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Pick Your Plasmid Poster
PlasmidButton1
Pick your Plasmid and evolve!
― Mural advertising Plasmids in Rapture[src]

Plasmids are special serums made from processed ADAM that introduce modified stem cells into the body, allowing for genetic modification and mutation, giving the user what some might call "super powers". Active Plasmids require EVE for use, while passive Plasmids, called Gene Tonics, provide an effect merely by being equipped. Plasmids are powerful, but excessive use of them leads to physical and mental addiction and instability. This was a major factor in the eventual downfall of Rapture society.

History[]

BaS1 Houdini Waiter2

A waiter lighting a woman's cigarette with a Plasmid.

Creation and Uses[]

When Brigid Tenenbaum discovered the properties of ADAM and was seeking Frank Fontaine's help for financing and equipment, the latter introduced her to Yi Suchong, another brilliant geneticist. Together, the two scientists developed the first Plasmids for what would eventually become Fontaine Futuristics, Fontaine's own science company. Plasmids were first introduced to Rapture's consumers as domestic aids (start a fire instantly, pick up objects from a distance, light a lamp by zapping it with electricity, etc.) although their use could still be distorted into harmful ways.

Bio2M PP The Amazing Power of Plasmids Poster

Advertisement for the Plasmid display in the BioShock 2 Multiplayer map Point Prometheus.

This reality became apparent when Rapture's security forces were confronted with groups of Splicers[1] while conducting an arrest of Fontaine and seizure of his properties in connection to the smuggling ring.[2] With Fontaine's presumed death in the shoot-outs, the Central Council transferred stewardship of his ADAM product company to Andrew Ryan and Ryan Industries. This takeover was objected to by parts of Rapture's population rejecting government involvement in business and those believing in Fontaine's charity works. This led to tensions growing in the city.

The Genetic Arms Race[]

Imagine if you could be smarter, stronger, healthier. What if you could even have amazing powers, light fires with your mind… That's what Plasmids do for a man.
― Atlas

Preparing for the disorder to come, Ryan started marketing ADAM products to be used for citizens' home defense under his own company's brand. A civil war erupted after Atlas's followers bombed the 1958 New Year's Eve celebrations at the Kashmir Restaurant. The use of Plasmids evolved into a genetic arms race[3], as both sides of the conflict further equipped themselves. Field tests were conducted by Sinclair Solutions on more powerful and diverse Plasmids and Tonics. The population degenerated into insanity as side-effects of ADAM overuse became endemic. Ryan finally resorted to adding mental control pheromones into his products to influence the Splicers and win the war against Atlas.

Infinite Spoilers


An Alternative to Injections[]

Chalkboard Injectables VS Drinkables

Production notes.

Before the civil war, Suchong worked on a new form of Plasmid which used oral ingestion rather than injection into the bloodstream. This method, while better from a marketing standpoint, required use of at least ten times the previous quantity of ADAM, and Fontaine recalled the production because of the excessive cost in raw genetic material.[4] When Fontaine Futuristics passed into Ryan's hands, the latter re-introduced them for sales as a painless alternative to the original injectable products and under the Ryan Industries brand.

The idea itself was exploited by Jeremiah Fink, a businessman using trans-dimensional technologies to plagiarize scientific wonders from the neighboring reality, to create his own Vigors. Fink stole Suchong's work on ADAM and improved it in his own laboratories, though ironically the scientist was able to profit from this situation and proposed the idea to Ryan as his own after taking notes of Fink's procedures.[5] Their production in Rapture was abandoned sometime during the civil war when ADAM became a valuable resource to win the conflict and shortage was burdening both sides.

Plasmid Listings[]

Main article: BioShock Plasmids
Main article: BioShock 2 Plasmids
Main article: BioShock 2 Multiplayer Plasmids
Main article: Burial at Sea Plasmids
Main article: Predefined Plasmids

Gallery[]

Behind the Scenes[]

  • The use of the name "Plasmids" was inspired by the term in genetics for circular extra-chromosomal DNA strands that can be found in cell's mitochondria, in bacteria, and some eukaryotic cells. These molecules are commonly used as vectors in genetic engineering.[6]
  • The player uses a Plasmid given by Brigid Tenenbaum to remove the ADAM Sea Slug from the Little Sisters. Not only is this is the only unnamed Plasmid, it also isn't contained in any Plasmid/Tonic Slot.
    • A storyboard for BioShock 2 shows Tenenbaum sending Subject Delta this Plasmid via the pneumo during their first meeting. In the final version of the game, however, Delta already has this ability. A line in the game's text files also reveals its name as Little Sister Antidote, and that it was to be given to Delta in Ryan Amusements, which introduce him to gathering and harvesting.
  • In the early development video of BioShock, Hunting the Big Daddy, the player could wield Plasmids in both hands at once.
Screen Shot 2013-08-26 at 4.36

The original Plasmid bottle.

  • Originally, Plasmids appeared as small, white bottles with red caps and red labels. This is evident from BioShock's Hunting the Big Daddy video, when finding the removed Plasmid, Splicer Irritant.
  • In the original BioShock trailer, Plasmids (the Plasmid in use was shown to be Insect Swarm) were shown to be much smaller and thinner, more reminiscent of needles of the time.[7] But they were soon updated to the more current models, at some time in the development.
  • Plasmids can be both Injectable (as seen in BioShock and BioShock 2) and Drinkable (as seen in Burial at Sea). Injectable Plasmids can be made drinkable by the use of an oxidizing agent; however, this changes the Plasmid's qualities and requires 10 times as much ADAM to produce.
  • The "campy" Plasmid training video slideshows were drawn by Robb Waters.[8]
  • The iconic "Plasmids" sign with the hand shooting Electro Bolt was designed by Laura Zimmermann.[9]

References[]

  1. Bill McDonagh's Audio Diary: Fontaine's Army
  2. Sullivan's Audio Diary: Smuggling Ring
  3. Bill McDonagh's Audio Diary: Genetic Arms Race
  4. Frank Fontaine's Audio Diary: Product Recall
  5. Yi Suchong's Audio Diary: Observation #33
  6. Plasmid on Wikipedia.
  7. BioShock Trailer on YouTube
  8. Graphics section Robb Waters' portfolio
  9. Laura Zimmermann's Portfolio (Archived)
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