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Via DNA, it says. But I can't get to the bottom of why DNA analysis is considered to be solid, when there are examples of it being quite flawed, eg with these

Via DNA, it says. But I can't get to the bottom of why DNA analysis is considered to be solid, when there are examples of it being quite flawed, eg with these twin sisters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isa5c1p6aC0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isa5c1p6aC0 Someone said that these consumer outfits are known to be trash - but I presumed that all DNA tests would end up going to the same labs, and those labs would use the same principles to test. There is quite a big question for me about the validity of DNA as evidence, when it is possible to show how some tests fail.

Tagbert 3y ago
Automatic genetic testing in a commercial lab is not the same thing as controlled analysis by anthropologists and geneticists.
- verisimi 3y ago
  Are you arguing that adding an anthropological interpretation over the top of the automatic testing adds value? Or that it is a fudge to make the automatic testing fit whatever criteria are required?
  - jvanderbot 3y ago
    I think the argument was that mass produced testing is of lower quality than top scientific labs dedicating all their expertise on a specific sample or two.
    - Tagbert 3y ago
      exactly
  - shakow 3y ago
    They are not the same process at all. Commercial ‶automated″ kits only genotype you, i.e. look at a couple thousands of well known SNPs to put you in the group you share more with. Resolution is low, extrapolation is virtually impossible, but it's cheap and fast, and Uncle Joe can claim his 15% Italian ancestry. Work like those done on these denisovan is a whole other can of worms, which is still a very vibrant field (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_DNA https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_DNA) – at least it was when I left it a couple years ago. The main difference being that it's trying to sequence as much of the genome as possible, using the better preserved DNA molecules, typically in the teeth or some places in the skull. Then it's dozen of hours of menial work by specialized worker using protocols light-years ahead of what is done for the commercial kits. To make a good ol' HN car comparison, it would be like saying that because some chain carshop once screwed your head gasket change, there is no way anyone could ever restore a Cobra.
kjkjadksj 3y ago
Those kits are genotyping you. For these ancient dna analysis they are performing whole genome sequencing which is a different technology.

Tagbert 3y ago

Automatic genetic testing in a commercial lab is not the same thing as controlled analysis by anthropologists and geneticists.

verisimi 3y ago
Are you arguing that adding an anthropological interpretation over the top of the automatic testing adds value? Or that it is a fudge to make the automatic testing fit whatever criteria are required?
- jvanderbot 3y ago
  I think the argument was that mass produced testing is of lower quality than top scientific labs dedicating all their expertise on a specific sample or two.
  - Tagbert 3y ago
    exactly
- shakow 3y ago
  They are not the same process at all. Commercial ‶automated″ kits only genotype you, i.e. look at a couple thousands of well known SNPs to put you in the group you share more with. Resolution is low, extrapolation is virtually impossible, but it's cheap and fast, and Uncle Joe can claim his 15% Italian ancestry. Work like those done on these denisovan is a whole other can of worms, which is still a very vibrant field (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_DNA https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_DNA) – at least it was when I left it a couple years ago. The main difference being that it's trying to sequence as much of the genome as possible, using the better preserved DNA molecules, typically in the teeth or some places in the skull. Then it's dozen of hours of menial work by specialized worker using protocols light-years ahead of what is done for the commercial kits. To make a good ol' HN car comparison, it would be like saying that because some chain carshop once screwed your head gasket change, there is no way anyone could ever restore a Cobra.

kjkjadksj 3y ago

Those kits are genotyping you. For these ancient dna analysis they are performing whole genome sequencing which is a different technology.