Captain Jean-Luc Picard, as Locutus, undergoing assimilation after his abduction in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

In the Star Trek fictional universe, assimilation is the process by which the Borg, a race of cyborgs, integrate beings and cultures into their collective. This philosophy is reflected in one of their maxims, which they typically utter before incorporating a culture: "You will be assimilated." Image File history File links Picardassimilation. ... Image File history File links Picardassimilation. ... Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a Starfleet officer in the fictional Star Trek universe. ... The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ... Star Trek is an American science-fiction franchise spanning six television series, ten feature films, hundreds of novels, computer and video games, and other fan stories. ... A fictional universe is a cohesive imaginary world that serves as the setting or backdrop for one or (more commonly) multiple works of fiction. ... The Unicomplex, a huge Borg complex in the Delta Quadrant. ... Seven of Nine, a Borg in Star Trek: Voyager The term cyborg, a portmanteau of cybernetic organism, is used to designate an organism which is a mixture of organic and mechanical (synthetic) parts. ... Collectivism is a term used to describe any doctrine that stresses the importance of a collective, rather than the importance of the individual. ... The Unicomplex, a huge Borg complex in the Delta Quadrant. ... Resistance is futile is a famous phrase used by the Borg from the Star Trek fictional universe. ...

When they debuted in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the Borg were a mysterious group of marauders that snatched entire starships or took over entire planets and societies in order to collect and assimilate their technology ("Q Who?"). In their second appearance, "The Best of Both Worlds", they also began to rather crudely and frighteningly assimilate individuals – namely, Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the starship Enterprise – into their collective by surgically altering them. Using his knowledge of Federation technology and strategy, a single Borg cube destroyed a flotilla of 39 Starfleet vessels in the Wolf 359 system that were assembled to halt the Borg advance towards Earth. Thereafter, incorporation of different lifeforms into their collective was heightened and their interest in obtaining alien technology became merely one of two objectives. The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ... The fictional starship Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) from Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... Our solar system: the Sun, the eight planets and the three dwarf planets. ... Q Who? is an episode from the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... The Best of Both Worlds is a two-part episode from the third/fourth seasons of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a Starfleet officer in the fictional Star Trek universe. ... The fictional starship Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) from Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... The USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) is a starship in the Star Trek fictional universe, the principal setting of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... In the Star Trek fictional universe, various Borg starships are observed, all appearing as simple geometric solids with greebled exteriors and being very generalized and decentralized in design. ... A flotilla (from Spanish, meaning a flota of small ships, and this from French flotte), or naval flotilla, is a formation of small warships that may be part of a larger fleet. ... Starfleet Command In the Star Trek fictional universe, Starfleet is the paramilitary defense, research, diplomacy, and exploration force of the United Federation of Planets (UFP) with – as of the late 24th century – hundreds of starships and starbases at its disposal. ... Combatants The Borg Collective United Federation of Planets Commanders Locutus of Borg J. P. Hanson† Strength 1 Borg Cube (spacecraft) 41 Federation vessels Casualties Unknown, minor (if any) 11,000+ casualties, 38 starships The Battle of Wolf 359 was a fictional battle that took place in the Star Trek: The... Earth Although nearly all fictional work features the Earth, this page describes its fictional place in the Universe. ...

Assimilation may begin when a Borg drone injects tubules, transferring nanoprobes, into a hapless victim.

Moreover, the method of assimilating individual lifeforms into the collective has changed over time. Throughout, infant and fetal humanoids have been grown in an accelerated state and surgically receive or develop implants tied directly into the brain, as well as ocular devices, tool-enhanced limbs, armour, and other prosthetics. Image File history File links Assimilationtubule. ... Image File history File links Assimilationtubule. ... A tubule is a very small tube or fistular structure. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Fetus at eight weeks For other uses, see Fetus (disambiguation). ... A United States soldier demonstrates Foosball with two prosthetic limbs In medicine, a prosthesis is an artificial extension that replaces a missing part of the body. ...

Nanoprobes

Later, in the movie Star Trek: First Contact, the method of assimilation was enhanced with the more efficient injection of nanoprobes into individuals. Borg nanoprobes are injected into the bloodstream of a victim by a number of tubules (usually two) that spring forth from the top of the hand or some other extremity of a Borg drone. The nanoprobes, each about the size of a human red blood cell (RBC) and employing nanotechnology, travel through the victim's bloodstream to various biological tissues and locations throughout the body and latch onto individual cells. The nanoprobes rewrite the cellular DNA, altering the victim's biochemistry, and eventually form larger, higher structures and networks within the body such as electrical pathways, processing and data storage nodes, and ultimately prosthetic devices that spring forth from the skin. Star Trek: First Contact (Paramount Pictures, 1996; see also 1996 in film), is the eighth feature film based on the popular Star Trek science fiction television series. ... Nanoprobes are a fictional technological device from the Star Trek TV series, most commonly used by the race known as the Borg as a method for assimilation of individual people into their society. ... Red blood cells (erythrocytes) are present in the blood and help carry oxygen to the rest of the cells in the body Blood is a circulating tissue composed of fluid plasma and cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets). ... Human red blood cells Red blood cells are the most common type of blood cell and are the vertebrate bodys principal means of delivering oxygen from the lungs or gills to body tissues via the blood. ... Molecular gears from a NASA computer simulation. ... Biological tissue is any substance made up of cells that perform a similar function within an organism. ... Cells in culture, stained for keratin (red) and DNA (green). ... The general structure of a section of DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a nucleic acid — usually in the form of a double helix — that contains the genetic instructions monitoring the biological development of all cellular forms of life, and many viruses. ...

