Mythology of Heroes - Family Connections

Family Connections

Throughout the series, family connections have been seen. On several occasions, parents possessing powers produce children who also possess a power. Together, Nathan Petrelli and Meredith Gordon produced Claire Bennet. Although Nathan has the ability to fly, and Meredith has the ability to generate fire, Claire was born with the unrelated ability of cellular regeneration. The same can be said about D.L. Hawkins, Niki Sanders and their son Micah. The Heroes creative team has confirmed that, "similar powers do not mean a genetic link. We've seen that the existence of powers may be something passed on, but the powers themselves are completely random." However, this was the case for father/son Maury and Matt Parkman, who have similar abilities in telepathy, with Bob even commenting that Matt can do the same things Maury can do. This is also true for Peter and Arthur Petrelli, both of whom have the ability to absorb another evolved human's abilities (albeit with differing results for the original vessel of the borrowed or stolen power). Meredith Gordon and Flint too are brother and sister who both have the ability to start fire. Meredith creates a red flame, but Flint creates a blue flame (speculated for being hotter than Meredith's, which is what happens to fire). Maya and Alejandro are also a brother and sister with related, though in their case complementary powers. Maya's power creates a deadly poisonous gas when she is under stress, while Alejandro's power is the ability to neutralize hers.

Niki and Nathan had synthetic abilities and had children with powers that were not similar to their own. In all cases where a parent lacked a synthetic power (Matt and Maury, Sylar and Samson, Peter and Arthur) parent and child had similar powers (Peter and Arthur have similar abilities, wherin the method of use may speak directly to their personas, Matt and Maury have exactly the same powers, as do Sylar and Samson).