In West Texas, “DNA” may mean “Don’t kNow Anything.” One attorney ad litem in the Texas CPS case told me this afternoon:
It is true that some DNA tests are coming back inconclusive. I received results today on one of my clients and the DNA analysis was unable to establish a mother or father of the child. I’m not sure what this means in a practical sense, but I was surprised at the result. I thought DNA analysis was very very specific.
Input from scientists or defense counsel with expertise in this area would be most welcome.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Kleiglights 08.04.08 at 1:59 pm
I don’t qualify as a scientist or defense counsel, but I know how to use Google. There are some 510,00 citations for “DNA + shortcomings.” Does that say something? Its accuracy has apparently been overblown.
Kleiglights 08.04.08 at 2:08 pm
This gets better and better. Even if you narrow the search to “DNA + shortcomings + paternity” you still find over 14,000 citations. Check it out. It seems DNA can raise as many questions as it answers.
Have fun, Texas.
Hugh McBryde 08.04.08 at 2:25 pm
It was theorized early in the case that the genetic closeness of FLDS members was going to present some difficulty in this area. The common term which has a negative connotation would be “inbred.” The FLDS in other words, are a very pure genetic strain, whether that is good or bad it presents real difficulties.
txmom77 08.04.08 at 3:12 pm
I think as Americans, we are used to DNA being foolproof and it isn’t. When you have a large gene pool, it’s easier to have different genetic markers. The FLDS have a very shallow kiddie gene pool. They are more or less descended from two men. The DNA markers will repeat and repeat. It’s quite possible that they can’t get that magical marker number because of all the inbreeding. Maybe that is why they keep doing the DNA tests over on some of the kids. They are hoping for some better evidence.
Doran Williams 08.04.08 at 5:32 pm
Does it mean, in a practical sense, immaculate conception at YFZ?????
Please forgive me, but the Austin Lounge Lizards’ song “Shallow End of the Gene Pool” keeps popping up in my thinking…..
Kurt Schulzke 08.04.08 at 6:18 pm
Hugh –
Are you trying to say “unity of faith”?
K
kbp 08.05.08 at 12:55 am
Seems simple, DNA is a test to EXCLUDE others.
I have not heard of a perfect match, only exclusions of what does NOT match. Then you play the math game of “PROBABILITY” based on the data base compiled through records from other tests & calculations versus the results you have. Even that math quiz is about exclusion as I understand it.
ANON 08.05.08 at 3:13 pm
Could it be that some of the children’s biological parents aren’t at the Ranch?
DeputyHeadmistress 08.05.08 at 5:17 pm
Anon, I wondered about that, but then, wouldn’t the DNA at least have ruled out the parents at the ranch? If I am understanding this correctly, it hasn’t done that, either.