immune response that the children's genetic engineering created, which led to the virus mutating to attack the children even more fiercely.

As more and more children begin to show symptoms of the disease, Pulaski makes a controversial decision. She decides to use the Enterprise's transporter to beam the affected children up to the ship, where she can study the disease in a controlled environment. However, this decision comes with a devastating consequence. The children, already weakened by the disease, rapidly age to the point of death in just a few minutes after being transported to the ship.

The crew is heartbroken by the loss of life, but Pulaski is determined to use this tragedy to find a cure. She discovers that the disease can be warded off by a tiny protein that naturally occurs in certain people's immune systems. Realizing that the protein can be harvested and used as a cure, Pulaski and the crew set out to find a donor. They eventually discover a middle-aged man who was also genetically engineered as a child but is now immune to the disease. He donates his blood, and the crew successfully creates a cure that they use to save the remaining children on the colony.

Unnatural Selection is a thrilling and thought-provoking episode that explores the ethics of genetic engineering and the consequences of playing god with DNA. The episode raises questions about the boundaries of science and the responsibility that comes with creating new life. It also examines the value of life and the difficult decisions that must be made when faced with a crisis.

Overall, Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2 episode 7 is a must-watch for fans of the franchise and science-fiction enthusiasts alike. With its expertly crafted plot, complex characters, and fascinating themes, Unnatural Selection is a standout episode that showcases the best of what Star Trek has to offer.