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Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2003-05 > 1051846598


From: "John F. Chandler" <>
Subject: Re: [DNA] Definitive list of loci/DYS numbers
Date: Thu, 1 May 2003 23:31 EST
In-Reply-To: bbailey.lowedna@baileyconnection.com message <005501c3104d$d916c460$4b0aa8c0@William> of Thu, 1 May 2003 19:54:56 -0600


Bill wrote:

> One point made there is that there is a law of
> diminishing returns as the number of markers tested increases.
>
> Alas however, I believe a match on 40/100 (0.40) is better
> than a match of 10/25 (0.40)...even though the probability of
> getting matches with more markers decreases...

Well, a match of only 40 out of 100 is neither better nor worse than
a match of 10 out of 25. Both are equally worthless. I think you
were really urging that 96/100 is better then 24/25. Indeed, it is,
but it is only twice as good, not four times as good. Alas, it will
cost about four times as much. This is the meaning of diminishing
returns.

John Chandler

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