Obviously, a dupe can create its own dupes and reabsorb them.
But can a dupe reabsorb any other dupe, regardless of lineage?

I believe so, but I can't think of a specific example.

In this case, why bother with a Madrox "Prime"? What particular role does he have in the collective?

" In this case, why bother with a Madrox "Prime"? What particular role does he have in the collective? "

" I cannot think of a specific example, however, when Madrox succumbed to the legacy virus, a dupe became the new Madrox Prime.

@John Valentine

Moreover, in order that they display certain skills/feats, they must have been made after Madrox Prime initially acquired said skill. "

" @John Valentine said:

" I cannot think of a specific example, however, when Madrox succumbed to the legacy virus, a dupe became the new Madrox Prime.

Wasn't it retconned as the dead Madrox having been a dupe all along?
 

@John Valentine

said:

Moreover, in order that they display certain skills/feats, they must have been made after Madrox Prime initially acquired said skill. "

They can also learn new skills on their own, which Madrox Prime won't possess until after he reabsorbed them. "

Yes, they can. New dupes will only possess the new skill if Madrox has reabsorbed the dupe who acquired the skill.

" @John Valentine said:

Yes, they can. New dupes will only possess the new skill if Madrox has reabsorbed the dupe who acquired the skill.

New dupes will also possess the new skill if they were created by the dupe who acquired the skill. Reabsorbing another dupe can provide them with new skills as well.  In my opinion, it is really weird to have Madrox Prime on one side and a disorganised bunch of dupes on the other. I much prefer to think of Madrox Prime as the root of a tree. He has dupes, including the dupes' dupes. Each dupe has its own subset of dupes. And so on. "

" @Nolim said:

" @John Valentine said:

Yes, they can. New dupes will only possess the new skill if Madrox has reabsorbed the dupe who acquired the skill.

New dupes will also possess the new skill if they were created by the dupe who acquired the skill. Reabsorbing another dupe can provide them with new skills as well.  In my opinion, it is really weird to have Madrox Prime on one side and a disorganised bunch of dupes on the other. I much prefer to think of Madrox Prime as the root of a tree. He has dupes, including the dupes' dupes. Each dupe has its own subset of dupes. And so on. "

Wait, can dupes reabsorb/ create dupes? "

Part of my reasons for starting this thread is something I read about Chaos War X-Men #1.

Louise Simonson said in an interview *very minor spoiler*: 

And these Multiple Men, who were happily part of a composite, are now, in death, stuck as separate beings and long for the old unity. They don't have flashy powers. Will they be good enough?

" Part of my reasons for starting this thread is something I read about Chaos War X-Men #1.

Louise Simonson said in an interview *very minor spoiler*: 

And these Multiple Men, who were happily part of a composite, are now, in death, stuck as separate beings and long for the old unity. They don't have flashy powers. Will they be good enough?

 
Since Madrox's powers were never considered "flashy", she may or may not mean they lost them. And if they didn't, they might be unable to merge because of the absence of Madrox Prime.
"