Borg nanoprobes assimilating RBCs in the human bloodstream; each RBC and nanoprobe is approximately 8 µm in diameter.

Once within an organic host, nanoprobes utilize metallic molecules from humanoid blood cells (e.g., iron from humans, or copper from Vulcans) to replicate and create higher structures. To that end, Borg nanoprobes are capable of adjusting the atomic structure of metals and molecules, creating ones more appropriate for Borg prostheses and nutrients essential for humanoid survival. Breaking down RBCs would cause asphyxia in the victim, also aiding in their submission to forces prior to full assimilation. This also alters blood vessels throughout the body, creating visibly dark tracks that snake across the surface of the skin as the cyberinfection spreads. Based on the size of a single nanoprobe and the volume that could be delivered in the short time of a drone attack, a single injection can carry at least five million nanoprobes.^{[citation needed]} Image File history File links Download high resolution version (884x384, 31 KB) Summary Human RBCs being assimilated by Borg nanoprobes, from Star Trek: Voyager episode Scorpion, Part 1 Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (884x384, 31 KB) Summary Human RBCs being assimilated by Borg nanoprobes, from Star Trek: Voyager episode Scorpion, Part 1 Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Nanoprobes are a fictional technological device from the Star Trek TV series, most commonly used by the race known as the Borg as a method for assimilation of individual people into their society. ... Human red blood cells Red blood cells are the most common type of blood cell and are the vertebrate bodys principal means of delivering oxygen from the lungs or gills to body tissues via the blood. ... Trinomial name Homo sapiens sapiens Linnaeus, 1758 Humans, or human beings, are bipedal primates belonging to the mammalian species Homo sapiens (Latin for wise man or knowing man) under the family Hominidae (the great apes). ... Red blood cells (erythrocytes) are present in the blood and help carry oxygen to the rest of the cells in the body Blood is a circulating tissue composed of fluid plasma and cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets). ... A micrometre (American spelling: micrometer), symbol µm, is an SI unit of length. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... In chemistry, a molecule is an aggregate of at least two atoms in a definite arrangement held together by special forces. ... General Name, Symbol, Number iron, Fe, 26 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 8, 4, d Appearance lustrous metallic with a grayish tinge Atomic mass 55. ... General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 4, d Appearance metallic pinkish red Atomic mass 63. ... Vulcans are a humanoid species in the fictional Star Trek universe who reside on the planet Vulcan and are noted for their attempt to live by reason and logic, with no interference from emotion. ... Properties For alternative meanings see atom (disambiguation). ... An essential nutrient is a nutrient required for normal body functioning that cannot be synthesized by the body. ... Suffocation redirects here, for the band, see Suffocation (band). ... The arterial system The blood vessels are part of the circulatory system and function to transport blood throughout the body. ...

Assimilation is the main way for The Borg to gain information about a new species, i.e. a species of which no individuals have been previously assimilated by The Borg. The Borg are less skilled in investigating; gaining information about species before they are assimilated (source: Episodes "Scorpion Part 1 & 2" from ST:VOY). Because assimilation depends on nanoprobes, species with an extremely advanced immune system such as Species 8472 are able to withstand assimilation.

In the ST:VOY episode "Drone", the Doctor's mobile emitter (obtained from the future in the episode "Future's End, Part 2") combines with Seven of Nine's technology to form a 29th century version of a Borg drone. Its capabilities included an internal transporter, improved speech capabilities, multidimensional adaptability, and greatly improved personal shields. Fortunately for Voyager, this drone's enhanced capabilities were not assimilated by the Borg Collective: the drone, in fact, sacrificed itself to save Voyager's crew. Drone is an episode from the fifth season of Star Trek: Voyager. ... A piece of 29th century equipment that the doctor acquired by Henry Starling in episode Futures end. ... Futures End is an episode from the third season of Star Trek: Voyager. ... The 29th century (Gregorian Calendar) comprises the years 2801-2900. ... USS Voyagers shields in action In the fictional Star Trek universe, shields are defenses used to protect some starships in the 23rd and 24th centuries by absorbing or deflecting the energy of natural or artificial hazards. ...

External links

• Assimilation article at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek wiki