Scanning

Scanning is a method for the Transformers to change their alternate mode into the native things from other planets, such as vehicles or animals on Earth.

Generation One

Marvel Comics continuity

Four million years ago, shortly after the crash of the Ark, the Ark's computer detected Shockwave landing on the planet in the Antarctic land-out-of-time. The Ark used the last of its capabilities to revive five warriors and rebuild them to transform into the Savage Land's dominant lifeform: dinosaurs.The Last Stand

Animated continuity

Wake up, Prime! Don't make me use this to wake you up.

The Transformers aboard the Ark were damage and went into stasis lock after the Ark crash into the volcano, later known as Mount St. Hilary. Four million years have passed. It is the year 1984, and a volcanic activity stirs the half-buried Ark, awakening Teletraan I, the computer systems aboard. Teletraan I sends out a sky-spy satellite to reconnoiter this new world, and scans examples of terrestrial machinery in order to repair the Transformers and reformat them into new alt modes.More Than Meets The Eye, Part 1

Beast Era

Protoform Transformers are able to get new alternate modes by using the DNA scanned from the lifeforms of the nearby environment.

When scanning, the "scan beam" emitted from the DNA scanner can analyze the DNA data scanned from the lifeforms immediately. If the device scans a corpse or fossils, it is able to reconstruct the lifeform's appearance during its lifetime, such as the alternate modes of Megatron, Dinobot, Terrorsaur and Nightscream.

After retrieving the scanned DNA data, the data are sent to the C/R Chambers or C/R Tanks. The Protoform Transformers have to enter the C/R Chambers or C/R Tanks to get their new alternate modes.

There is also a DNA scanner mounted on each stasis pod, in order to get the DNA from the local lifeform of the planet where the stasis pod land on.

Some of the Protoform Transformers have DNA scanners inside their bodies, such as Nightscream.

Beast Machines

• After falling into a hole, Nightscream became unconscious. During that time, the DNA scanner inside his body was activate and scanned the fossils of a native big bat on the planet Cybertron, making him gain a bat-alternate mode. Forbidden Fruit
• According to Botanica, she scanned the DNA from the plant on the planet she landed on.

Transformers (2007 film)

See also:Trans-scan

Transformers: Animated

From Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki, a Wikia wiki.