Theory:Peter's ability

Main Article Theories about Peter's ability Main Discussion

The following fan theories are about Peter's ability.

For help on adding theories, see the help section.

Theories

Theory	Citations	Notes
Peter's new synthetically gained ability is maybe his former ability of empathic mimicry in an early stage of development.	Mohinder claimes that the abilities are manifested in the genes.	+ Why should Peter's DNA have changed? + It would still be considered a new ability to most people.
His ability is his father's ability of power absorption in an early development stage.	None.	+ Visually, Peter's ability has a great resemblance to his father's. • At least Mohinder has not lost his ability. Maybe Peter only absorbed a bit of it which would explain why Peter lost it shortly after. • Arthur had one ability that was not accounted for in the known list of his de-powered victims (telepathy). A potential limitation of Arthur's ability might be the retention of one power without needing to absorb it from the original owner. This caveat also provides a logical solution to how Arthur might have obtained Maury's power without depriving Maury of its uses. - His DNA cleary would have changed if Peter has power absorption. + DNA is important, but not all-ruling in terms of expression. Identical twins don't develop identically: differences in environment, subsequent changes to blood chemistry, etc, alter the expression of DNA, allowing for a certain disparity between phenotypes between individuals with identical genotypes. Mohinder stated that the formula interacted with an individual's blood chemistry to produce a synthetic ability; Peter could have just had a slighlty different chemical makeup, warping the manifestation of his powers.
Peter's ability is to change his secondary ability (Sylar's Telekinesis, Matt's Precognition) by changing his DNA. It's easier for him to do it while touching an evolved human and it's easier to keep track of the changes he makes.	None.	+ Peter seems unable to use more than one copied ability. - Peter having this ability also requires changed DNA. + But Mohinder said that as Peter collected his abilities his DNA was "resequencing itself". This could cause him to manifest a different ability this time.
Peter's ability is only an ability he copied with his regained empathic mimicry from another evolved human that allows him to copy and completely control a single ability. He still has the other abilities, but he has to learn to control them.	None.	+ it would be much simpler to explain, and he used to think flight was his only ability, so he could think this is his new ability. He could have absorbed it during the 3 month gap.
If Peter's ability is supercharged, it will work like empathic mimicry.	None.	+ Peter is still able to mimic abilities, but his new power is weaker than the previous one. Supercharging can help Peter to restore his potential at least temporarily.
Peter's new synthetically gained ability is like Rogue's from X-Men, except for the life draining aspect.	None.	+ He needs physical contact to take an ability. • Peter appears to be able to take on one ability at a time. + The limit of him retaining a power may be proportional to the amount of time he is in contact with person who holds the power originally, just like Rogue. - If that was so, duplicating Tracy's ability wouldn't have negated Mohinder's. - Peter seems to imply to Nathan that all he could do since they last saw each other (almost two months ago) was fly.
Peter's genes were changed by the formula, giving him a new ability.	The formula is called the genetic modification formula.	+ Non-powered people's genes are changed to give them a power, so maybe a depowered person's genes are changed to give them a new power. • Peter is the first depowered character to be given the formula so it's unknown how it affected him exactly. - The genetic modification formula gives maybe only a certain gene that activates a person's ability. Arthur took this gene away from Peter who regained it with the formula. - Arthur said he could give Peter his ability back. + Arthur was probably trying to deceive him so he could kill or detain him.
Peter regained his empathic mimicry power, however, his mimicry was weakened from the machine he was hooked up to on the plane.	None.	- He ran towards Nathan and physically touched him and then flew to safety. + Peter's empathic mimicry also worked by touching people. Also, Peter was holding Nathan to get him out of Pinehearst, not to gain his flying power. - No it didn't, Peter never had to touch a person to get their abilities before. And Peter might've not known he could only get new abilities through touch, he needed to touch Nathan anyway. He was just lucky. - He was fearful from the plane crashing, if he had his empathic mimicry then he'd be able to fly. + But if he was weakened, he couldn't use his mimicry on call. - Peter's mimicry has never been dampened because he was tired. + He'd would be worried about all the people on the plane, he can't save them all. - That has never held him back before. - He did not absorb Mohinder's ability in the taxi and he wasn't tired then. + By weaker, his ability now is touch based. Did they touch? It also appears to require conscious effort, it's not passive anymore.