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Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2008-05 > 1211032556


From: Vincent Vizachero <>
Subject: Re: [DNA] Some truth in article was Re: Answer from AncestorsMagazine
Date: Sat, 17 May 2008 09:55:56 -0400
References: <003301c8b758$909fb590$2f01a8c0@NORVIC><ECA162A6-C0E5-4CB5-A2E7-CD330237748F@familytreedna.com><C9E2A4B222644560A32F32BFF683F086@StephenPC><11985d4c0805161805i2af36244y1a260689b91b0996@mail.gmail.com><A3046CF758E5432FB125E8E1A7143B97@StephenPC><6110308144.20080516204556@daver.info><7kincaids%40primus.ca$142.154.19.49$.1A2FDD19EB854306829B924C6E34F72D@PeterAKincaiPC>
In-Reply-To: <7kincaids%40primus.ca$142.154.19.49$.1A2FDD19EB854306829B924C6E34F72D@PeterAKincaiPC>


The principle trouble with the article in question is that the author
did not understand enough about the tests to make a meaningful
evaluation of the results she received. Expecting a mtDNA test to
reveal the same deep ancestry as an autosomal test is a mistake that
should never have been made in print.

It is also worth noting that although the article appeared in a
genealogy magazine, the author did not appear to use any of the tests
in a genealogically appropriate manner.

These problems are so fundamental that any discussion about test
resolution is moot.

However, regarding your point two (copied below): twelve STR Y-
chromosome tests are not at all useless, or even "pretty useless".
Lots of people use them productively.

Vince

On May 17, 2008, at 9:07 AM, Peter A. Kincaid wrote:

> It is a complete waste . . . . for companies to offer low
> resolution tests (FTDNA
> knows their 12 marker test is pretty useless but they still sell it).

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