»How does reproduction work in the Matrix?«

When someone has sex, does the Matrix compute the chances for pregnancy and (virtually) mix the DNA of the male and female and grow a baby for them?

Or do the sentinels function as sperm-transporters from the male cocoon to the female's when people are having sex, and they inseminate her and kidnap the baby after 9 months if she gets pregnant?

emp wrote:

When someone has sex, does the Matrix compute the chances for pregnancy and (virtually) mix the DNA of the male and female and grow a baby for them? Or do the sentinels function as sperm-transporters from the male cocoon to the female's when people are having sex, and they inseminate her and kidnap the baby after 9 months if she gets pregnant?

Since every choice regarding pregnancy is an illusion the sentinel thing may very well be true. Since everybody looks in the Matrix like he does in reality it may very well mean, that 2 real bodies' DNA is combined

Or, for that matter, the Matrix inserts the program for changes in females that would look like pregnancy. But, the mind/body of what comes out is from a pre-determined reproduction process done over in the gestation fields.

I don't believe that random procreation would be in the machine world's best interests for long-lived and efficient energy production.

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Or, for that matter, the Matrix inserts the program for changes in females that would look like pregnancy. But, the mind/body of what comes out is from a pre-determined reproduction process done over in the gestation fields.

As our dear site-admin said, since everybody looks in the Matrix like he does in reality it may very well mean that 2 real bodies' DNA is combined... But then we have to agree that "reality" (Zion) is real... And we do, don't we?

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I don't believe that random procreation would be in the machine world's best interests for long-lived and efficient energy production.

Maybe not, but long-lived and efficient energy production is not the machines goal. Then they would have fixed the sky with high-tech chemicals, or built solar panels above the clouds, or made a couple of nuclear power-plants.[/code]

Again, it begs the question that recently has come up. Why this... Why that... It still seems that there is an interdependency between man and machines in this current relationship that can't be broken. We've either not been given the whole picture, or both sides haven't completely admitted to themselves as to how much they need each other.

d-bearhug-nc wrote:

Again, it begs the question that recently has come up. Why this... Why that... It still seems that there is an interdependency between man and machines in this current relationship that can't be broken. We've either not been given the whole picture, or both sides haven't completely admitted to themselves as to how much they need each other.

1) Machines fight Zion
2) Neo fights the machines
3) Matrix fights Neo
4) Matrix fights Smith
5) Neo fights Smith
6) Mero fights Neo
7) Persephone fights Mero

Is there a winner in a nuclear war? What exactly happens if one of them wins?

Maybe "The Kid" becomes the Architect and protects 01.

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Is there a winner in a nuclear war? What exactly happens if one of them wins?

Checkmate. Endgame. We all lose. Suddenly, I'm remembering Matthew Broderick telling the WOPR to "learn" in Wargames' Global Thermonuclear War simulations. I think that these machines are so imbued with man's arrogance, that they can't learn. So, the constant struggle continues until man figures out a solution.

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Maybe "The Kid" becomes the Architect and protects 01.

Yeah, I kind of like him. Especially the tie-in to his entry into Zion from the Animatrix. Sadly, the IMDb doesn't list him as being in the cast for Revolutions. Maybe there was an error of omission. We'll see.

I believe it would be impossible to give birth in vivo . It would make more sense for the machines to create life in vitro .
It also doesn't make sense for the machines to use the DNA from both parents . It would not be efficient considering the vaste number of genetic diseases . On the other hand , maybe the machines have found a way to fix these genetic mutations . But why spend the time and energy to do this ?

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On the other hand , maybe the machines have found a way to fix these genetic mutations . But why spend the time and energy to do this ?

I guess the only reason for the machines to CHOOSE to let humanity reproduce naturally (by mixing the genes of the parents), would be to examine the human race and it's reproduction cycle in a more realistic way.

actually, reproduction by the combination of the "parent's" DNA in the matrix is the only viable way.

If the machines used clones, then the DNA would be corrupted after a few years, causing major problems with the production of new babies.

emp, you are well for having a second thought.

emp wrote:

... since everybody looks in the Matrix like he does in reality it may very well mean that 2 real bodies' DNA is combined... But then we have to agree that "reality" (Zion) is real... And we do, don't we?

I am pretty sure that Zion is as real as the matrix world is. The link between those two layers is an interface, which rules may change. To put it simple - in particular for the movie and its audience - the identiy of characters on different layers should be visible.

So can anyone give a step by step process of what the theory is of how a baby is born and then kept in the pods of the matrix? (Ie. 1. Parents meet in matrix and reproduce. 2. ( ?) . . . and so on and so on. Thanks!