[HPforGrownups] Magical Genes and Wands

[Jennifer]

No: HPFGUIDX 24174

Kavitha Kannan wrote:
> 
> Hmmm...OK...I saw it as dominant, but I'm seeing the arguments for
> recessive. lets see if I can draw squares on a computer.  D is
> dominant and the mage-gene and R is recessive and the non-mage-gene.
> M is magic, and X is...well, non-magic.
> 
>            R R      D R      D R      D D      D D
>         R  X X   R  M X   D  M M   D  M M   D  M M
>         R  X X   R  M X   R  M X   R  M M   D  M M
>                              The x from DR and DR is a squib.
> If the mage-gene is recessive
> 
>           R R       D R       D R      D D      D D
>        R  M M    R  X M    D  X X   D  X X   D  X X
>        R  M M    R  X M    R  X M   R  X X   D  X X
> Yeah, that makes more sense.
> And as was pointed out in another post, Squib-ness could be brought
> about by a diesese.  But I think Squibness (yah! I've invented a
> word! Ahem.) may just be a very latent magical ability.  Or why would
> Filch want the Kwikspell course?  Is he just grasping at straws?  Is
> it not intended for Squibs, but rather for people like Neville?  Or
> is it a way to charm (if you will) magical powers out of someone?  If
> so...could I possibly take a Kwikspell course, since I may well be
> the equivalent of a Squib?

I'm still a bit more fond of the idea that multiple genes control it. 
It's not unheard of, and actually even eye color (that standard of
biology textbooks) is controlled by several genes (thus we don't just
have blue & brown eyes, as those same books would like you to believe we
do).  Thus, people could go several (even dozens) of generations and
suddenly show up with magic...or suddenly show up without! *gasp*  And
also, thus the idea that Kwikspell courses might work, since the
probability of a squib having *some* of the genetic requirements is
fairly decent.

> And they do have math at Hogwarts, they have arithmancy with Prof.
> Vector.  If that isn't magic, I don't know what is.
> Next, I'm wondering, are giants magical by nature-we know they
> are "magical creatures" in a sense, but if giants and humans can have
> brats, then aren't they just impossibly (except it is possible) big
> humans?  Then, could a giant have magical power?

Possibly...as noted by Hagrid...going on the same genetic lines, someone
in giant history would've had to have been wizard-y.  Possibly some
human interbreeding, possibly a random mutation on their own.

  If so, why did
> Hagrid think he might not have been invited to Hogwarts due to his
> mother?

As noted, most people seem to think rather poorly of giants...which
means that a lot of people might not want him at the school (either fear
for kids or fear for selves, I suppose).

> And the werewolf bite: does it only work on wizards, or also on
> Muggles?  Why don't magical werewolves lose their magical powers?  Or
> are all werewolves naturally magical-that is, capable of magic?  Is
> werewolfism (more new words) genetic?

Lycanthropy (werewolfism) is more of a disease, as legends go.  Thus, it
could/would probably be passed on to children.  The actual disease
lycanthropy (does exist) is genetic, but it only means that you're
pretty darn hairy.
-- 
Jenny

"We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad."
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn't have come here."