Axlotl tanks are a technology in the fictional Dune universe created by Frank Herbert in the 'Dune' series. The fictional Dune universe is the political, scientific, and social setting of author Frank Herberts six-book Dune series of science-fiction novels. ... Frank Patrick Herbert (October 8, 1920 – February 11, 1986) was an American science fiction author. ... Dune is a 1965 science fiction novel written by Frank Herbert. ...

Axlotl tanks are produced by the Bene Tleilax and serve as wombs in which a clone or ghola can be grown; in later books the axlotl tanks have been upgraded to be capable of producing the spice melange. During the final two Dune books, it is remarked that nobody has ever seen a Tleilaxu female -- this is because females in Tleilaxu society are taken and turned into axlotl tanks by a process of genetic mutation. In essence, the women become huge, immobile wombs which are then used by the Tleilaxu Masters to grow whatever biological products are required, this being the reason why nobody has ever been able to duplicate the technology; however, in the final book Chapterhouse Dune the Tleilaxu Master Scytale is forced to reveal the means of creating the tanks to the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood. The Bene Tleilax or Tleilaxu are a secretive society in the fictional Dune universe created by Frank Herbert in the Dune series of novels. ... As a word, clone was first coined by J.B.S. Haldane as subject for theoretical replication of a frog, though the term clone is derived from κλων, the Greek word for twig. In horticulture, the spelling clon was used until the twentieth century. ... A Ghola is a creature in the fictional Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. ... Melange is also a Viennese coffee specialty, similar to Cappuccino. ... Mesquite Flat Dunes in Death Valley National Park In physical geography, a dune is a hill of sand built by eolian (wind-related) processes. ... Chapterhouse Dune is a Science Fiction novel by Frank Herbert, last in the series of six Dune novels. ... Scytale is a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. ... The Bene Gesserit are a key group from Frank Herberts science fiction universe of Dune. ...

In the Prelude to Dune series of novels by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, the Tleilaxu invade the planet Ix on the orders of the Emperor Elrood IX. The Tleilaxu attempted to create artificial melange (or "Amal" as they called) the best results were gained by using a Bene Gesserit sister to create the axlotl tank. The Prelude to Dune trilogy was written by Brian Herbert (son of Frank Herbert) and Kevin J. Anderson and based in part on Frank Herberts notes, found after his death. ... Brian Herbert (born 1947), the son of science fiction legendary writer Frank Herbert, is a prolific and respected writer. ... Kevin J. Anderson is a prolific science fiction author. ... Ix may refer to: The Maya jaguar god supporting the west portion of the sky. ... Elrood IX is the Emperor of the Known Universe in the first of the Prelude to Dune novels Dune: House Atreides by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. ... The Bene Gesserit are a key group from Frank Herberts science fiction universe of Dune. ...