Wizard Genetics - Or fun with Mendel's peas..

[quimbyquidditch]

No: HPFGUIDX 76041

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, jazmyn <jazmyn at p...> wrote:
> I have my own theory on Wizard genetics. Need a little simple 
Mendel set 
> up though. ;)
> 
> Chromosomes
> w = no magic
> W = Magic
> 
> ww (recessive -muggle- genes) = Muggle
> Ww (Heterozygous muggle/wizard) = Wizard
> WW (Double dominate Wizard gene - Presence of two W genes cancel 
each 
> other out and produce non-magical child) = Squib
<snip>
> Ww + Ww = 1/2 wizard children
> Out of 4 kids:
> 1 squib
> 2 wizards
> 1 'muggle' (might be passed off for being a squib though or this 
cross 
> might result in a lethal gene which might explain lower numbers of 
> children in pureblood families (except for the Weasleys, perhaps)
> 
> WW + WW = Squibs only (might be considered muggles after a couple 
> generations of Squibs marrying Squibs though, but in fact are 
carriers 
> of the 'magic gene'.
> 
> WW + Ww = 3/4 wizard children
> Out of 4 kids:
> 1 squib
> 3 wizards
> 
> WW + ww = All wizard children
> 
> (this however might explain muggle born wizards as one partner 
being a 
> 2nd or more generation Squib, causing it to appear to skip 
generations.)
> 
> Ww + ww = 1/2 Wizard children
> Out of 4 kids:
> 2 Wizards
> 2 Muggles
> 
<snip>
> Jazmyn

Now you've got me thinking.  I hate it when that happens!;-)

I C&Pd this from the HPLexicon.  This is Ron explaining squibs to 
Harry, as found in CoS, chapter 9:

"A Squib is someone who was born into a wizarding family but hasn't 
got any magic powers. Kind of the opposite of Muggle-born wizards, 
but Squibs are quite unusual."  

Of course, we don't know what Ron means by "quite unusual."  One in 
four may be "quite unusual" by Ron's standards.  Off-hand, I can 
think of two wizarding families with two wizard parents and more than 
one child.  There are the Weasley's, of course--seven wizard 
children, and nobody in the wizarding world seems to think this is 
unusual.  And then there are the Blacks--Sirius had a brother, who 
was a wizard, and at least three cousins, all witches, born to wizard 
parents.  He doesn't mention having any squibs in the family, and 
while him not mentioning it doesn't mean they don't exist, I can't 
help but think he'd mention it.

I'm too tired!

quimbyquidditch