[001]
Ronfar
Current Version
Changed line(s) 1 from:
n
JKR is terrible at genetics. No, really; she says that \
to:
JKR is terrible at genetics. No, really; she says that \\\"magic is a rare and dominant gene\\\", which would make Muggleborns essentially impossible. That\\\'s fine; she wasn\\\'t writing a book on genetics. [[http://www.journalfen.net/community/the_hms_stfu/492170.html?thread=17023626#t17023626 See here.]]
If you want a handwave as to why Squibs aren\\\'t vanishingly rare, consider that certain genetic disorders such as Down Syndrome (yes, I know, it\\\'s trisomy rather than a point mutation) have an incidence of closer to 1 in 1000. Apparently there are certain effects that can make particular genetic effects far more likely than mere chance.
But in any case, yes, the Squib effect is caused by a birth defect. Squibs still carry one copy of the recessive magic gene, and, given random mixing, you have Muggleborns popping up in accordance with [[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hardy-Weinberg_Principle the Hardy-Weinberg principle]]. If one in a thousand Muggles is actually a Squib, then in the next generation, one in a million will be a Muggleborn wizard.
If you want a handwave as to why Squibs aren\\\'t vanishingly rare, consider that certain genetic disorders such as Down Syndrome (yes, I know, it\\\'s trisomy rather than a point mutation) have an incidence of closer to 1 in 1000. Apparently there are certain effects that can make particular genetic effects far more likely than mere chance.
But in any case, yes, the Squib effect is caused by a birth defect. Squibs still carry one copy of the recessive magic gene, and, given random mixing, you have Muggleborns popping up in accordance with [[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hardy-Weinberg_Principle the Hardy-Weinberg principle]]. If one in a thousand Muggles is actually a Squib, then in the next generation, one in a million will be a Muggleborn wizard.
