Weasley names- WW biology

[random_monkey0_0]

No: HPFGUIDX 40702

Tim A.:
> Why can't Ron be using his middle name?  His first name could be 
> Herbert or something... or Harry Potter's best friend could be Harry 
> Weasley!

I seriously doubt Ron's first name is Harry. Certainly we would have 
seen something like this in PS:

"You're Harry Potter!" gasped Ron. "Crikey, but my parents named me 
after you!"

"But I thought you said your name was Ron?" said Harry.

"Yes, but a year and three months after I was born, when you beat 
You-Know-Who, my parents legally changed my first name to Harry. I go 
by Ron, though, because that's what everyone always called me."

Okay, so scrap that theory!

Anyway, on to other questions:

According to biological definition, a species is a group of 
individuals so closely related that they can interbreed and produce 
fertile offspring. That's fertile offspring; horses and donkeys, while 
they can breed together, produce sterile offspring. 

Actually there are several pre-zygotic barriers. Let's see if I can 
remember them all:

Temporal isolation- the two organisms aren't in mating season at the 
same time. Not a problem for humans, who are always in heat. 

Behavioral isolation- one organism doesn't recognize the mating 
behaviors of another. Again, not usually a problem for humans.

Gametic isolation- The gametes don't recognize each other and won't 
fuse. Not there if offspring can be produced.

Mechanical isolation- Oh, how to put this tactfully... Tab B doesn't 
fit into Slot A. Sorry for any unplesant pictures you're getting...

Geographic isolation- Hard to mate when you're not together. Usually 
not a problem for humans.

There are also post-zygotic barriers:

Spontaneous abortion- The embryo can't develpo because the genes don't 
work together.

Reduced hybrid viability- the offspring is weak because of its 
messed-up genes.

Reduced hybrid fertility- The offpring is sterile.

So, if a veela and a human can have a baby, and the baby can have a 
baby, than they must be the same species. So either Fleur Delacour is 
sterile, or veela and humans are the same species.

The same goes for giants and humans, but with an additional twist; 
mechanical isolation. Yeah... Um... Me and my squeamish american 
stomach don't like to think about that.

So does anyone else have any thoughts? Maybe the fine people on the 
Wizarding Genes thread?

The Random Monkey, who had a little too much fun taking Gen Bio...