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Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2008-05 > 1211060187


From: Vincent Vizachero <>
Subject: Re: [DNA] 12 STR tests are useful (was Re: Some truth inarticle(wasRe: Answer from Ancestors Magazine))
Date: Sat, 17 May 2008 17:36:27 -0400
References: <170684.52703.qm@web90401.mail.mud.yahoo.com><7kincaids%40primus.ca$142.154.19.142$.5E83FF626EE64B91B24FFAA1B62F5029@PeterAKincaiPC><D02A9CF2-E5B4-434C-B431-F436CA5AE732@vizachero.com><7kincaids%40primus.ca$142.154.18.220$.2DF3580E09BA4E3D9A5289AAF839AE79@PeterAKincaiPC><F571FF75-B610-447E-BC92-8CB94E89A385@vizachero.com><7kincaids%40primus.ca$142.154.18.221$.D0F8A3F36B3D459690FA53CEAFC4DADF@PeterAKincaiPC>
In-Reply-To: <7kincaids%40primus.ca$142.154.18.221$.D0F8A3F36B3D459690FA53CEAFC4DADF@PeterAKincaiPC>


On May 17, 2008, at 3:30 PM, Peter A. Kincaid wrote:
> A 37 marker
> test is better than and 25 marker test which is
> better than 12 markers.


And 12 markers is better than none, which is the tradeoff faced by
many. You must be living in a world in which someone else always
foots the bill. I hope the weather is nice there.

A 37 marker test is only better than a 12 marker test if it tells you
something that the 12 marker test cannot. If a 12 marker test is
sufficiently powerful to rule out a particular hypothesis, for
example, there is no utility in those extra 25 markers. No
scientific or genealogical utility, at least. 12 marker tests are
not always enough, but they sometimes are. That makes it useful.

I have a very nice Bosch 120 volt drill. It has more features and
more power than my 7.2 volt rechargeable Makita drill. Does the
availability of the Bosch in my workshop make the Makita "useless"?
Hardly. And especially not if I need to drill a hole someplace that
has no 120 volt outlets.

Vince


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