10 Times Star Trek: The Next Generation Tried To Be Sexy
8. The Polyandry Solution (“Up The Long Ladder”)
Centuries ago, a group of spacefaring humans split in two and settled on different worlds. One half, the Bringloidi, sought a return to a simpler pre-industrial life, while the other half, the Mariposans, pursued scientific advancement.
When the Enterprise comes along, the crew finds that both colonies are on the verge of collapse. The Bringloidi are facing planetary destruction and the Mariposans have reached a genetic dead end, having relied on cloning to sustain its population for too long.
That’s quite a pickle, but Dr. Pulaski, ever the pragmatist, has the perfect solution: Polyandry.
Yes, the doctor insists that the Mariposans welcome the Bringloidi to their world, and in exchange the Bringloidi will provide free and generous use of their DNA. Specifically, to expand the population’s genetic diversity and revitalize the gene pool, each woman in the combined colony will have to bear at least three children, each from a different man.
The Mariposans are disgusted by the thought of traditional intercourse, while the Bringloidi, especially the men, are far more receptive.