Biotics Among Andromeda Natives

Element Zero is a naturally occurring resource. There is no reason to think that it's exclusive to the Milky Way.

Or maybe it is worse in that they can not only use it but it is a sustenance source that they harvest from beings who can use it to feed themselves...
OK that is it I am going soldier.

With eezo being a substance found throughout the universe, we are likely to encounter biotics in Andromeda. I have speculated about the possibilities of introducing mass effect technology to a galaxy that previously hadn't developed such; but the kett look pretty damn advanced, now that I've seen a few.

Being the first to introduce the mass effect to a corner of Andromeda in which it was largely unknown might've been interesting, but it also might not have been the best foundation for an exciting story. That gameplay trailer looked like the Mass Effect we know, while still being alien. I expect we will see biotics on both fronts, and mass effect tech primarily from the Milkies (I'm tired of typing MW species).

I would think at least some of the Andromeda aliens would have biotics, unless the Helius cluster turns out to be eezo poor.

That would be bad news for the Milky Way natives however, as it would mean all except the Asari would lose biotic ability after the first generation of colonists died off. Only the Asari are natural biotics, the rest require eezo exposure. The Asari might run into issues as well if there is no element zero in the Helius cluster, since element zero may be a nutritional requirement for them. Dust-form eezo is in their food and water on Thessia.

FTL space travel is also dependent on element zero; Without eezo you don't have the mass effect.

It's probably a safe bet that it will be part of the Andromeda setting, otherwise the writers would need to ditch biotics in any sequels, and would need to give everyone a different means of FTL travel that has no connection to the series' title. You can't have Mass Effect without the mass effect. 

They could very well have used a different means to achieve FTL. Technology is fascinating that way.

I have been hoping we would not arrive to find the Heleus Cluster brimming with the same tech that the Reapers developed 2.5M LY away. Something Mac Walters said gives me hope. A fan asked him if Mass Relays would be present in Andromeda. He said no, but that biotics would be present and that the Andromeda Initiative species would use mass effect technology.

That seems to imply that the Heleus Cluster developed along different lines, which makes sense. Of course, they may like, adapt and adopt some of our tech once we introduce it.

I'm not sure that "biotics birth biotics" even makes much sense, to be honest, at least for non-asari. Biotics are created when free element zero forms nodules in the nervous system. A human mother wouldn't pass eezo to her child, since she wouldn't have eezo in her bloodstream. Therefore, she wouldn't pass biotic potential to her child. (Nor, more likely, horrible cancers.)

The asari have different physiology and come from worlds comparatively inundated with element zero. The natural foods and water of their world is often laced with eezo. They probably do have traces of element zero in their blood, and thus do pass such to their unborn children.

Even the asari would see their biotics fade with a dearth of eezo, as you said. You can't keep producing future biotics without consuming the eezo that creates them.

Possibly, but I never meant to suggest otherwise. Eezo is essential to produce biotic potential, and that's not something a human mother would pass to her child. That was my main point.

I suspect the direct presence of the eezo is what triggers the cancers. Learning years down the road that exposure had mutated your gametes would suck. Maybe it could be corrected, maybe not. ME gene therapy seems unreliable, dependent entirely upon plot, and never cheap.

We need more of these kind of side conversations in-game. In the Dragon Age series, you're always finding fascinating conversations and personal stories in note form. Granted, the game tells too much of its story via text and notes, but these little side stories are fun. I wish ME had more of this.

Naaah. You gotta have those eezo nodules in the nervous system for biotic potential. Cancer can't produce eezo. You need super novas to do that.

If you went to Thessia, you'd presumably be drinking and eating "sanitized" food and water, or else risk harmful element zero exposure, same as via any accidental exposure on Earth. More than likely, you'd eventually end up dead from eezo exposure, otherwise. That's the norm. (I wonder how long it would take? We don't know how those eezo levels are, really.)

I assume there is a genetic component involved as to why most get "dead", while a few end up "superman". Generally, aligning this with real life health, it isn't as simple as "you have the gene". There are many factors and many genes at work to produce the circumstances that might allow a biotic to be created. A few of those exposed get lucky, and their bodies prove more resistant to the presence of the eezo. Some of these may one day be able to learn to use its presence to produce biotics.

Humans haven't really figured out how to consistently make it happen, yet. (This makes Miranda's story a bit weird. I like her, though, so I try not to think about it too much.)

Edit: I just read your post again. I think I addressed it backward, in part.

I think that learning to use an amp to send electrical impulses through the nodules is mostly a matter of skill and discipline, rather than any genetic potential. Genetics might keep you alive past exposure, but turning survivor status into biotic status is a matter of training.

Yeah, Kaidan mentions in ME1 that Conatix may have intentionally caused "accidents" that spread eezo with the intention of creating biotic children in pregnant women, as they seemed to be suspiciously fast on the scene whenever it happened.

Kaidan's mother for instance was downwind of a transport crash in Singapore while pregnant with him. Likewise, Shepard's mother (regardless of background) was at some point exposed to eezo during her pregnancy, which is how Shepard may have been born with biotic abilities.

It seems there are four outcomes for these situations; either the child is born normal and healthy, suffers horrible mutations and cancers, develops biotic abilities that manifest at birth or are born with latent biotic potential, that manifests after secondary exposure.

Kaidan and Jack were born with their abilities already switched on, while Biotic Shepard only manifested after secondary exposure at around 16.

The reason a Biotic Shepard never ended up in BAaT was because the program had been shut down by the time they manifested, while the Ascension Project and Grissom Academy wouldn't be started until a few years after they'd already joined the military.

It doesn't seem like they have mass effect relays, but I would think element zero probably has something to do with their means of space travel. 

Even if the Andromedans were able to create wormholes it is possible element zero is involved. The most powerful biotics are able to create mini black holes for instance (singularity), so it might be possible within the mass effect universe to use element zero & the mass effect to create a wormhole.