Last Thursday, Ken Mullin delivered Part 2 of his presentation on ‘Genetics and Heredity’. 

 

Picking up where he left off previously, he delved a bit deeper in the nature of dominant and recessive genes, with examples including hair colour, eye colour, and the ability to curve one’s tongue etc.  He stressed that the process of sexual reproduction generates diversity in the gene pool in plants and animals which is important in allowing organisms to combat diseases and genetic faults.  He illustrated the latter with the example of the branch of the Hapsburg family who ruled Spain for several centuries.  Constant in-breeding led to poor health and genetic weaknesses in the family, culminating in the rather pathetic figure of Charles II who reigned 1661-1700 (pictured here).  He was in poor health and failed to produce any offspring.  The family fizzled out with his death.

 

Ken also talked about how mutations can affect history, citing the case of Queen Victoria who as the result of a mutation passed the gene for haemophilia – via marriages of her 6 daughters - to many of the European royal families.  The most notable carrier was her granddaughter Alix, who married Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia.  Their only son Alexis was an haemophiliac, and in desperation, the Empress turned to Rasputin for help.  The resulting chaos and mis-government was a contributor to the Russian Revolution in 1917.  And the rest – as they say – is history.