Biochemistry
Description
Biochemistry is the study of all biological and chemical aspects regarding the Apocalypse: the aliens, their organic equipment, and their environment.
The end goal of most Biochemistry research is the Toxigun, although the lategame topics that allow you to progress through the Alien Dimension also fall under this heading.
While the Toxigun is the most powerful weapon in the game, and as such Biochemistry is generally worth doing, there isn't all that much of it to do as most projects are quite fast. After the first few weeks, your research will be limited by the progression of alien types rather than X-Com's research power; as such, multiple labs are unnecessary (a single standard lab will suffice until the advanced lab is built, and can then be dismantled as superfluous). If you don't want the Toxigun, you don't even need the advanced lab.
Projects
Note that aliens must each be researched twice, once each for their living and dead states. If a requirement or future path is written in italics, only one of the requirements must be met to unlock the later tech.
| Topic | Research Time | Required Bio-lab | Type | Direct Prerequisites | Research Directly Requiring |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropod | 8,000/12,000 | Standard | Autopsy/Creature | Recovered Corpse/Creature | Advanced Biochemistry Lab, The Real Alien Threat |
| Brainsucker | 7,000/9,000 | Standard | Autopsy/Creature | Recovered Corpse/Creature | Advanced Biochemistry Lab, The Real Alien Threat |
| Multiworm | 9,000/15,000 | Standard | Autopsy/Creature | Recovered Corpse/Creature | Advanced Biochemistry Lab, The Alien Genetic Structure (autopsy only), The Alien Life Cycle |
| Multiworm Egg | 8,000/12,000 | Standard | Autopsy/Creature | Recovered Corpse/Creature | Advanced Biochemistry Lab, The Alien Genetic Structure (autopsy only), The Real Alien Threat |
| Hyperworm | 6,000/9,000 | Standard | Autopsy/Creature | Recovered Corpse/Creature | Advanced Biochemistry Lab, The Alien Genetic Structure (autopsy only), The Alien Life Cycle |
| Chrysalis | 8,000/12,000 | Standard | Autopsy/Creature | Recovered Corpse/Creature | Advanced Biochemistry Lab, The Alien Life Cycle |
| Skeletoid | 10,000/15,000 | Standard | Autopsy/Creature | Recovered Corpse/Creature | Advanced Biochemistry Lab, The Real Alien Threat |
| Micronoid Aggregate | 20,000/26,000 | Standard | Autopsy/Creature | Recovered Corpse/Creature | Advanced Biochemistry Lab, The Real Alien Threat |
| Popper | 6,000/9,000 | Standard | Autopsy/Creature | Recovered Corpse/Creature | Advanced Biochemistry Lab, The Real Alien Threat |
| Spitter | 6,000/9,000 | Standard | Autopsy/Creature | Recovered Corpse/Creature | Advanced Biochemistry Lab, The Real Alien Threat |
| Megaspawn | 12,000/20,000 | Advanced | Autopsy/Creature | Recovered Corpse/Creature | The Real Alien Threat |
| Psimorph | 12,000/20,000 | Advanced | Autopsy/Creature | Recovered Corpse/Creature | The Real Alien Threat |
| Queenspawn | 15,000/25,000 | Advanced | Autopsy/Creature | Recovered Corpse/Creature | Alien Gas |
| Overspawn | 20,000 | Advanced | Autopsy | Overspawn Drop | None |
| The Alien Genetic Structure | 25,000 | Standard | Concept | Multiworm Egg Autopsy, Multiworm Autopsy or Hyperworm Autopsy | Biological Warfare, The Alien Life Cycle |
| The Alien Life Cycle | 30,000 | Standard | Concept | The Alien Genetic Structure, Multiworm, Multiworm Autopsy, Hyperworm, Hyperworm Autopsy, Chrysalis, Chrysalis Autopsy | Toxin Type B, The Real Alien Threat |
