GENEALOGY-DNA-L Archives

Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2004-01 > 1073275949


From:
Subject: Re: [DNA] DNAPrint Test Worked for Me
Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2004 23:12:40 -0500 (EST)
References: <20040104040658.91337.qmail@web41205.mail.yahoo.com> <005601c3d2c2$ee9d9920$94ced6d8@hppav>
In-Reply-To: <005601c3d2c2$ee9d9920$94ced6d8@hppav> (hubrich@execpc.com)


Lucy wrote:
> Perhaps he is referring to the way DNAPrint does the scoring--my real point
> was that the least a child could have would be zero of the genetic markers
> of a particular race, and the most a child could have would not exceed the
> sum of both his/her parents.

The point that you seem to be missing is that ALL the markers are found
in ALL the races (with a few notable exceptions). The test relies on
varying frequencies, rather than on yes/no switches. To use your terms,
the least a child could have would be ALL OF THE GENETIC MARKERS for a
particular race. (And, of course, that's also the most the child could
have.)

This is the thing that people have the hardest time grasping. The score
is not at all the result of counting markers and dividing by the maximum
possible. I said this in my last message, but it bears repeating. The
scores reported are purely statistical and represent the most likely
scenario for producing the observed genotype, on the assumption that the
reference samples are an accurate reflection of the "pure" populations.

John Chandler

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