Magic and genetics (wasRe: The Mauraders' Generation)

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No: HPFGUIDX 123657


Hannah writes:

>So I guess we have to assume that the Muggle-born wizards/witches 
>are the result of a new mutation in the 'magic' gene.  As most half-
>bloods are magical, it wouldn't make sense for the gene to be 
>recessive.  Of course, there's also the possibility of multiple 
>genes being involved, or of imprinting... or just that 
>it's 'magic.'  I find the genetics of magic one of things in HP that 
>it's better not to think about too much!

Sorry, but the genetic thing is almost as fascinating as trying to 
figure out what's in the next book.  I'm thinking it has to be the 
latent wizard gene from a squib bloodline that's "triggered" by 
something else that would produce a wizard like Hermione from muggle 
stock.  Like the multiple gene idea Hannah suggested.  I'm writing a 
character that has X powers and somewhere along the second book I had 
to go back and figure out where these X powers came from and how the 
hero acquired them.  Eventually, even when writing fiction, you have 
to surrender to the wicked gods of logic or they will turn on you 
quite nastily when you least expect it.  (Turned out his mother had a 
secret affair with a being with X powers that dramatically affected 
my feelings toward the hero's mother, even though it affected the 
book not one iota because the hero never knew about it.)  I think JKR 
had to do this same thing with her characters, and has it all jotted 
down on a sheet of notebook paper stuffed in a drawer somewhere.  
Hmmm, maybe one of Hermione's parents had an affair with a wizard.  
We really don't know anything about them, after all...

Nicky Joe