The Sasquatch Genome Project in a Nutshell

The Sasquatch Genome Project in a Nutshell

UPDATE:

Results of the Sasquatch Genome Study Verified by a Independent Study.

Via Dr. Ketchum's Facebook account on 09/04/2015

HUGE NEWS: Our research has now been independently verified genome wise. I don't know when or how they'll come out with it and I'm not at liberty to say who yet, but it's finished and matches what we got down to the smallest details. Thank you, God!

How it all began

2009-2010 
The TV show Destination Truth, starring Josh Gates, brought a hair sample back from Bhutan after finding a foot print

The footprint:

The producers chose Dr. Melba Ketchum of DNA Diagnostics to perform DNA analysis.  

The hair sample:

Dr. Ketchum did not believe that a creature known as Bigfoot existed but she agreed to run the analysis anyway. What she found astounded her. The mtDNA tested human but the hair was not human. Dr. Ketchum remarked “The hair, visually, is not human. It’s courser than horse tail hair” When Dr. Ketchum compared the sequence to Genbank she could not find a match, she again remarks “There are literally millions of sequences in this database and we’re really shocked that it didn’t match any of the species exactly in the database”

About the same time David Paulides, executive director of  North American Bigfoot Search, was looking for a lab to test possible hair Bigfoot samples.

David was having a difficult time finding a lab that would test the samples when they found out they samples were possible Bigfoot samples. Fate brought David to gather with Melba as the Josh Gates hair sample had her curious and now open minded about the possibility of the Bigfoot being a real living, breathing creature. David approached Melba to test the samples and she agreed.  This began the DNA study.

My involvement

In June of 2010 I began to correspond with David Paulides the Executive Director of North American Bigfoot Search (NABS). I realized that I needed assistance with my research. I was encountering phenomenon and having experiences that were extraordinary. I needed to find a support network that I could partner with in my research. I began researching the different Bigfoot Research organizations and I found NABS to be the most professional, respectful and responsive group. I had read David Paulides’ book “The Hoopa Project” and was already impressed with his logical approach to Bigfoot research, so I introduced myself to the group via email correspondence.

 I began to bounce questions off NABS and relate my experiences to them on a regular basis. I also began to collect hair samples and would forward them to NABS periodically. I also sent NABS videos and photographs of the Bigfoot I was encountering in my research areas. The relationship matured and in February of 2011 David invited me to join the NABS Team as a Field Researcher. I gladly accepted his offer. 

NABS had already partnered with Dr. Melba Ketchum and had started a ground breaking project to collect Bigfoot DNA specimens from all over the North American continent.

I had started working with NABS on this project in the spring/summer of 2010 even before I became a team member. David and I discussed the matter and the need to humanely collect as much DNA from the Bigfoot as possible. Through collaboration we came up with an innovative strategy. I took clear packing tape and placed it sticky side out. When the Bigfoot would lean or rub up against the tree their hair would stick to the tape and be pulled out by the roots. The root of the hair contains the DNA. I placed this “hair trap” around the tree the Bigfoot where hiding behind when I captured them on the trail camera in August of 2010. The trail cameras were still deployed in this area on the same trees. I was hopeful the Bigfoot would hide behind this tree again while observing the trail camera. The effort was successful and I collected a large amount of Bigfoot hair.

The Possible Donors:

My Samples

In 2010 David Paulides and Melba Ketchum went on the Coast to Coast radio show to make a public plea for Bigfoot hair and other possible samples that could yield DNA. Hundreds of samples came in.

I sent in approximately thirty hair samples. Eleven passed the screening process and were included in the Sasquatch Genome Study.

Below are some of the samples I collected:

The “Hair Trap”

I took clear packing tape and placed it sticky side out. When the Bigfoot would lean or rub up against the tree their hair would stick to the tape and be pulled out by the roots.
Dr. Ketchum had discovered that Bigfoot hair shafts would not yield mtDNA. The hairs must have the root or skin tag attached in order to extract usable DNA. This is a unique property of Bigfoot hair.) I placed this “hair trap” around the tree the Bigfoot where hiding behind when I captured them on the trail camera in August of 2010. The effort was successful and I collected a large amount of Bigfoot hair.

Eleven of my hair samples went through the screening process and were tested and determined to be from a Bigfoot.

Below is the list of my samples from the Sasquatch Genome Study.

