The meaning behind the Midichlorians?

The Phantom Menace: Episode One

The Real Midichlorians? Our Own Mitochondria

It was an unusually warm morning for Seattle as I waited in line for the noon opening of Star Wars in 1977. Nothing was going to stop me from seeing that movie and I was not disappointed. By movie's end, my life was changed. The Force was with me.
Twenty-two years later I experienced that same tingly feeling waiting in a packed movie theatre for the midnight opening of The Phantom Menace (TPM). By movie's end, the Force was still with me. Only this time I had an explanation.
Like X-wings attacking the Death Star, a vocal group of fans have expressed extreme displeasure with George Lucas for providing a scientific explanation of the Force. Why, they ask, must there be a scientific explanation for something so spiritual and beautiful as the Force? Is nothing sacred?
Somebody once remarked that the truth is stranger than fiction but sometimes facing the truth can be a painful experience. It robs us of our fantasies. It limits the infinite to one good explanation. But there is also beauty in truth, a beauty that surpasses even the greatest fiction. If science has taught us anything, it has taught us that Nature and the Universe are far more grand and wondrous than any fiction ever portrayed.
Now I'm not about to suggest that the Force is a real thing. In all my heart, I would like it to be, but try as I may, I cannot make the little Yoda figure on top of my computer leap into my hands. (And as far as I know, no one else has credibly reproduced this trick either.) However, there just might be a Force. It just might be real. And if it is real, it will have a scientific explanation. (Don't groan yet, hear me out...)
I doubt that very many people who saw TPM are aware of the scientific theory on which the midichlorians are undoubtedly based. George Lucas may admit it, but I'm here to tell you that he didn't make the midichlorians up. He changed their name a little. But he didn't make them up.

Have you ever heard of mitochondria? Mitochondria are tiny organelles (little organs) that reside in every cell in your body. They supply energy in the form of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) to every cell in your body. You can think of them as microscopic power packs for you cells if that makes it any easier. Every human on our planet has mitochondria in their bodies. One per cell. All cells. Without them, we wouldn't move a muscle. They are the cell's power plant.
Knowledge of mitochondria is not new. Pick up any good biology or biochemistry textbook and you will find it crammed with information on mitochondria. Hell, if you think I'm making this up, do a search for mitochondria. You will find more hits than you'll want to read.
What is fairly recent about mitochondria is the idea that they come from an ancient microscopic life form, namely a primitive bacterium. This idea was first popularized Dr. Lynn Margulis at MIT. In that book, she presents scientific evidence that appears to support the idea that mitochondria derive from an ancient bacterium. The strongest evidence comes from a biochemical analyses of the mitochondria, which, like plant chloroplasts, have their own set of DNA. Comparisons of the DNA of mitochondria (and chloroplast, for that matter) and bacteria reveal remarkable similarities.
The idea that ancient bacteria, or prokaryotes, joined together to form a "cell cooperative," or eukaryotes, has been termed endosymbiosis. Endo means within and symbiosis means living together. Symbiosis appears to be more the rule than the exception in living systems. Typical marine examples include corals, sea anenomes and clownfish, cleaner shrimp and fish, decorator crabs, and so on. Whether officially recognized as a symbiosis or not, it is clear that all living organisms and their environment are interdependent. We all depend on plants and animals to stay alive.
The same is true for mitochondria. They perform a vital function for the cell. In turn, the cell goes about its business and provides, so to speak, a place for the mitochondr

 

Perhaps they are like a cellular focal point for distributing the Force throughout our bodies.

IMTHEGENERAL, thank you for your keen observations. This is as cogent an analysis of the "reality" of midichlorians as anyone is likely to make.

Three more points regarding m-c's:

1. Science is clearly an important factor in the SW Universe. Ships, blasters, hyperdrives, lightsabers, etc. etc. must all depend on technology and the scientific method in order to exist and operate.

2. Mythology also plays a part in the inclsuion of m-c's in the Saga. In a sense, midichlorians are like angels, messengers of the "gods" (i.e., the Force) which convey the will of the Cosmos to the "prophet" (i.e., Jedi) who hears them.

2. Dramatic convention provides further context for the existence of m-c's in TPM. As symbionts, m-c's reflect and strengthen the sub-plot about the symbiosis that exists among the lifeforms of Naboo, a major plot point of Ep.I.

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU.

 

I have been trying to explain this to people since '99.

You have gone much deeper than I ever have.

Good show.

 

you forget- it was i who discovered the new pics everyone went wild about!

the midichlorians willl have a crucial role in ROTS

the general holds the key!

 

I think Qui-Gon implied that the Force communicated with us through the midi-chlorians, not that the Force comes from the midi-chlorians.



Star Wars is one
/LM

 

Mitochondria are our energy souce, and enforce the laws of nature upon us. (examples: mitochondria are resposible for aging, and death)

Midichlorians are DEFINETELY based off of them! Midichlorians are REAL!

 

Neeson's first day also included a scene with Jake Llyod, in which the boy's high midi-chlorian count is discussed and the nature of midi-chlorians explained. "The scene had a lot of scientific dialogue, and George had to explain what it all meant and the theory behind it. He said we all have thousands of bacteria in our systems - suppose a particular strain had a life force that was connected to the universe? And what if people had a stronger strain than others did? I though the idea was both fascinating and believeable." - The Making of Episode One

 

Is that a Rick McCallum quote?

 

The simplistic take I have on Midi's is that every living being in the Star Wars galaxy is like a cell in our own bodies.

The WILL of the Living Force is but like the commands of the BODY that would use the midi's/cell to carry out its bidding.

Next time you cut yourself, imagine you've just killed thousands of beings within the body of your 'galaxy'