I have no idea how the magic gene in Harry Potter is supposed to work, or how it first came about. It could have been some kind of genetic mutation, or maybe we--I mean, wizards--are a totally different species. I have no idea. Anyway, my question is, how long has magic existed? In other words, when did the ability to do magic first manifest itself in humans? Like, when homo sapoens first appeared, or Neanderthals, or after that? Mybe it was well after the first civilization.
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We have no evidence of a "magic gene" being responsible for the heritable character of magic...since some kind of supernatural soul exists in Harry Potter, it could be a characteristic of the soul, and you could imagine that when people have children and a new soul is created, the new soul gets some of the characteristics of the souls of the parents (Rowling is a Christian, isn't this sort of how the concept of 'inheriting' original sin from Adam and Eve is supposed to work? Christians definitely don't imagine there's a gene for original sin!)– HypnosiflJan 29, 2016 at 1:22
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@sumelic - If so, putting that information in the question would improve it and make it less likely to be closed--do you remember when/where she said this?– HypnosiflJan 29, 2016 at 1:28
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@Hypnosifl: it's mentioned in the question that rand al'thor linked to.– wyvernJan 29, 2016 at 1:29
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another related question: In Harry Potter, what is the ultimate source of magicians and magic?– wyvernJan 29, 2016 at 1:32
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1I am asking when magic originated, not how– CHEESEJan 29, 2016 at 1:35
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