| The Real Alien Threat | 35,000 | Standard | Concept | The Alien Life Cycle, Multiworm Egg, Multiworm Egg Autopsy, Anthropod, Anthropod Autopsy, Brainsucker, Brainsucker Autopsy, Spitter, Spitter Autopsy, Popper, Popper Autopsy, Skeletoid, Skeletoid Autopsy, Micronoid, Micronoid Autopsy, Megaspawn, Megaspawn Autopsy, Psimorph, Psimorph Autopsy | Toxin Type C |
| Biological Warfare | 26,000 | Advanced | Agent Equipment | The Alien Genetic Structure | Toxin Type B |
| Toxin Type B | 15,000 | Advanced | Agent Equipment | The Alien Life Cycle; Biological Warfare | Toxin Type C |
| Toxin Type C | 15,000 | Advanced | Agent Equipment | The Real Alien Threat; Toxin Type B | Alien Gas |
| Alien Gas | 28,000 | Advanced | Agent Equipment | Queenspawn; Queenspawn Autopsy; Toxin Type C | None |
| Brainsucker Launcher | 9,000 | Standard | Agent Equipment | Recovered Equipment | None |
| Brainsucker Pod | 6,000 | Standard | Agent Equipment | Recovered Equipment | None |
| Entropy Launcher | 9,000 | Standard | Agent Equipment | Recovered Equipment | None |
| Entropy Pod | 7,000 | Standard | Agent Equipment | Recovered Equipment | None |
| Alien Building 1 | 30,000 | Standard | Mission Type | The Alien Dimension | None |
| Alien Building 2 | 32,000 | Standard | Mission Type | Completed Sleeping Chamber Mission | None |
| Alien Building 3 | 34,000 | Standard | Mission Type | Completed Food Chamber Mission | None |
| Alien Building 4 | 36,000 | Standard | Mission Type | Completed Alien Farm Mission | None |
| Alien Building 5 | 38,000 | Standard | Mission Type | Completed Maintenance Factory Mission | None |
| Alien Building 6 | 40,000 | Standard | Mission Type | Completed Incubator Chamber Mission | None |
| Alien Building 7 | 42,000 | Standard | Mission Type | Completed Control Chamber Mission | None |
| Alien Building 8 | 44,000 | Standard | Mission Type | Completed Spawning Chamber Mission | None |
| Alien Building 9 | 46,000 | Standard | Mission Type | Completed Organic Factory Mission | None |
| Alien Building 10 | 48,000 | Standard | Mission Type | Completed Megapod Chamber Mission | None |
| Bio-Transport Module | 9,000 | Standard | Vehicle Equipment | None | None |
| Advanced Biochemistry Lab | 16,000 | Standard | Base Facility | Any live Alien or any autopsy | None |
Suggested Research Path
Biochemistry research is extremely important in the early part of the game. After your Bio-Transport Module is researched and manufactured, you should be bringing bunches of live aliens back from missions. (You are using lots of Stun Grenades, right?) Your immediate goal is Toxiguns and Toxin-B, which can kill most aliens in two or three shots, have a high rate of fire, and ignore shields. Your ultimate goal is Toxin-C.
Your research should ideally follow roughly this order:
- Multiworm (or Autopsy)
- Advanced Biochemistry Lab. Begin construction (ideally at your second base) as soon as research completes.
- Multiworm Autopsy (or Live)
- Hyperworm
- Hyperworm Autopsy
- Chrysalis
- Chrysalis Autopsy
By the time your Advanced Lab is complete, your biochemists should be finished with the above projects, unless they are horrible. After the above are complete, research the following in order:
- The Alien Genetic Structure
- Biological Warfare (Upon completion, begin building Toxiguns, but NOT Toxin A clips)
- The Alien Life Cycle
- Toxin B
From here, you ideally capture and research an example of every alien in the game alive and dead. They can be researched in any order, at which point you may research The Real Alien Threat, prerequisite to Toxin C - which makes Toxiguns the best general-purpose weapon in the game if you have the resources to keep up with producing the clips.