Board Thread:Theories and Speculation/@comment-27082825-20150116155842/@comment-26023629-20150123004003

The idea of direct genetic tampering is not out of the question, true. That brings up a different set of questions about the level of technology and genetics research at that time, though I feel like Orochimaru's gene manipulations weren't all that advanced, really. Honestly, all he did to give Yamato wood release was literally change his DNA to be exactly like Hashirama's. Though, thinking about it, it's strangely easy to reproduce Hashirama's cells, isn't it? Everybody and his brother has his DNA by the end.

I still don't think that dust release could occur as a result of some mutation within the Land of Earth's kekkei genkai population. There's not enough genetic diversity. A diversity of genetic variations promotes mutations, not focusing an already small population.