Cyborg

A cyborg (short for cybernetic organism) was a being that was composed of both natural and artificial systems, ranging from prosthetics to implants to entirely mechanical casings operated by or sustaining the organic parts of that particular entity.

Examples of cyborgs were sometimes victims of traumatic injury in which their biological bodies were damaged beyond their ability to heal. (DW: The Pirate Planet, Voyage of the Damned)

Both the Mondasian Cybermen and Cybus Cybermen were examples of cyborgs which, due to widespread use of standard parts, could be considered a race.

Sometimes pure robots such as K9 Mark 2 and CCPCs were nevertheless referred to as Cyborgs. (K9TV: Liberation, The Bounty Hunter, Mutant Copper) K9 himself commonly referred to himself as a cybernetic organism. (K9TV: The Korven, Robot Gladiators)



Known Cyborgs
Known Cyborgs and extent of alterations include:


 * The Daleks, - Kaled mutants in armoured shells.
 * Davros - Advanced Wheelchair, life support system, prosthetic third eye and later prosthetic hand.
 * The Juggernauts - Implanted Human DNA
 * Toclafane - Human heads fused into mechanical spheres.
 * The Dragon which guarded the Dragonfire
 * The Zygons' Skarasen -
 * Bannakaffalatta - Cybernetic chest, suggesting replacement of vital organs.
 * Max Capricorn - Head fused into a cybernetic casing.
 * The Captain of Zanak - Cybernetic mask and arm.
 * Atraxi - Encased in a crystaline starship.
 * Winders - Prosthetic second face and rotating head.
 * Mondasian Cybermen - Humanoid bodies placed underneath a metal shell.
 * Cybus Cybermen - Disembodied Brains or Human bodies placed within a suit of armour.
 * Cybershade - Disembodied Cat or Dog brains placed within a suit of armour.
 * Cyberdog - Mechanical legs and head.
 * Cyberslave - Flesh and Bone converted into metal via nanobot infection.
 * Drake - Prosthetic hand
 * Birdie - Implanted Human DNA

Emotions
Various cyborgs have emotions, and others do not. Bannakaffalatta had emotional feelings of attraction, kindness, attitude, self-sacrifice, humour and taking offence (DW: Voyage of the Damned). But on the other hand, both the Mondasian and Cybus Industries Cybermen had their emotions removed via an emotional inhibitor placed within their chest plate, because emotions would "destroy" them. This was proved correct when the Doctor stopped the inhibitors from working, causing the Cybermen, who were once human, to realise they were no longer human causing them to die from the shock. (DW: The Age of Steel)The opposite of the Cybermen's case occured in the CCPC Birdie who was originally a pure robot. The fact that he had emotions was a contributing factor to the fact he was a Cyborg. (K9TV: Mutant Copper)

Status
Throughout the universe, Cyborgs were found in various places. In Christmas 2008, cyborgs were aboard the Starship Titanic, (Max Capricorn and Bannakaffalatta), throughout the episode, it was spoken of how the society of the time despised cyborgs, although it was also described how cyborgs were beginning to get equal rights(e.g rights to marry). (DW: Voyage of the Damned)

Some cyborgs, such as the Daleks and Cybermen, were feared throughout the universe, due to their many attempts to conquer and destroy organic life.

Many cyborgs are used by organics as a workforce. (Toclafane, Daleks) The Toclafane were used by the Master to invade the world in the year 2008. The Toclafane were used to decimate 1/10th of the human population, as well as building rockets to go to war with the universe. Other cyborgs such as the Winders (DW: The Beast Below) and the Dragon (DW: Dragonfire) were used for various organic purposes.

Impact on organics
Some cyborgs befriended organic life-forms and formed attractions with them, whereas others had terrorised the lives of organics. The Cybermen for example, had made numerous attempts, and in many cases suceeded, in dominating, converting and killing organics. They had converted many organics into themselves, and removed their emotions, and in many cases, organics who are not compatible, or have other uses, had ended up being killed, painfully in many circumstances, by the Cybermen.

The Daleks have also had an impact on the universe, they have exterminated billions of organics, as well as many cyborgs, some of which are Daleks themselves. They have wiped out, or contributed to wiping out whole species (Time Lords, Human-Daleks) whereas they have also created new organics such as Human-Daleks and Pig slaves. (DW: Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks) Daleks were feared throughout the universe, have destroyed worlds and species, and nearly destroyed every single universe.

Many scientists of various species studied cybenetics such as Dr. Tanizaki, Professor Alistair Gryffen and Davros.

Origins
Most cyborgs originated as organic lifeforms who suffered bodily damage or loss of body parts, necessitating mechanical replacements.

The Cybermen originally were organics, but made themselves cybernetic in order to sustain their life force. (DW: The Tenth Planet, BFA: Spare Parts)

Daleks were originally humanoid organics, but then turned themselves into mutants, encased in polycarbide armour, in order to survive a nuclear war and to be efficient killing machines so that they could wipe out all life, but themselves and become the dominant race in the universe. (DW: The Daleks, (DW: Genesis of the Daleks)

Not all cyborgs were originally organic, both Mechanoids (BFA: The Juggernauts) and CCPCs (K9TV: Mutant Copper) were implanted with Human DNA. The results being the Juggernauts and Birdie.

Races
Various alien races have become cyborgs in the past. The Zocci Bannakaffalatta was one example, humans were another. Humanoids weren't the only ones to become cyborgs, the same thing has happened with other aliens, some of which were primitive animals like cats and dogs.

The Cybus Cybermen had produced two types "primitive conversion" of sorts, according to the Doctor. For the first, they had taken the brain of a cat or a dog and used it to create a less intelligent, more primitive and more aggressive and dangerous form of Cyberman, known as the Cybershade. The second was a dog with mechanical limbs and head, a Cyberdog.

Abilities
Cyborgs often possessed abilities which organics didn't have, Cyborgs were better at surviving injuries and could also live longer than most organics.