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The '''magic gene''' is a portion of [[human]] {{wplink|DNA}} that determines whether a person will have [[magic]]al abilities. Those people born with the gene active are [[Wizards|witches and wizards]], while those who are not are [[Muggle]]s or [[Squib]]s.
 
The '''magic gene''' is a portion of [[human]] {{wplink|DNA}} that determines whether a person will have [[magic]]al abilities. Those people born with the gene active are [[Wizards|witches and wizards]], while those who are not are [[Muggle]]s or [[Squib]]s.
   
The magic gene is recessive<ref>[http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/extrastuff_view.cfm?id=19 J.K.Rowling Official Site]</ref> (1), and any child born to a wizarding family will have some degree of magical ability, or at least magical awareness. [[Squib]]s, while unable to use magic, are still able to function within the [[wizarding world]] to a limited degree. The descendants of squibs who instead integrate into the [[Muggle]] world and marry will usually be Muggles, although the magic gene occasionally resurfaces in later generations and produces a [[Muggle-born]] witch or wizard<ref>[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2007/0730-bloomsbury-chat.html J.K. Rowling and the Live Chat, Bloomsbury.com, 30 July, 2007]</ref>.
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The magic gene is dominant<ref>[http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/extrastuff_view.cfm?id=19 J.K.Rowling Official Site]</ref>, and any child born to a wizarding family will have some degree of magical ability, or at least magical awareness. [[Squib]]s, while unable to use magic, are still able to function within the [[wizarding world]] to a limited degree. The descendants of squibs who instead integrate into the [[Muggle]] world and marry will usually be Muggles, although the magic gene occasionally resurfaces in later generations and produces a [[Muggle-born]] witch or wizard<ref>[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2007/0730-bloomsbury-chat.html J.K. Rowling and the Live Chat, Bloomsbury.com, 30 July, 2007]</ref>.
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
*J.K. Rowling stated that she had considered having [[Dudley Dursley]] have a magical child in the epilogue, and see them off to [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] at [[King's Cross Station|Platform 9&frac34;]] at the same time as Harry and his family. She decided against this, however, stating that any latent wizarding genes would never survive contact with Uncle Vernon's DNA.<ref>[http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/extrastuff_view.cfm?id=26 J.K.Rowling Official Site, Section: Extra Stuff]</ref>
 
*J.K. Rowling stated that she had considered having [[Dudley Dursley]] have a magical child in the epilogue, and see them off to [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] at [[King's Cross Station|Platform 9&frac34;]] at the same time as Harry and his family. She decided against this, however, stating that any latent wizarding genes would never survive contact with Uncle Vernon's DNA.<ref>[http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/extrastuff_view.cfm?id=26 J.K.Rowling Official Site, Section: Extra Stuff]</ref>
*According to J.K. Rowling, nobody knows where magic comes from.
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*According to J.K. Rowling, nobody knows where magic comes from.<ref>[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/1999/0399-barnesandnoble.html Barnes and Noble interview, March 19, 1999]</ref>
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*Despite the magic gene being dominant, that doesn't explain Squibs or Muggle-borns, or how muggle borns manifest their powers the same way as Half-bloods or Pure-bloods. It is therefore possible that magic is controlled by more than one gene or is only partially dominant.
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
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==Notes and references==
 
==Notes and references==
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{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}(1) http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Harry-Potter-genetics-B1-revision-Year-10-6057261/
 
 
 
   
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
 
*[http://mypocketshurt90.tumblr.com/post/27495622491/i-sent-this-paper-to-jk-rowling-explaining-how-the Paper sent to JK Rowling explaining how the wizarding gene could be singular, autosomal, and dominant]
 
*[http://mypocketshurt90.tumblr.com/post/27495622491/i-sent-this-paper-to-jk-rowling-explaining-how-the Paper sent to JK Rowling explaining how the wizarding gene could be singular, autosomal, and dominant]
[[Category:Genetics]]
 
[[Category:Magic]]
 
[[Category:Genetics]]
 
[[Category:Magic]]
 
 
[[Category:Genetics]]
 
[[Category:Genetics]]
 
[[Category:Magic]]
 
[[Category:Magic]]

Revision as of 20:50, 27 February 2013

The magic gene is a portion of human DNA that determines whether a person will have magical abilities. Those people born with the gene active are witches and wizards, while those who are not are Muggles or Squibs.

The magic gene is dominant[1], and any child born to a wizarding family will have some degree of magical ability, or at least magical awareness. Squibs, while unable to use magic, are still able to function within the wizarding world to a limited degree. The descendants of squibs who instead integrate into the Muggle world and marry will usually be Muggles, although the magic gene occasionally resurfaces in later generations and produces a Muggle-born witch or wizard[2].

Behind the scenes

  • J.K. Rowling stated that she had considered having Dudley Dursley have a magical child in the epilogue, and see them off to Hogwarts at Platform 9¾ at the same time as Harry and his family. She decided against this, however, stating that any latent wizarding genes would never survive contact with Uncle Vernon's DNA.[3]
  • According to J.K. Rowling, nobody knows where magic comes from.[4]
  • Despite the magic gene being dominant, that doesn't explain Squibs or Muggle-borns, or how muggle borns manifest their powers the same way as Half-bloods or Pure-bloods. It is therefore possible that magic is controlled by more than one gene or is only partially dominant.

Appearances

Notes and references

External links