The Team

There is a common misconception that Dr. Ketchum worked alone with little or no assistance. This is not true. Dr. Ketchum collaborated with at least ten other individuals with expertise in many areas to include forensics, DNA analysis, microbiology, molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry just to mention a few.

Below is the list of the team, their credentials, and their contribution to the DNA Study.

Dr. Andreas Holzenburg
Director,  Professor, Department of Biology, Professor, Biochemistry and Biophysics

Microscopy and Imaging Center

Texas A&M University

Has published over 30 Papers

Fan Zhang, Ph.D.
Bioinformatician in the Academic and Institutional Resources and Technology (AIRT) at the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

Dr.  Pat Wojtkiewicz
Director of the Shreveport Laboratory of the North Louisiana Crime Lab System and the Technical Leader of the DNA section. He has been employed at the crime lab since 1977.

Dr. Thomas M. Prychitko of Wayne State University in Michigan
Molecular biologist with a background that also includes evolutionary biology, microbiology and biochemistry.

 Dr. Douglas G. Toler

Clinical pathologist at Huguley Memorial Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, for the past 30 years. His specialty also includes anatomical pathology. He is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

Ms. Aliece Watts of Integrated Forensic Laboratories in Euless, TX

BS, MS, MT(ASCP), PBT(ASCP), F-ABC is a founding partner and the Quality Director for Integrated Forensic Laboratories, Inc., the nation’s only private, full-service, accredited forensic laboratory. With over 30 years of laboratory experience and three board certifications (Forensic Biology, Medical Technology and Phlebotomy), Ms. Watts has an extensive background in Forensic DNA and Quality Assurance. She is an ASCLD/LAB International (ISO 17025) assessor and has traveled to Malaysia to inspect that country’s laboratory system for accreditation. She is a former member of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, a Governor appointed and Senate approved position. Ms. Watts is an alumna of the University of Texas at Arlington where she also taught Introduction to Forensic Science Laboratory, Forensic Biology (DNA) and Methods in Forensic Biology Laboratory.

David W. Spence - Trace evidence supervisor with the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences, Criminal Investigations Laboratory, at Dallas County, Texas.

Sarah Bollinger, Ray Shoulders, and Ryan Smith of DNA Diagnostics.

The following is a list of the Team and some of the areas they contributed to the DNA Study.

Dr. Ketchum, Dr. Pat Wojtkiecicz, David Spence, Dr. Andreas K. Holzenburg, Sarah Bollinger, Ray Shoulders, and Ryan Smith performed experiments.

Dr. Ketchum and Dr. Fan Zhang analyzed the genetic data.

Dr. Ketchum., Aliece Watts, and Dr. Pat Wojtkiecicz wrote and edited the manuscript.

Dr. Andreas K. Holzenburg analyzed and wrote the Electron Microscopy portion of the manuscript.

David Spence analyzed and wrote the hair analysis portion of the manuscript.

Dr. Douglas G. Toler analyzed and wrote the histopathology portion of the manuscript. 

Aliece Watts. also researched pertinent additions to the manuscript and helped with data collection.

Dr. Ketchum distributed samples, collected and combined data from the blind studies.

The Laboratories used in the blind studies.

Again there is a misconception that Dr. Ketchum processed all the samples in her facility. This is not true. Dr. Ketchum realized with the implications of this study blind testing was a must. She contracted the services of the following laboratories to perform blind testing on the samples and return the results. This means the laboratories had no idea what they were testing. They were just given the samples and ask to run a DNA profile.

#	Laboratory	Type of Testing			Paid	Blind Study			Author ship
1	North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory, Shreveport LA	Forensic DNA Extraction and DNA quantification			No	No			Yes
2	DNA Diagnostics, Nacogdoches, Texas	Forensic Extraction, Species Screening, Preliminary Species Sequencing and STR PP16 genotyping, mtDNA and nuDNA, testing known submitter (human) samples.			No	Yes			No
3	Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences, Dallas, TX	Hair Analysis			No	Yes			No
4	Family Tree DNA, Houston, TX	mtDNA confirmation and mtDNA whole genome sequencing and haplotype assignment, PP16 STR confirmation testing and YSTR testing. Single locus Amelogenin testing			Yes	No			Yes
5	SeqWright, Houston, TX	mtDNA screening confirmation, sequenced various selected nuDNA loci and confirmation of mtDNA species sequencing, sequencing of various amelogenin exons			Yes	No			Yes
6	Helix Biological Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan	Blind parallel mtDNA testing of certain submitted samples. This work was done previous to our project and only became aware of this testing after we had confirmed mtDNA species ID on the same samples.			No	Yes			No
7	USC, Los Angeles, CA	Whole genome Bead Array SNP analysis			Yes	No			Yes
8	University of Texas at Arlington, Wakeland Laboratory		Next Generation whole genome sequencing and bioinformatics	Yes			No	Yes
9	UNT Center for Human Identification, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX		Confirmation of bioinformatics	Yes			Yes	No
10	Texas A&M University, College Station, TX		Electron Microscopy confirmation	Yes			Yes	Yes
11	University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina		Electron Microscopy. The director was unhappy about the blind study and refused recognition in the ms. He did give us the data to use.	No			No	Yes
12	Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX		Histopathology	Yes			No	No
13	Huguley Pathology Consultants, Ft. Worth, TX		Histopathology confirmation	No			Yes	No

