Subject
3 entries
Genetics
Bookmarks
The Genetics of Muggle/Wizard Inheritance
A fan-written genetic analysis explaining how the wizarding gene in Harry Potter could be singular, autosomal, and dominant despite apparent exceptions like Muggle-born witches and squibs. A delightful example of real science applied to fictional worldbuilding.
The Perfect Milk Machine: How Big Data Transformed the Dairy Industry
Alexis Madrigal's Atlantic piece on how the dairy industry used decades of genetic and performance data to engineer Holstein cows into radically more efficient milk producers. The best early example of big data optimization applied to a non-tech domain.
Why Supermarket Tomatoes Tend to Taste Bland
LA Times coverage of a 2012 Nature Genetics study identifying the genetic mutation responsible for why commercial tomatoes taste bland — a breeding decision made for shelf life and appearance at the cost of flavor. The gene controls sugar production in fruits, and modern tomatoes had it bred out.