What are muggles, anyway?

[rcraigharman at hotmail.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 20240

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Milz" <absinthe at m...> wrote:
> 
> They do research. The Wolfsbane Potion is a relatively new potion
> for lycanthropy. IIRC, in SS/PS, Harry saw a book in Flourish &
> Botts called New Hexes (or something along those lines) that
> included the Jelly-Legs curse. Dumbledore discrovered the 12 uses
> for Dragon's Blood. Then there's the activities of that mysterious
> Department of Mysteries. 
> 
> It wouldn't surprize me if there have been wizards and witches who 
> have studied why Muggles are Muggles and why there are Squibs.

True, but I have to wonder if these would count as scientific
research as we understand it.  After all, genetic research can only
go so far on Punnett squares and monastic gardens.

When I read of Dumbledore discovering the 12 uses for Dragon's Blood,
I envision the Edisonian type of directed trial and error that gave
us the light bulb.  Similarly, the discovery of the Wolfsbane potion
seems to be about on the same level as preparing foxglove or willow
bark or finding new drugs in our times by using the reports of the
indigenous peoples of the Amazon or South Pacific.

It seems to me that a search for the magic gene would require
greater science than the wizarding community uses....

....Craig