Midi-chlorian

"Without the midi-chlorians, life could not exist, and we would have no knowledge of the Force. They continually speak to us, telling us the will of the Force. When you learn to quiet your mind, you'll hear them speaking to you."

- Qui-Gon Jinn, to Anakin Skywalker

Midi-chlorians were microscopic, intelligent life forms that originated from the foundation of life in the center of the galaxy, and ultimately resided within the cells of all living organisms, thereby forming a symbiotic relationship with their hosts. The Force spoke through the midi-chlorians, allowing certain beings to use the Force if they were sensitive enough to its powers. In order to gauge an individual's potential in the Force, blood tests were used to estimate the number of midi-chlorians within the subject's cells. Anakin Skywalker, the Chosen One born of a mother but without a father, possessed over 20,000 midi-chlorians&mdash;the highest known count in galactic history.

Biology
"Midi-chlorians are a microscopic life form that resides within all living cells."

- Qui-Gon Jinn, to Anakin Skywalker

Anakin Skywalker is the Goat ( the greatest of all time.) Midi-chlorian was the scientific name for a species of sentient and microscopic organisms that inhabited the cells of every life form. Their existence was integral to the all-encompassing energy field known as the Force, connecting the Living Force to the Cosmic Force. By serving as the link between the living and cosmic aspects of the Force, the midi-chlorians made it possible to preserve an individual's consciousness after death. With sufficient training and total immersion in the light side of the Force, the deceased could preserve their identity in the form of a Force spirit after becoming one with the Force.

In addition to their connection with the Force, midi-chlorians lived in a symbiotic relationship with their organic hosts&mdash;a bond that was especially strong with Force-sensitive beings who possessed a high quantity of midi-chlorians in their cells. This mutually advantageous relationship allowed the midi-chlorians to communicate the will of the Force to their Force-sensitive symbionts, who were capable of utilizing the powers of the Force through the midi-chlorians.

Study and analysis
"I need a midi-chlorian count.''" "''The readings are off the chart. Over 20,000."

- Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi

Midi-chlorians were detected through a scientific analysis of blood samples belonging to a life form. A blood test primarily determined the quantity of midi-chlorians in the living cells, and therefore determined the natural strength of the connection between a subject and the Force. Thirty-two years before the Battle of Yavin, the highest known concentration of midi-chlorians in a life form was approximately 20,000 according to Jedi records.

Origin
"What is this place?''" "''All that surround us is the foundation of life, the birthplace of what your science calls midi-chlorians, the foundation of what connects the Living Force and the Cosmic Force."

- Yoda and Serenity

The Wellspring of Life, a mystical world located in the heart of the galaxy, was the birthplace of a microscopic species that served as the link between the Living Force within all life forms and the infinite Cosmic Force. It was also the foundation of life, with all life forms serving a symbiotic host for the living organisms native to the wellspring. In modern science these intelligent microbes became known as "midi-chlorians."

The existence of midi-chlorians was known to both the Jedi and the Sith. The Jedi Order utilized the scientific procedure of blood testing to estimate the number of midi-chlorians within prospective initiates. In addition to their scientific knowledge of midi-chlorians, Jedi philosophy held that the midi-chlorians were the foundation of all life itself, and therefore life could not exist without the mid-chlorians.

The Chosen One
"His cells have the highest concentration of midi-chlorians I've ever seen in a life form. It's possible he was conceived by the mid-chlorians.''" "''You refer to the prophecy of the one who will bring balance to the Force. You believe it's this&hellip;boy?"

- Qui-Gon Jinn and Mace Windu

In 32 BBY, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn encountered Anakin Skywalker, a human child with an exceptionally powerful connection to the Force, but enslaved on the desert world of Tatooine. Intrigued by Anakin's natural strength, Jinn's fascination grew when the boy's mother, Shmi Skywalker, revealed that her son was born without a biological father. Later, a blood test confirmed that Anakin possessed a midi-chlorian count that exceeded 20,000&mdash;the highest record at the time&mdash;exceeding those of all Jedi including the powerful Grand Master Yoda. The test results, Anakin's unique conception, and the reemergence of the Sith were all factors that led Jinn to a single conclusion: Anakin Skywalker was the prophesied Chosen One, destined to destroy the Sith and bring balance to the Force.

Anakin Skywalker was ultimately liberated and brought to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, the capital planet of the Galactic Republic, where he would begin his training with the permission of the Jedi High Council. Jinn disclosed the results of Skywalker's blood test in his report to the Council, as well as his belief that Skywalker may have been conceived by the midi-chlorians. Though initially skeptical of the maverick Jedi Master's claims, the Council ultimately accepted Skywalker into the Order in the aftermath of the Battle of Naboo.

Yoda's journey
"All energy from the Living Force, from all things that have ever lived, feeds into the Cosmic Force, binding everything and communicating to us through the midi-chlorians."

- Qui-Gon Jinn, to Yoda

By 19 BBY, over a decade after the discovery of Anakin Skywalker, the spirit of the late Qui-Gon Jinn made contact with Yoda. After journeying to the planet Dagobah at Jinn's insistence, Yoda discovered the birthplace of the midi-chlorians where he learned of their role as the link between the Living Force and the Cosmic Force; a connection embodied by five ethereal beings: Anger, Confusion, Joy, Sadness, and Serenity. With their aid the ancient Jedi Master gained greater insight into the nature of the midi-chlorians which, in turn, led to his acquisition of a new ability&mdash;the power to preserve his consciousness after becoming one with the Force.

The legend of Darth Plagueis
"Darth Plagueis was a Dark Lord of the Sith so powerful and so wise, he could use the Force to influence the midi-chlorians to create&hellip;life."

- Sheev Palpatine, to Anakin Skywalker

In the waning days of the Clone Wars, Skywalker became fearful of losing his secret wife, Senator Padmé Amidala, due to premonitions of her death in childbirth. Darth Sidious, the Dark Lord of the Sith whom Skywalker knew as Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine, sought to lure Skywalker to the dark side of the Force by recounting a so-called "Sith legend" that involved the midi-chlorians. According to Sidious, Darth Plagueis was a wise and powerful Sith Lord who could manipulate midi-chlorians to create new life, an ability that extended to preserving life from death itself. Ultimately, the Chancellor's story served to motivate Skywalker's betrayal of the Jedi Order, resulting in his fall to the dark side as Darth Vader.

Behind the scenes
"It is said that certain creatures are born with a higher awareness of the Force than humans. Their brains are different; they have more midi-chlorians in their cells."

- George Lucas, establishing guidelines for the Expanded Universe in 1977

Midi-chlorians were first conceived by George Lucas as early as 1977. However, they were not featured in the Original trilogy as Lucas felt there was insufficient time to introduce the concept of midi-chlorians to Star Wars. As a result, midi-chlorians were not mentioned in any Star Wars product until the release of the 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace. The first installment of the Prequel trilogy revealed why some characters possessed an inherent sensitivity to the Force that others lacked, an issue which Lucas had left unresolved since the original film Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. ''

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith