Cyborg
Cyborg is a shortened variation of the term cybernetic organism. A cyborg is an amalgamation of living, biological matter infused with technological enhancements. Most often, the technological enhancements substitute for an organ or body part that had been either lost or removed. The enhancements may be something small and unoticeable such as an implant or nanotechnology, but may also include replacements for larger affected areas including limbs, torso, spine, etc. Cyborgs are extremely popular in science fiction stories and have been featured in hundreds of films, novels, comic books and television programs. One of the more popularly known examples of a cyborg is the T-800 cyborg from the Terminator franchise. In television, cyborgs played a major role in programs such as Star Trek: The Next Generation and Battlestar Galactica. In Star Trek, a race known as the Borg was introduced and proved to be a threat to the Enterprise crew on several occasions. The Borg were also the central antagonists in the film Star Trek: First Contact. In the 2003 revamped Battlestar Galactica series, the protagonists find themselves waging a constant struggle against the forces of the Cylons. Although the Cylons are always presented as robots, their physical composition mimics human physiology so closely that they can easily pass for human even under intense scrutiny.
(See Also: Android; Robot; Cyborg; Known cyborgs)
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