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"DNA" is the second episode of Red Dwarf IV and the twentieth episode in the series run. It premiered on 21 February 1991 in the 9:00pm BBC2 time slot,^[1] although it was planned to be broadcast as the fifth episode, it was moved forward in the schedule by the BBC.^[2] Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye, the episode revolves around the genetic engineering technology that the crew discover.

Red Dwarf encounters a drifting spacecraft and the crew investigate, finding a DNA modifier. The Cat fiddles with it and accidentally changes Lister into a chicken, then a hamster, and back to human.

In trying to replicate his actions the Cat traps Kryten in the DNA modifier and he turns him into a human. Life as a human, though, is less interesting to Kryten than aspiring to be human and he asks to be returned to his original self. Not yet sure whether they know how to use the device, Holly suggests they try it on Lister's mutton vindaloo dish as a test, however the team inadvertently create a "mutton vindaloo beast". It seems indestructible and they have little choice but to use the machine to change Lister into a "super human — man plus". It nearly works as he becomes a Lister-Robocop hybrid but he is also shrunk to about one foot in size.

Lister finishes off the monster by throwing a can of Leopard Lager into its mouth and shooting the can. The monster then explodes and Lister reflects "Of course — lager, the only thing that can kill a vindaloo!"

"DNA", official full title "Do Not Alter",^[2] was intended to be broadcast fifth in the series run as seen in the repeat showings in 1992 and 1994.^[1] The change in the scheduling was affected by the Gulf War hostilities at the time, which meant that "Dimension Jump", originally the series' opener, and "Meltdown" were held back.^[2]

This episode changed the continuity of the relationship between Lister and Kristine Kochanski. It is established that they had been dating and that she broke up with him, an idea which had been introduced in the novel Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers.^[3] Doug Naylor and Craig Charles explained that Lister's infatuation with Kochanski, despite barely knowing her^[4], was unrealistic.^[3]

Richard Ridings voices the D.N.A. Ship Computer.

Bride of Frankenstein is referenced by the Cat regarding the way he looks when he can't use an electrical socket to blow dry his hair. Glen Miller is mentioned by Rimmer as to the reason of the alien craft.

Lister cites Descartes who said, "I am what I am", but Rimmer thinks that it Popeye the Sailor Man. When Lister is being chased by the vindaloo mutation he parodies Bruce Willis' line from Die Hard 2 "How can the same smeg happen to the same guy twice?" (He was previously attacked by what he thought to be a Shami Kebab in the series III episode Polymorph.)

Using the DNA modifier Holly turns Lister into a super-human fighting machine "Man Plus". The result transforms Lister into a small replica hybrid of Robocop. Jaws is then parodied in the final scene when Lister disposes of the vindaloo mutation by throwing a lager can into its mouth and then shooting at the can, making it explode along with the mutation.

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

DNA

• DNA at the Internet Movie Database
• Red Dwarf: D.N.A. - TV.com
• Episode Guide - Series 4 at RedDwarf.co.uk