Comments on: History’s Mysteries: Finding Answers in our DNA http://spittoon.23andme.com/2009/02/24/historys-mysteries-finding-answers-in-our-dna/ A receptacle for genetic knowledge. Sat, 13 Feb 2010 03:51:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: sprague http://spittoon.23andme.com/2009/02/24/historys-mysteries-finding-answers-in-our-dna/comment-page-1/#comment-1573 sprague Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:19:52 +0000 http://spittoon.23andme.com/?p=2895#comment-1573 Re: Thomas Jefferson, it's important to point out that the Y chromosome results are based on lineage from Jefferson's <i>father</i>, not Jefferson himself, who left no male heirs who can be tested. Strictly speaking the test does not prove that Thomas Jefferson ever had a relationship with Hemmings. Indeed, from a DNA perspective it is equally likely that Eston Hemmings was descended from Jefferson's brother, Randolf. On a deeper level, this is an example of how a genetic result can easily get over-interpreted and take more significance than is strictly merited by the scientific evidence. Re: Thomas Jefferson, it’s important to point out that the Y chromosome results are based on lineage from Jefferson’s father, not Jefferson himself, who left no male heirs who can be tested.

Strictly speaking the test does not prove that Thomas Jefferson ever had a relationship with Hemmings. Indeed, from a DNA perspective it is equally likely that Eston Hemmings was descended from Jefferson’s brother, Randolf.

On a deeper level, this is an example of how a genetic result can easily get over-interpreted and take more significance than is strictly merited by the scientific evidence.

]]>