12

Out of universe, hybrids of two distinct species are not fertile if the two species diverged too long ago (the mule is a good example of this).

I guess biology is a little different with magic involved, but with this in mind : are half giants fertile in the potterverse ?

Any kind of fertility counts, between them, with a human or a giant.

Improve this question
7
  • 2
    How are we supposed to know that?
    – Gallifreyan
    Aug 19, 2017 at 21:14
  • 10
    @Gallifreyan : The Yes answer could be easily provided if we know a half giant had a daughter/son. A No answer could be trickier but might have been dropped in interview. I am not deeply familiar with the universe, but some allusions might have appeared as well.
    – Edelk
    Aug 19, 2017 at 21:17
  • 1
    @Gallifreyan The same way we know most things? There's either direct evidence to say definitively one way or another, or we reason about it based on what we do know.
    – Anthony Grist
    Aug 19, 2017 at 21:32
  • 3
    I've voted to close. There's no instance of this in the books or supplementary materials so any answer is likely.to be purely based on personal opinion.
    – Valorum
    Aug 20, 2017 at 7:47
  • 1
    It's not a dupe as such but since Hagrid is the only known half-giant this question is kind of answered here.
    – The Dark Lord
    Aug 28, 2017 at 8:08

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
3

Probably Yes.

First of all, other Half-Species in the Potter universe are fertile:

Veela:

“An ’air from ze ’ead of a veela,” said Fleur. “One of my grandmuzzer’s.” (GOF)

Troll:

Harry thought Flint looked as if he had some troll blood in him. (PS)

And

“Told them I was Stan Shunpike. First person I could think of.” “And they believed that?” “They weren’t the brightest. One of them was definitely part troll, the smell off him. . . .”

Some and Part imply less than half is a possibility.

So we see that according to JKR, when magic humanoids interbreed with wizards, they're fertile. There's no reason to assume giants are different.

But theres also another reason to assume that there fertile, from a biological perspective: Due to survival of the fittest, almost no animal will naturally mate with a specie from which it cannot produce offspring (This is the reason that nearly all hybrids [such as mules and camas] are created by human intervention - otherwise they would not mate.) Since we know Giants will mate with humans without human's forceful intervention, it is safe to assume that their offspring can be fertile.

Improve this answer
10
  • 2
    With the exception of the quote from goblet of fire, the others could just be being mean, like if you said someone portly was part hippo.
    – Valorum
    Dec 26, 2017 at 11:31
  • @Valorum I'm aware, but when was the last time you heard someone being insulted as 'Part Pig' or 'Part Cow'? The "commonness of the insult implies they're interbreedable.
    – TheAsh
    Dec 26, 2017 at 11:40
  • Referring to someone's mother-in-law as a "fat cow" is a time honoured tradition in British sitcoms. That doesn't mean that the daughter is literally part cow, part human.
    – Valorum
    Dec 26, 2017 at 11:42
  • It can be confusing to discern an offensive metaphor in a world where magical beings like werewolves and veela can interbreed, but the wording can tip you off. Troll look and smell definitely used derogatorily here :)
    – user68762
    Dec 26, 2017 at 11:52
  • 1
    @TheAsh everything is possible in HP if the author choses so, but troll-human breeding is less probable, and I'd say it wasn't the JKR's intent to present it so. But i admire how seriously you researched the subject :)
    – user68762
    Dec 26, 2017 at 12:17
-2

From a purely biological standpoint, there are two options, one, he is not fertile, or two his line will undergo linear decay. This means that he can have children, but the likelihood of his children being fertile deceases with each generation. Of course, it is stated on pottermore that all nonmagical maladies can be cured via magic, so a genetic conditionality such as linear decay could likely be treated.

Improve this answer
2
  • 3
    So what you're saying is that Hagrid might or might not be fertile.
    – Valorum
    Oct 13, 2017 at 14:46
  • If my memory serves The history of Neanderthal introgression into Eurasians populations show that male hybrid infertility is mostly common in the first 2 generations, So I'm interested in your sources
    – Edelk
    Oct 13, 2017 at 15:03

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.