Even The Jedi Don’t Really Know What Midi-Chlorians Are

The Star Wars prequel trilogy introduced the concept of midi-chlorians, microscopic organisms connected to the Force, but even the Jedi didn’t really know what they were. Qui-Gon Jinn described the midi-chlorians as being symbionts with the Jedi, “lifeforms working together for mutual advantage,” and that they were essential for life’s existence and knowledge of the Force. This led to the common misconception that midi-chlorians themselves are the Force or Force-carrying vessels when they really serve as a conduit for living beings to touch the Force and understand its will. The Jedi Order used the number of midi-chlorians to measure potential Force sensitivity in Jedi candidates.