Are alt-characters genetically identical?

So my question is are characters from another universe genetically the same as the counterparts on 616? Say 616 Captain America and Ultimate Cap?

I got thinking about this when discussing Nate Grey, I'd assumed he was identical on a genetic level to Cable, while others stated he was more like a brother. That discussion aside, it got me thinking about this above question.

Now I know some characters like 616 and Ultimate Red Skull would obviously be different, but other such as Havok must of been identical to his Mutant-X counterpart otherwise Reed Richards certainly would have picked up on it.

I guess it's probably a combination of quantum mechanics and whatever a writer wants.

I was reading Uncanny house of M recently and a male Psylocke from another realities' powers didn't work on Captain Britain. I don't know if that helps?

Oddly enough the answer seems to be sometimes they are, sometimes they aren't.

Logically and statistically Nate Grey and Cable should just be sibblings, I will admit that. But stuff in comics never seems to make logical sense, for example why does Cable and Nate's telepathy cause interference? Cable never caused interference with Rachel Grey, or even his clone Stryfe. Also an age regressed Cable looks uncannily like Nate Grey.

Had both births occured in the same universes I'd say it was unlikely they were indentical, but they occured in different universes. So we might have gotten a situation like Alex Summers significantly different worlds, but identical person.

At this moment the only way to be sure I believe is an outright statement in a comic that proves it either way. I like the idea that they're very similar (possibly the same) and it's a whole nature versus nurture situation.


Edited by Wolfthomas - 20-Jul-2010 at 6:35am

Also in Exiles, the counterpart for Mariko Yashida was a mutant called Sunfire and had the same powers as her cousin.

So Beast and Dark Beast... same genes, yes?

Originally posted by chrissstopher So Beast and Dark Beast... same genes, yes?

I would say yes....except IIRC DB performed experiments on himself, so his genetic structure could be different from 616 Beast.

Originally posted by Peter Luzifer That doesn't prove anything. Two walkie-talkies might cause interference with each other, simply because they operate on a similar frequency, whereas a third walkie-talkie might not be affected... despite it being manufactured by the same company.

Psychics aren't radios...

But fair enough, how about some hard evidence then?

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/2156/cablea.jpg

That's from Cable #31 where he fights (and beats) Nate Grey. It's from the omnisicent narrator's point of view, so I say that's largely objective. Unless someone can show me otherwise, it's what I am going to believe.

Also in Cable #30, Cable states Nate Grey shares an identical psychic signature and "bio-signature" (which I assume is a fancy word for DNA). When both came within the same area, they experienced each others life/memories instantanesly in a bunch of flashbacks. Also Nate Grey sees a picture of Cable and is confused, stating the picture is him but older, another point towards how similar they're meant to look.

Finally when the two of them make psychic contact this happens:

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/3668/cablef.jpg

Even during the whole following fight Nate accepts they're the same person (in fact it's one of the reasons he's pissed off).

So yeah...


Edited by Wolfthomas - 22-Jul-2010 at 7:05am

Originally posted by Blackcyclops Bio-signature isn't the same thing as DNA...bio-sig is the energy signature that all living things emit...

  Cool thanks, but whatever it is, it is identical.


Edited by Wolfthomas - 22-Jul-2010 at 7:00am

Originally posted by Peter Luzifer So, if you have already chosen which one's the only answer you'd be willing to accept, why did you ask your question in the first place?

Well, when I asked my question, I hadn't read those comics in a really long time, the debate caused me to research the answer. But I wasn't just asking about Nate Grey/Cable, I was asking about every Alt, people like 616 Cap and Ulitmate Cap.

At this moment the only answer I'm willing to accept is the one with sufficient evidence, in those comics Marvel has stated they're identical, I will happily accept a more recent comic that says otherwise/retcons this.


Edited by Wolfthomas - 22-Jul-2010 at 8:19am

Originally posted by Monolith Those same comics you're citing also said Nate's power signature was identical to Dark Phoenix. I think there's room for interpretation.

Fair enough, I must of missed that, I'll have a look now. By the way who said that in the comic? Because it's important if it's a character or the narrator.

Edit: Okay so I read through Cable #29, Moira does not say his power signature is identical, she says "it equals the most uncontainable psionic energy we have on record -- The Phoenix". That statement is a indicator of how powerful Nate Grey is, not of similarity.

But that issue does give us this gem:

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/5644/cable1.jpg

Straight up evidence that Moira tested them and found them genetically identical.

Now at the risk of being arrogant, I'd like to say the onus is on anyone who disagrees with this to provide evidence to the contrary.

I'm also sorry it degraded into this argument, I was more interested if Exiles Mimic was the same as 616 Mimic etc...


Edited by Wolfthomas - 22-Jul-2010 at 5:04pm

Exiles Heather may not have been the same Heather AT ALL. It depends on how many errors you think Marvel is capable of.