A frame from the October 20th, 1967 Patterson-Gimlin film claiming to depict BigfootA Texas scientist claims to have sequenced the DNA of Sasquatch, a creature whose very existence is mysterious to many and purely mythological to most. <\/p>\n
\"Our study has sequenced 20 whole mitochondrial genomes and utilized next generation sequencing to obtain 3 whole nuclear genomes from purported Sasquatch samples,\" Dr. Melba S. Ketchum of Nacogdoches, Texas, says in a news release. <\/p>\n
\"The genome sequencing shows that Sasquatch mtDNA is identical to modern Homo sapiens, but Sasquatch nuDNA is a novel, unknown hominin related to Homo sapiens and other primate species.\" <\/p>\n
Ketchum writes that her team's research indicates the \"North American Sasquatch\" is a hybrid of a female Homo sapien and a male of \"unknown hominin species,\" whose DNA matched approximately 15,000 years ago. <\/p>\n
Sasquatch, more commonly known as Bigfoot, has been a staple of American mythology for hundreds of years. The modern Sasquatch theories took on a newfound prominence in 1958 when the first official Bigfoot search party was launched in California. <\/p>\n
Most members of the scientific community have discounted the Sasquatch theory. However, in a Sept. 27, 2002, interview with National Public Radio, Jane Goodall appeared open to the concept, saying, \"Maybe they don't exist, but I want them to.\" <\/p>\n
So, how do Ketchum's claims hold up under scrutiny? <\/p>\n
The Houston Chronicle's Eric Berger does some unraveling of Ketchum and the claims she made in the news release. <\/p>\n
For starters, Berger notes that while Ketchum has 27 years of genetic research experience during her career as a veterinarian, her company, DNA Diagnostics, has received an \"F\" rating from the Better Business Bureau. <\/p>\n
But more important, Ketchum has not allowed scientific peer review of her findings. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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