The Life Force
By Hav
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away there were followings, myths, legends, even skilled wielders of a life power called the Force. The Force was a pathway that many followed, some investigated, and illuminated heroes, leaving the evil lurking in shadow. Some dreamed that they would find and be able to control this mystical power while to others, it remained a tale from childish fables meant to excite young children across the galaxy. But, it was real. It was all real.
In Episode I : The Phantom Menace, the idea of Midi-Chlorians was briefly introduced to explain how a Force user was identified among the populace for certain when suspected of having ability beyond that of the rest of their life race. Midi-Chlorians appear to be a play on Mitochondria within cells, perhaps that are mutated. A mutation would explain how some lifeforms were born Force-users and others not. Much like with the wizarding race in the Harry Potter series - this would ring true as well, there. Certain witches and wizards are born sensitive to magic, even being in a non-magical family, while there are those born to pure families that are called 'squibs' due to their lack of ability.
These instances would solidify the idea that either of these abilities would be mutations, since it appears the same in both families of tales. A mutation to the Mitochondria is definitely a plausible explanation. But why?
Mitochondria is the 'powerhouse' of the cell - god, the wording makes me gag even today after hearing that tagline for the organelle well since seventh grade. Those who aren't as familiar with this organelle (and let me be honest, if you aren't in science, you don't understand my hate for hearing the word mitochondria even three years status post graduation from nursing school), it synthesizes ATP, which is cellular energy. Otherwise, it contains DNA, which is very important to this hypothesis.
DNA contains our very genetic code. Strangely enough, Mitochondria are believed to share ancestry with bacteria that became trapped and survived endocytosis, which is active transport of things, such as waste, shit, poop, garbage, any sort of straight up crap that the cell doesn't want. This includes invaders such as viral material and bacteria. They are scooped up in vacuoles, or escape pods, and thrown out of the cell like your ex's baby's daddy's second aunt twice removed.
Somehow, it is believed that a bacteria survived and managed to set up in the back room of a cell and became a permanent part of the cytoplasm, or living goo. This created a symbiotic relationship where the mitochondria proposed and finally become a part of cellular life forever and this haunted the textbooks and nightmares of scientific students across the planet.
However, perhaps Mitochondria held a grudge? I'm kidding. However, since DNA is held within this little cyto-snuggled organelle, it is entirely possible that much like common mitochondrial disorders, ATP can be mutated as well through the protein synthesis that results from holding DNA. Perhaps these bacteria cause the mutation that makes certain individuals sensitive to the Force.
As early untrained Force sensitive species multiplied, the mutated Mitochondria spread, much like other genes or purple atennaes or blue eyes. Across the galaxy spread these mutated cells for 1.7 - 2 billion years before anyone ever figured out what the hell the Force even was.
Then began training. Someone began realizing that these life forms were Force sensitive. It appears that, the Midi Chlorians mentioned in The Phantom Menance however bullshitted by years by machete-class, Dragoncon attending Star Wars fans, may not be as ridiculous as they first sounded. There is a sound explanation of the theory of mutation that would cause these Mitochondria to become Midi-chlorian which, frankly, even sounds like a mutation of a Mitochondrion in the first place. These mutated organelles can be detected from a serum blood sample and the natural level within a lifeforms can allow them to hypothesize how Force sensitive one may be.
The same goes for magical genetics within the world of Harry Potter. These mutated organelles caused the first magical beings which reproduced and created humans with magical prowess. As long as Salazar Slytherin has been bitching over Muggle-borns, I am sure there was more than a fair share of reproduction with Muggles, giving the gene to those outside of the wizarding community. Thus, it finds its way into a non-magical family by way of what is called carrying. This may be an X-linked gene, meaning there is capacity to carry, but not express. However, this would take lots of statistics to determine whether more males or females carry the ability - if more females than males, then this may be disproved.
Typically, with X-linked mutations, males are more likely to express than females. Because Females are XX and males are XY, females have an extra X to counteract the mutation. Males, however, would not, and would be more likely to express the genetic mutation in their physiotyping.
This does, however, appear to ring true to Force sensitive beings in Star Wars. Typically, more males are represented than females as Force users including Jedi and Sith. There were plenty of females, however, it did appear that more males were sensitive than females, which would confirm the theory of an X linked genetic mutation within Force sensitivity.
Okay, now, a step back to the big picture:
What is the Force?
The Force is a binding, metaphysical, and ubiquitous power in the fictional universe of the Star Wars franchise created by George Lucas. Introduced in Episode IV : A New Hope in 1977, it is wielded primarily by the Jedi and Sith monastic orders and is a part of all subsequent Star Wars works
The Force binds and penetrates each being and the entire galaxy together. It is best characterized, however, by extra sensory abilities. It can also superpower natural, physical, and mental abilities. It is, simply, god-mode. With that in mind, Qui-Gon references the Midi-Chlorians in such a light, rather than just existing, such as earlier in the film:
"Midi-chlorians are a microscopic lifeform that reside within all living cells and communicate with the Force. ... Without the midi-chlorians, life could not exist, and we would have no knowledge of the Force. They continually speak to you, telling you the will of the Force."
of which Lucas eventually added the following information in an interview with Time Magazine in 2010:
"Midi-chlorians are a loose depiction of mitochondria, which are necessary components for cells to divide. They probably had something which will come out someday to do with the beginnings of life and how one cell decided to become two cells with a little help from this other little creature who came in, without whom life couldn't exist. And it's really a way of saying we have hundreds of little creatures who live on us, and without them, we all would die. There wouldn't be any life. They are necessary for us; we are necessary for them. Using them in the metaphor, saying society is the same way, says we all must get along with each other."
This information would support the hypothesis of endosymbiosis as a means of supporting the Force within life.
It seems it is pretty solved, minus a bit about faith, in which Lucas left us hanging on this thought, his parallel to the Force inspired by 21-87 "Many people feel that in the contemplation of nature and in communication with other living things, they become aware of some kind of force, or something, behind this apparent mask which we see in front of us, and they call it God."
While extra sensory abilities and god-mode type super strength could be attributed to ATP and a few genetic mutations, there is much to still be discovered and learned from some parts about the Force, such as returning to it after death. In some sense, The Force is not simply just a few genes, but an entire lifestyle and religion. There is much in its philosophy yet to discover. Until proven different, I'm still sticking with the Knights of Ren. You might decide a blaster is a more trusty sidekick than some ancient weapons and a hokey religion. Either way, the Force is real. It's all real. May the Force be with you.