A.M.’s answer to “I'm curious if your idea of the "woern" was inspired by "midichlorinians"?” > Likes and Comments

Taken from http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Midi-c... : "Midi-chlorians are microscopic, intelligent lifeforms that live within the cells of all living beings. The Force spoke through the midi-chlorians, allowing certain beings to use the Force if they were sensitive enough to its powers."

So whereas midichlorinians are said to be in all living beings to some degree or another, woern rely on ingestion/transmission to take up residence inside a person. Also, I see that woern come with the cost of neurological illness which does not happen with midi-chlorinians.

Goodness, please excuse my nerdiness! :)

Thanks for informing me! Yes, the Woern are transmitted via ingestion as well as exchange of body fluids, and infection is usually fatal. The mode and effects of transmission is explored quite a lot in the subsequent books.