Definitions:
werewolf - a person who has the ability of transforming into a wolf
animagus - a wizard or witch who is capable of assuming the shape of an animal
Summary:
In the third Harry Potter book, Harry meets his godfather Sirius Black who was a prisoner in Azkaban for being accused of committing the murder of Peter Pettigrew. Sirius Black escapes out of Azkaban and comes to Hogwarts to kill Peter. Harry's Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Lupin, is an old friend of Black's and helps him capture Peter. After they capture Pettigrew, Lupin, who is a werewolf, sees a full moon and turns into a werewolf. When Lupin sees the full moon, his whole body first grows rigid, and then he starts shaking. His head and body lengthen, and his shoulders hunch. Hair starts to grow on his face and hands, and his hands turn into clawed paws. Within all the chaos, Peter who is an animagus is able to change into a rat and escape.
Discussion:
Werewolves, I think, are very rare and only transform on a full moon. I think the full moon gives off rays that only effect those with the werewolf gene. When the rays are absorbed by the werewolf, the gene that makes the hair grow suddenly is activated as well as the other genes that transform the werewolf from a human form into a werewolf. Not only are the physical characteristics changed, when a werewolf transforms, he has no control over his thoughts and will try to bite any human he can find, even if it is his own best friend. I think this is because of the adrenaline rush, and the werewolf's thoughts are uncontrollable.
Questions:
1. How, if possible at all, can a werewolf learn to control his mania to bite humans?
2. Is it possible for scientists to engineer a gene to build an actual werewolf?
Citation:
Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. N.p.: Arthur A. Levine Books, 1999. Print.
