CNA

This year's Mario Kart has some really weird tracks.

CNA—standing variously for Cyber/Nano Algorithms^[1] and/or Cybernucleic Acid^[2]—is the genetic material that determines what Transformers are like. Tinkering with this material can be dangerous and can have long-lasting, negative effects. CNA contains a Transformer's hard-coded design schematics,^[3] which, like genetic data, appear to be stored in the spark itself.

It is sometimes known as Sourcecode.

Fiction

Marvel Comics continuity

Marvel Generation 2 comic

Transformer genetic material. Eat your hearts out, Watson and Crick.

The existence of Transformer genetic material was mentioned and seen when Perceptor and others analyzed the Swarm. They noted that its genetic material and cellular structure were identical to that of the Transformers species. Tales of Earth Part Six

Regeneration One

Scorponok discovered a strand of CNA he referred to as the 'warrior gene' which he claimed was the difference between Autobots and Decepticons. He also created the Gene Key, a device that could re-write CNA and activate the gene. Natural Selection, Part One Although Scorponok claimed that being an Autobot or Decepticon did not entirely depend on the gene, he did claim that with the gene activated their morality and sense of accountability would be diminished, and the Autobots Headmasters he tested the Key on displayed more aggression and were willing to follow Decepticon orders, Highbrow even going as far as to refer to himself as no longer an Autobot. Natural Selection, Part Two

2005 IDW continuity

Whether mined from the surface of Cybertron or generated by the Matrix of Leadership, all new sparks are created with a set of "deep-coded" genetic instructions that dictate the interactions between the spark and its protoform. Once the spark is nurtured and placed inside a mass of sentio metallico, it manipulates the developing protoform based on these instructions, generating limbs, facial features, and components related to their future alternate mode. Silent Light Those Transformers who are "constructed cold" also possess these genetic instructions in their spark, but the circumstances behind their creation mean that the prefabricated bodies into which their sparks are implanted rarely match the forms that their sparks might otherwise take. Starscream—who had been constructed cold—developed a habit of periodically changing bodies, and Windblade interpreted this as a sign that his spark was still subconsciously trying to find its "true form." Your First Mistake

In fully-grown Transformers, this genetic code is synonymous with CNA. During his experiments with Cybertronian gender, the malevolent scientist Jhiaxus altered Arcee's CNA, possibly against her will; Spotlight: Arcee Post although the extent of his surgeries are not known, Transformers around Arcee would unconsciously refer to her with female pronouns even if they had never met her, Spotlight: Arcee a trait not shared with other transgender Cybertronians such as Anode and Lug. An Axe to Break the Ice

Animated cartoon

Scalpel used the CNA of Perceptor as a template to make Magnificus as a part of Operation: Doppelgänger. The AllSpark Almanac II Later, Starscream created many clones of himself. A Fistful of Energon A Bridge Too Close, Part I

Swindle was able to use the CNA of one of Starscream's clones to create two more that he used as enforcers. The AllSpark Almanac II

Aligned continuity family

IDW Aligned comics

Shockwave mixed dinosaur DNA with the Lightning Strike Coalition's CNA in his successful experiments with giving them new dinosaur alternate modes. Fall

Hunt the Beasts

After the Predacons broke out of Shockwave's laboratory, you were sent on a mission to scout the place out and investigate what happened. During your search you discovered CNA samples of eleven different Predacons which provided valuable information about them. You also discovered that the Predacons were cloned by Shockwave using CNA samples he discovered of the long dead creatures. Hunt the Beasts

Prime cartoon

As the Great War began to spill off Cybertron, both sides began seeding energon deposits on other planets. To protect Decepticon investments, Shockwave used the fossilized CNA of several Predacons to create a legion of enforcers. Project Predacon During his exile on Cybertron, he used the CNA to create Predaking, another Predacon clone. Scattered

After Starscream had cloned himself, he despaired that his CNA had not only given the clones the genetic instructions needed for transformation cogs, but that the binary bonding meant he felt all their pain. Armada

Beast Wars: Uprising

After Lio Convoy started a rebellion against the Builders of Cybertron, his mentor Eject avoided a death sentence by proposing a solution: use Lio Convoy's CNA to create a clone army infused with the power of an Energon Matrix. The Builder Assembly approved of the idea. Broken Windshields

Ask Vector Prime

There was much overlap between the hard-coded design schematics of Unicron's sleeper agents the Egg Beasts and his Dead End antibodies. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/29

See also

• DNA

References