In reference to John R.'s critique of the article "DNA Ancestry Tests Are
'Meaningless' for Your Historical Genealogy Search":
Despite the article's actual imperfections--unaddressed by John but pointed out to me
by a knowledgable third party--it is a fitting antidote to the unrealistic expectations
that many people bring to these tests and the overreaching conclusions they draw from the
results.
No amount of improvement in analytical techniques or descriptive refinements in
populational genetics will remove the present limits as to what autosomal DNA testing can
tell us about the groups to which our ancient ancestors belonged. The very nature of the
subject matter is such that it cannot be described unambiguously. Because gene
frequencies occur with great continuity across populations, our group origins can only be
expressed in probabilities.
Y-DNA and mtDNA tests suffer from an additional drawback in that regard: because each
pertains to a single ancestral line, both are limited to stating probabilities about a
narrow sliver of one's racial/ethnic/geographic heritage.
The article properly acknowledges, on the other hand, the efficacy of Y-DNA and mtDNA
testing whose purpose, as with the Carpenter Cousins Y-DNA Project, is to verify or
contradict a claim of descent from a specific individual who lived within the last few
hundred years.
Gene Z.
On Mar 11, 2013, at 12:01 AM, carpenter-request(a)rootsweb.com wrote:
Message: 3
Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2013 03:57:28 +0000 (UTC)
From: carstano(a)comcast.net
Subject: Re: [CARPENTER] DNA Ancestry Tests Are 'Meaningless' for Your
Historical Genealogy Search
To: carpenter(a)rootsweb.com
Message-ID:
<390248845.440221.1362974248357.JavaMail.root(a)sz0117a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Hello John,
I may be part of the wrong forum, but I appreciate the message. I give DNA presentations
and will be giving another one in a couple of weeks. This information will make a nice
addition as I try to explain to people where we are today.
Sincerely,
Jeff Carpenter
Rehoboth Group
----- Original Message -----
From: "John R. Carpenter" <jrcrin001(a)cox.net>
To: "Carpenter Rootsweb" <CARPENTER(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 10, 2013 2:46:56 PM
Subject: [CARPENTER] DNA Ancestry Tests Are 'Meaningless' for Your Historical
Genealogy Search
Hello,
I find it interesting watching the comments on the article ...
DNA Ancestry Tests Are 'Meaningless' for Your Historical Genealogy Search
Read more at:
http://www.medicaldaily.com/articles/14210/20130307/dna-ancestry-tests-me...
The article states ...
Professors David Balding and Mark Thomas of the University College London warn in a
public statement from the Sense About Science campaign group that (quote) you cannot look
at DNA and read it like a book or a map of a journey (unquote) without supporting
historical evidence.
In the strict sense they are correct. The European University system teaches that one
must accept facts of history presented and interpreted by experts within the field. And
based on their particular model, they are correct, DNA tests are meaningless. This is
similar to what is happening within the United States where certain types of medical DNA
testing must be (according to its proponents) presented and interpreted by experts within
the medical field. In a way this is trade craft (or union) protectionism at its best. It
assumes that people should be be told what to think and do by the experts or elites ien
those fields. It assumes people, not formally trained by the system, can not learn, adapt
and make proper adjustments to the standard system. It assumes that rocking the boat or
being a cowboy in the American sense is bad for society. To be blunt, it is part of a
generic socialist or elitist viewpoint. One must know their place to be a proper member of
society!
Even in the less strict sense their statement is mostly correct. DNA at this point of
understanding and technology is not accurate to be read like a modern historical book or
navigational map. I would use the historical understanding or allegory that current levels
of DNA learning is breaking out of its medieval period into its earlier renaissance.
Imagine what the history books and navigation maps were like back then compared to modern
versions.
We all know that the DNA lodestones can be helpful to our genetic journeys. We know or
should know that certain assumptions are made of the DNA mathematical modeling that show
DNA constellations or haplogroups. And we accept those limitations because we have found
the results to be helpful. We are finding paths, trade routes and understanding in our
journeys. Just think of how the Y-DNA Haplogroups have been redefined in just about the
last decade.
Genetic genealogy and specifically DNA has rocked the Euro-centric educational model. It
has had an major impact across major educational disciplines and forced a new way of
thinking about our past. As we (citizen & professional scientists) explore, journey,
theorize (i.e. create deep ancestry genetic stories), test and compare, please remember
... We are in the renaissance or the great awaking or revival period.
And as explorers and reporters of our genetic journey and mapping, ... resist the
temptations of the snake charmers and patent medicines of old to elaborate and not to cry
out ... there be Dragons here!
John R. Carpenter
La Mesa, CA
Carpenter Cousins Y-DNA Project
http://carpentercousins.com/carpdna.htm