Editing Replicator (Star Trek) (section)

==Origins and limitations==

Although previous sci-fi writers had speculated about the development of "replicating" or "duplicating" technology,<ref>{{cite web |title=Confronting a New 'Era of Duplication'? 3D Printing, Replicating Technology and the Search for Authenticity in George O. Smith's Venus Equilateral Series |url=https://www.academia.edu/4071685 |format=Research paper |publisher=[[Durham University]] |last=Hollow |first=Matthew |access-date=2025-02-06 |url-access=registration |via=[[Academia.edu]]}}</ref> the term "replicator" was not itself used until ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]''. In simple terms, it was described as a [[24th century]] advancement from the 23rd century "food synthesizer" seen in ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]''. In ''Star Trek: The Original Series'', food was created in various colored cubes. In ''[[Star Trek: The Animated Series]]'' (1974), various types of realistic-looking food could be requested, as in the episode entitled "[[The Practical Joker]]". The mechanics of these devices were never clearly explained on that show. The subsequent prequel series, ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'', set in the 22nd century, featured a "protein resequencer" that could only replicate certain foods, so an actual chef served on board who used a [[hydroponic]] greenhouse where fruits and vegetables were grown. Additionally, that ship had a "bio-matter resequencer" which was used to recycle waste product into usable material.<ref>''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'': "[[Breaking the Ice (Star Trek: Enterprise)|Breaking the Ice]]"</ref>

According to an academic thesis: "The so-called 'replicators' can reconstitute matter and produce everything that is needed out of pure energy, no matter whether food, medicaments, or spare parts are required."<ref name="Schüller2005">{{cite book|author=Mieke Schüller|title=Star Trek - The Americanization of Space|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bMBPcY52oMAC&pg=PA5|date=2 October 2005|publisher=GRIN Verlag|isbn=978-3-638-42309-0|page=5}}</ref> A replicator can create any inanimate [[matter]], as long as the desired [[Molecule|molecular]] structure is on [[Computer file|file]], but it cannot create [[antimatter]], [[List of fictional elements, materials, isotopes and atomic particles#Fictional elements and materials|dilithium]], latinum, and (in the case of at least federation replicators) living things of any kind; for the last case, non-canon works such as the ''Star Trek: the Next Generation Technical Manual'' state that, though the replicators share the same technology with [[Transporter (Star Trek)|transporter]]s, the resolution used is too low to create living tissue. However, other replicators, such as the ones used by the aliens in the TNG episode "[[Allegiance (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Allegiance]]", could create living things, including the brain's many trillions of dendritic connections where memory is stored.