[Gryphin]

:: Caution Gryphin is fantasizing again :: You have been warned ::
Just a thought that evolved from Some1’s post about evolution.
Specialized research faculties. They might be in Metallurgy, Environment, or Genetics or more general Biology.
Using these facilities there would be Research ques for each of them. Areas of research could be Enhanced Racial Traits, Breathing Types, Home Planet Types. These could lead to “Specialized Populations”. With enough research you could create a race that could colonize planets and atmospheres you did not have.
Example: You are Gas Giant / Hydrogen. With enough Research you could “design” a race that was Rock / Oxygen.

Note: I don’t expect this to ever get coded but I can fantasize.