magic inheritance/Re: Lily’s grandparents

[Bex]

No: HPFGUIDX 110009

Maya surmised:
> If we apply the rules of genetic inheritance, we must presume that
> being a witch or a wizard is a dominant characteristic (D). 
> 
> In that case, purebloods would be DD. 
>
> If a pureblood married a muggle (dd, where d is recessive) we'd 
> have these possibilities:
> 
> Mudbloods could be explained only by genetic mutation (not 
> something unnatural).  That's why Lily didn't need to have any 
> magical ancestors. 

Yb thinks:
I thought about this long and hard when I learned about Squibs, and 
it seemed hard to swallow. Then I found this link:

http://www.redhen-publications.com/Magic%26Wizards.html

This theory is excellent. It explains Squibs, Muggleborns, half-
bloods (I use the HB term to mean non-purebloods that aren't muggle-
born), and it has good reasoning why some wizards only excel at one 
or two magical subjects (Neville) while a muggleborn (Hermione) is at 
the top of her class.

Not that your theory doesn't hold water. Just I have a hard time 
believing that /every/ Squib and Muggle-born is the result of a 
genetic mutation. They (especially Squibs) are not all that common, 
but common enough for a name/social standing.

A single pondering: Where did the word Squib come from? Why use that 
term?

Maya also asked:
> My question is, why muggle parents would be so pleased to have 
> a witch in a family?

Yb responds:
It's different, and cool. Who wouldn't be psyched if someone in the 
family could levitate things or Apparate? (Except Petunia, of 
course.) Plus, it's pretty clear that Lily excelled at this strange 
new school (she made Prefect (I think) and Head Girl), so she's doing 
well, another reason to be proud. I'll bet Hermione's parents are fit 
to burst when they see her report card.

~Yb