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The Genetics of Harry Potter. Bell ringer: Why is it incredibly rare for a woman to have color-blindness?. Harry Potter. Here’s the synopsis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18cZhqdxk3E. Mendelian Genetics.
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The Genetics of Harry Potter Bell ringer: Why is it incredibly rare for a woman to have color-blindness?
Harry Potter • Here’s the synopsis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18cZhqdxk3E
Mendelian Genetics • Some traits work simply, like Mendel predicted. They are either dominant or recessive. Red hair is one of these. • Red hair is recessive to all other hair colors.
The weasleys • Red hair runs in the Weasley family
The Weasleys • Harry’s father had brown hair and Harry’s mother had red hair. What is Harry’s genotype? What are this father’s possible genotypes? • Harry marries Ginny, a redhead. What are the possible genotypes of their children?
HaGrid • Hagrid is a giant. Giantism is a genetic trait, however, it follows “incomplete dominance” rules. • Incomplete dominance is when alleles blend. Neither one is completely dominant over the other.
Hagrid • A normal wizard is about 5 to 6 feet tall. A giant is about 20 feet tall. Hagrid on the other hand is about 12 feet tall. What do you think his genoptype is? • Hagrid’s brother is 20 feet tall. What is his genotype? Can they be full brothers?
Harry’s Eyes • Harry’s eyes are often referred to in the books. Harry has green eyes. His mother had green eyes and his father had hazel eyes. • Eye color is a case of codominance. Blue eyes (i) are recessive to both brown eyes (IB) and green (IG). When green and brown are both present, hazel eyes result. • Draw a punnett square to show the odds of Harry inheriting green eyes.
Harry’s Eyes • Using Harry’s genotype, determine the genotypes of his and Ginny’s children (Ginny has brown eyes).
Magical Ability • In the magical world of Harry Potter, there are three kinds of wizarding abilities: Strong, normal and weak (also called squibs). • Magical ability is another incomplete trait. Those with normal magical ability have the genotype Mm, while strong wizards have MM.
Mr. Filch • Mr. Filch is the ground’s keeper at Hogwarts. He has hardly any magical ability. What is his genotype?
Magical Ability • Something else happens with magical ability: a silencing gene. • Sometimes, a gene can be turned on and off. Another gene controls whether a person will express the gene. In Harry Potter’s world, some people have no magical ability because it is “silenced”.
Hermione • Hermione is a witch born to two muggle parents (people who have no magic). A gene silenced her parents magical abilities, but not hers because she has strong magical ability. • What is Hermione’s genotype?
Hermione • A gene for silencing magical ability is S. It is dominant. Anyone who gets at least one S will be a muggle. Since Hermione is a witch, what is her genotype?
Hermione • Hermione’s possible genotype is MMss, indicating her strong magical ability. What are possible genotypes of Hermione’s parents who are Muggles without the ability?
Harry Potter • Will Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley have magical children? • Harry’s cousin Dudley is a Muggle. Is it possible for him to have magical children? How?