"Beyond Scientific Doubt" is a mighty strong phrase. I know little about DNA tracing, beyond the fact that you can trace back along the male line... father-grandfather-ggrandfather with confidence, and you can trace back along the female line mother-grandmother- ggrandmother etc. That's mytochondrial DNA.... the stuff of Jurrasic Park. But as I understand it, the vast middle ground is very difficult to trace. I think that there are tests that can show how closely two individuals are related. In any case, I would like to see the not only the analysis, but more important a review by some true experts in the field (contrasted to plodders like me). Before we open up once again (choke, gasp) the eternal Jefferson-Hemmings debate, lets see some firm grounding of this new report. Randy Cabell ----- Original Message ----- From: "JEFFREY D SOUTHMAYD" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Friday, August 21, 2009 6:57 PM Subject: [VA-HIST] American Heritage Magazine Gets It Right > In the Fall 2009? edition? in an article "Monticello Reborn", it notes > that "...such as the analysis of DNA, a process barely imagined a > generation ago but now able to prove beyond scientific doubt that some of > Sally Heming's descendants were from a male Jefferson descendant." > > J South > > > > ______________________________________ > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions > at > http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html