Republican father, Democratic mother, genetics of the daughters

[phylny]

Yes, I'm a proud Democrat who is married to a rather nice, fairly liberal Republican. I convinced him to vote for Clinton's second term and for Kerry in 2004 (with no small help from Jon Stewart) and we have three lovely daughters.

Daughter #1 was a registered Democrat in NY, but has recently moved full-time to Virginia, and is registered to vote there, so that's ANOTHER vote for Webb.

Daughter #2 turns 18 very soon, and has sent her registration form with the "Democratic" party checked off, and I will happily take her to vote in November with me.

Daughter #3 is too young yet, but is clearly a Democrat like the rest of the gals in the house.

So, for all of you who are biology/algebra wizards, does it mean that

D+R=(Democrat)x3

Heh, sorry - I'm not much for science or math but I'm proud to have three Democratic daughters.

(Oh, and bless me Father, for I'm gonna sin, because husband doesn't know where the polling place is and I may not tell him.)

[Crunchy Frog]

1. I guess that means that Republicanism is a recessive trait.

Watch out for the grandkids, it could come out in the next generation. :)

[phylny]

2. You're right.

I'd better boost the chances and make sure they only marry Democrats!

[Crunchy Frog]

4. Make sure that they only marry people who had 2 democratic parents.

The person below posted a good summary of the genetics involved.:)

[InvisibleTouch]

3. Here's the genetic arrangement:

Just for fun ... let's assume this is a simple trait controlled by one gene with two variants, or alleles.

From the results of the cross, we can see clearly that Democrat is the dominant allele; Republican is the recessive. Let's use "A" for "allegiance" to represent the "political allegiance" gene. Capital letters are dominant, lowercase are recessive - so A=Democrat, a=Republican.

Each parent has two copies of the allele; the possible combinations are AA (homozygous dominant; dominant trait is expressed); Aa (heterozygous; dominant trait is expressed, recessive is not); or aa (homozygous recessive; recessive trait is expressed). In order to be a Republican, your husband has to be aa; let's assume you're homozygous dominant for the Democratic trait, therefore AA. The genetic combinations then go like this:

Parents: AA x aa

F1 offspring: *All* will be Aa, heterozygous, but expressing the Democratic trait.

How the grandkids come out, will depend upon the genotype of their mates. The possibilities are:

Aa x AA = F2 offspring will be 50% AA and 50% Aa; all will express the Democratic trait.

Aa x Aa = F2 offspring will be 25% AA, 50% Aa, 25% aa; 75% will express the Democratic trait, while 25% will be homozygous recessive and express the Republican trait.

Aa x aa = F2 offspring will be 50% Aa and 50% aa; half will express the Democratic trait, the other half will express the Republican trait.

The bottom line: encourage your daughters to marry Democrats. :)

[phylny]

9. Just for FUN???

:)

Well, I'll print this out and discuss it with the girls ;)

[riona]

5. Republican parents

(of the rabid variety). I'm a Dem who is more liberal by the year.
:shrug:

[Lindacooks]

11. Me too!

I think it has more to do with environment than genetics. I was a repuke until I went to college and started thinking about things. Of course, my parents think I was corrupted by the liberal system (and my liberal boyfriend, now husband of 25 years), as though I don't have a mind of my own.

[Warpy]

6. My pop was a lifelong registered Democrat who voted pubbie

every time after Adlai Stevenson was defeated. He just didn't like paying his taxes. To his credit, his last vote was for Kerry in 2004.

My mother was a lifelong registered Repug (NY style) who had a brief flirtation with the Communists in the 30s, voted for Debs whenever he ran, and voted either Socialist or Democrat, depending who was on the ballot in whatever state they were living in.

Needless to say, political discussions in that house were, um, animated.

I remember realizing while I was still in Catholic school that the Repugs never did a damned thing for any working person--and I left that deplorable institution at the age of ten.

So yes, I'd guess voting GOP is a recessive trait.

On edit: I have twenty cousins. Only two are right wingers.

[fencesitter]

7. Ditto in my family

Republican Dad, Liberal Mum. Both my sister and I are lefties. Love both my parents, but man, could they argue after a few cocktails.

[AspenRose]

8. Same here!

Bodes well for my son then :D

[Waya]

10. Me Democrat - Ex- husband Repuke.........

.....(of the rabid fundie variety)

All three children (2 sons, one daughter - all of voting age) Democrats.:evilgrin: