All that is known of its origins is that it was from a later period of Earth's history and crewed by a human — who died after the DNA-transforming machine on board caused him to grow three heads.This was an unnamed vessel of extremely advanced construction — so much so that Rimmer assumed it belonged to aliens intent on returning Glenn Miller. Its most notable feature, however, was the advanced machine for the transmogrification of human DNA. This machine was so advanced it could turn, say, a human being into a chicken and back again without lasting effects.
It could also turn a mechanoid into a human being, if there were even the slightest organic material used in the mechanoid's construction. Kryten used the DNA machine to become human for a time, if somewhat accidentally.
However as the Dwarfers discovered the DNA transforming machine could also malfunction; for example, when Lister tried to turn a mutton vindaloo into a chicken vindaloo, it reanimated the dead organic matter creating into a ravenous snarling beast (referred to as "the Mutton Vindaloo Beast" or the "Curry Monster"). Lister then used the DNA machine to make Robocop-like armour so that he could battle the Curry Monster. In the end Lister killed the Curry Monster by exploding cans of lager in its mouth, as lager is "the only thing which can kill a vindaloo".
Lister and Kryten used the DNA machine one last time to revert back to their original states, and the DNA ship was not seen again.
