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Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2007-10 > 1191810666


From: Michael Maddi <>
Subject: Re: [DNA] 60 Minutes Genetic Genealogy Segment Up Next
Date: Sun, 7 Oct 2007 19:31:06 -0700 (PDT)


Anne Nelson wrote:

While I appreciate the publicity, I thought the slant
was negative and the information not adequately
explained nor completely accurate. I have emailed CBS
about it.

My reply:

I had written all the members of the Sicily Project
last night about the "60 Minutes" segment that aired
tonight. I noted that "60 Minutes" does both general
interest and investigative stories and that they may
portray genetic genealogy in a positive or negative
light or a combination of the two.

Having watched the report, I would say that it was a
combination of the two.

Obviously, the linking of the Harlem African-American
woman with a white farmer in Missouri through testing
at FTDNA was very positive. It showed the power of DNA
testing, when properly used through a genetic
genealogy company with a good database, to connect
people who never would have guessed, certainly not
found, that they have a distant cousin in a quite
different place and culture.

But, as Anne is reacting too in the part of the report
about the mtDNA results (I think it was L3d or L3e,
from a short glance at a report they showed) of the
same African-American woman, they did have some
criticism of the way that genetic genealogy companies
market what they can find out about deep ancestry
through DNA testing. I know from dealing with members
or potential members of the Sicily Project that many
people don't have much understanding of the limits of
genetic genealogy. I try my best to explain that
questions of deep ancestry, except in rare cases, are
never easy to answer with a reasonable degree of
probability. I think that's more where the problem
lies - the unreasonable expectations of some who turn
to genetic genealogy.

All in all, I think the report presented the potential
and also the limitations of genetic genealogy.
Hopefully, scientific discoveries and more people
testing will break down some of those limitations.

Mike Maddi



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