Final answer:
Novinha's identity in 'Speaker for the Dead' evolves significantly due to her Descolada research. She faces a moral and emotional dilemma that intertwines her professional and personal life, highlighting the complexity of her character.
Step-by-step explanation:
The discovery of the Descolada in Orson Scott Card's 'Speaker for the Dead' changes Novinha's identity from being merely a geneticist to someone with a complex emotional and moral struggle. Her role in the story is significantly impacted by her research into the Descolada virus, which affects the native and colonist species on the planet Lusitania. The revelation that the Descolada is an integral part of the planet's ecology, yet is deadly to humans and other non-native species, forces Novinha to confront her own ethical convictions and her sense of responsibility not just as a scientist, but as a caretaker of her family and the broader community.