Theory:Genetic modification formula

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The following fan theories are about Genetic modification formula.

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Theories

Theory	Citations	Notes
The formula will split the world in two.	Twice in The Butterfly Effect, we have seen an image of the world splitting in half: Once on a rock in Africa (Parkman) and once on a wall near the docks (Suresh).	+ Kaito's message suggests that the formula holds the potential to destroy the world. + Hiro sees future Tokyo destroyed by some physical disaster. + Symbolism: Season 3 deals with the two sides of each character (heroic and villainous). Having the earth crack in half would be a fitting obstacle for them to overcome. + Or it could be symbolic of the rift between heroes and vilains, and not just the two sides of one person. - In the past, precognitive paintings have always been literal depictions of future events. NOT merely symbols. Something is going to happen involving the actual physical cracking apart of the planet--perhaps a super-super-ability, like a scaled-up version of Ted's nuclear explosion? + It doesn't seem like this particular painting can be realized as literally as it is painted. • Note, also, that the formula itself is ripped in half. - In the future, we see that Hiro possesses only one half of the formula, suggesting that the two may have not been put together. - In I Am Become Death, Angela informs Hiro and Ando that the formula will grant people abilities. • The world splitting in half could be metaphorical for being divided between two factions, either the natural-abilities and the artificial-abilities, or the powered-ones and the non-powered fundamentalists. The formula certainly seems to have split the opinions of many. + In I Am Become Death Gabriel Paints the future. His version of the Earth splitting is different to the others. In Gabriel's version, the world is splitting into many pieces.
Mohinder's formula and the Company's formula are somehow connected.	They are both major, but for now, separate, plot points.	+ There could be possible time travel involved, whereby Mohinder's formula falls into the hands of the Company and is perfected. + Mohinder used his research to perfect the Company's formula.
In the exposed future, the Company's version of the genetic modification formula was successfully kept out of evil hands. However, Mohinder somehow managed to perfect his formula, but was not able to reverse the changes upon himself, and his version of the formula was what caused the rapid growth of the evolved human population.	None.	+ Future Peter says to Peter: "Someone from your time is working on a formula." (I Am Become Death) The Company has already perfected the formula; the only person working on it is Mohinder. This implies that his version of the formula was the one that caused the exposed future. - Mohinder is currently working, for Arthur to perfect the Company's formula. • Mohinder could be working with Pinehearst as a result of Peter's meddling with time.
Mohinder's formula works just fine, its just that his power (When the formula interacts with "his individual biochemistry") has the 'drawback' of making him a monster, similar to the drawbacks we have seen for other powers (Sylar, Claire, Elle).	None.	+ As mentioned, there are a variety of characters in the show that have powers that come with drawbacks. Mohinder's power could simply have side effect such as a "hunger" (analogous to Sylar) and unfortunate physical changes.
Usutu's yucky paste that gives people precognitive visions is similar to Arthur's and Mohinder's formulas.	None.	- Mohinder's formula is said to "interact with the individual's biochemistry" - so would not have the same effect on each person + Many real-life medicines have either been derived from natural products, or are found to be very similar to molecules that exist in nature. If a formula could be developed to give people powers, it is not a stretch to say that a concoction of natural products could do the same thing. + Usutu seems to indicate that his power stems from the food, but we see that he doesn't need to eat it in order to paint. Nathan Petrelli and Tracy Strauss both received the formula, but didn't have to keep receiving it to retain their powers. It seems that in both cases, the substance enters the body and the person retains their powers. However, we have not yet seen if Hiro or Matt have retained the power of precognition. - The paste that Matt and Hiro ate could simply be a potion that Usutu uses to induce sleep and make them receptive for him to extend his ability to them. If this is true, then Matt and Hiro will not be able to replicate the effects of Usutu's paste on their own. - In a question and answer session, writers Joe Pokaski and Aron Coleite said that Usutu's paste is less like the genetic modification formula and more like Isaac's heroin.
The formula can give abilities back to people who lost their abilities to Arthur.	None.	+ Arthur implies Peter can get his abilities back with it.
The formula is used by evolved humans to mitigate the effects of the lunar cycles mentioned in It's Coming.	None.	+ This may convince some depowered evolved humans (foreseen in the preview after It's Coming) to push for the formula's completion, particularly [[Sylar], who would understandably be upset to lose is abilities just after finding a more efficient way of collecting them. • If Peter regains his ability with the eclipse as if for the first time, and if Peter regains only empathic mimicry and not all his mimicked abilities as well (short of bringing an entire cast of newly-empowered evolved humans), he would need the other regular characters to regain their own abilities to mimic them again. + Presumably the eclipse happened before because of the rapidity of the cycle seen in the series (two eclipses in two years); and the elder generation (Angela and Arthur Petrelli, Maury Parkman, etc.) have their powers before the eclipse seen in Genesis. The formula was created decades before, as Adam Monroe knew of it from his participation in The Company. So, assuming its use, it is possible that the formula would allow the elder generation to retain abilities even through the natural on-and-off lunar cycles. • Since Kaito Nakamura never displayed his ability, and he was very strict about destiny given his reaction to his own death, it is possible that he had refused the formula and naturally lost his ability by the start of the series. • /- By that logic, The Haitian, who is also quick to accept the 'will of God' (shown by his reaction to his affliction by the Shanti Virus), would not have taken the formula. • There is no indication that the formula's first incarnation was around when the Haitian was working for the Company. • Perhaps the founders kept it to themselves, which might explain this. • This would mean that Adam was the catalyst in this hypothetical prior incarnation of the formula, explaining why Arthur was seeking out Claire, who shares Adam's ability, after killing Adam. - According to Mohinder, the catalyst inhabits a human host, meaning it's not a power. • This assumes that Arthur could not absorb the thing inside a catalyst evolved human, meaning that it is separate from their regenerative capabilities, or at least originates in a different place within the host.
The formula can only give physical abilities, and not mental or elemental.	None.	- Tracy Strauss has synthetic freezing. + Tracy Strauss has had powers before the creation of this formula, which implies a different batch of the formula might exist somewhere and allows for different powers. - This formula was created with the same schematics as the first one, with the catalyst and had more research than the previous one, if anything it should be a better formula.
The formula used on Scott is more developed than the one used on Nathan, Niki, Tracy and Barbara.	The effects of the formula in these characters.	+ It took years for Nathan, Niki and Tracy to develop their abilities, Scott developed his moments after being injected with the formula. + Mohinder added his own research to the formula, it may have accelerated the development of abilities.