[HPforGrownups] Wizarding Genetics (WAS: Re: Mark Evans)

[MadameSSnape at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 85048

In a message dated 11/14/2003 7:30:13 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
amani at charter.net writes:
Taryn:
Y'know, that brings up an interesting question of how exactly wizarding skill 
is transmitted from person to person. JKR seems to imply here that it's 
genetics, using the example of two parents with dominant genes passing recessive 
genes to a child--hence, two black-haired people producing a redhead and "no one 
knowing why." But we /do/ know why. The thing is, recessive genes /were/ 
recieved from someone. I would imagine (I'm not a geneticist, so I don't know *g*) 
that recessive genes can be transmitted for several generations without 
appearing. So wizarding would, obviously, have to be a recessive gene in order to 
pop out from "nowhere" as it does with Muggle-borns like Hermione. However, it 
would seem (someone correct me if I'm wrong) that most all children with ONE 
wizarding parent seem to get the gene, which would work more for it being 
dominant. And just how many Muggles HAVE the recessive gene? Because if the ALL had 
it, I'd imagine it would show up a lot more often. (Maybe I should stay away 
from that--don't want to start another thread about Wizarding numbers. Numbers 
never were my strong point. ^_~) And then how do SQUIBS happen? It certainly 
isn't realistic to believe two people with a recessive gene someone have a 
child with a dominant one. More impossible than unrealistic.

So it actually seems that wizarding /can't/ be a genetic thing. Maybe it's 
more...well...magical. ^_^;;
******************************************************************
Sherrie here:

Hmmm.... :::playing with Punnet's squares:::  My theory is that the Wizarding 
gene is a dominant mutation - that is, the allele isn't present in the 
"normal" genetic makeup of the parent generation, but somewhere along the line 
something changes on the X chromosome (has to be X-linked - otherwise, there'd be 
no Hermione) that enables the magical ability.

The mirror, of course, would produce a Squib...

Sherrie


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