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Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2007-10 > 1191880429


From: marianne dillow <>
Subject: Re: [DNA] 60 Minutes Genetic Genealogy Segment
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2007 14:53:49 -0700 (PDT)
In-Reply-To: <200710082116.l98LGTr4026640@mail.rootsweb.com>


Having said all of that, I think that was a grossly unfair piece of reporting. I think that the
legal aspect was unwarranted. They treated this topic like they were trying
to investigate some shady scam. Confusing, yes, perhaps to some. Shady,
hardly. I lost any respect I ever had for this show, and unfortunately in
the light of other recent reporting tactics, for the news media as a whole.
I will always watch everything else through the filter of realization of how
multiple matches could somehow be twisted to be portrayed as incompetence
bordering on fraud.

What a shame. They could have done such a nice, positive, encouraging,
wholesome, family oriented piece.

Roberta Estes
___________________________________________________________________________

I agree with you Roberta, I sent emails to 60 Minutes and CBS complaining.
I tried to point out that they need to become more educated as to the DNA process and that DNA is not that old and this a new frontier where technology and the scientific community are going to be making new discoveries in the future.

I also pointed out it would be nice if they would do a follow up with others who are more knowledgable in DNA and I also stated it was on the near point of slander to the people that have worked hard in this field of DNA and genetics and it was wrong to give the public an uneducated story and mislead the public .

They did present it as a investigative piece of work like so many other of their stories on 60 Minutes. I hope the public doesn't quit testing because of this. We all want matches and want to see this grow.

When the public doesn't know about a topic like DNA this kind of a story can sway the public in the diection of non testing. I believe education is needed in the area of DNA so others can understand it more. After 25 years of genealogy research I didn't really become acquainted with DNA until the last couple of years until I started seeing news reports where DNA results had proven those convicted of crimes as innocent of those crimes and they were released from prison because of DNA results. That was where I started becoming aware of DNA and not before.

Education is the answer with the public. The more the better to counter this kind of story making.

Marianne Dillow




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