The Samples

The screening and handling of the hair, blood, saliva, and flesh samples.

Screening the hair

Before the hair was considered for testing it was first screened to ensure it was not human or any other known animal.  Below is the documentation from the DNA Study of how the hair was screened.

Hair Analysis:

Hair samples were sent to the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences (Dallas, TX) for analysis. (Mr. David Spence)  The samples were evaluated visually, stereoscopically, and by light microscopy to determine human or animal origin. Hairs that were classified as potential novel hominid were also evaluated for DNA typing potential by examining for root material. Only hairs that were not human in appearance and could not be identified as any other species were utilized in this study15-19.

The hairs were examined for a variety of microscopic features such as: medulla, pigmentation, cortical fusi, ovoid bodies, cuticle, and root and tip characteristics. The hair cuticle patterns of select hairs were cast by embedding the hair shafts in a thin layer of clear fingernail polish. The casts were examined microscopically. Photographs and photomicrographs were taken of select hairs using a Canon G3 digital camera and a camera adapter (model MM3XS) from Martin Microscope.

Bigfoot hair shafts do not yield mtDNA

During the early stages of the study Dr. Ketchum discovered that unlike human and animal hair Bigfoot hair will not yield mtDNA. The hair had to have a skin tag attached. Several thousand dollars were spent on attempting to process hair shafts only. This is why we developed a method of extracting hair that pulled them out by the roots.

Sample Collection

An eye witness observed the subject leave the hair sample and the event was documented.

•        David Paulides sample from Northern California (Raven Ulibarri – Hoopa Reservation).

•        Mary Green samples from Tennessee.

•        Janice Carter samples from Tennessee.

•        Paul Freeman sample from Washington State.

•        Robert Densford sample from Oklahoma.

•        Ericson Project samples from British Columbia, Canada.

•        Dr. Webb Sentell sample from Louisiana.

•        Jennifer Hilaman sample from Virginia.

The hair sample was collected from a known Bigfoot feeding station or area of activity.

•        Scott Carpenter – Hair traps at feeding stations and locations where Bigfoot had been witnesses/recorded on video.

•        Erickson Project – Samples gathered from scratching post, blood samples obtain using sand paper on plates. (Under supervision of a wild life biologist)

•        Dr. Al Guinn – Multiple hairs found in cast of Bigfoot footprint.

•        Dr. Curt Nelson – Blood/Flesh from 18 inch footprint left on nail board, Snelgrove Lake, Ontario.

Integrity Of The Samples

•        111 Samples used in the study to include, blood, tissue, hair, toe nail, tooth enamel.

•        17 of the samples were collected from direct sighting locations where a witness or investigator watched Bigfoot leave sample.

•        88 of the samples were collected by investigators or formal research projects in and around known areas of activity.

•        Only 6 samples were “randomly” found in the woods where Bigfoots were known to have been active.

 

NO CONTAMINATION

The hair samples that were processed were not contaminated. Critics of the study claimed that the hair samples “had to be contaminated”. The critics were also raised questions about of the chain of custody.

The relevancy of the chain of custody is a fallacy. The DNA paper is a research paper, not a criminal investigation. Where the hair came from or who handled it is irrelevant when it concerns contamination.

From Dr. Ketchum’s Face Book Page:

Somebody was told that the lack of chain of custody of our samples negated our scientific findings. This is not the case. First, most of our samples had pretty good chain of custody and some of them were as good as any sample from a crime scene as far as documentation and chain of custody.

Chain of custody is used in forensics to make sure the unknown samples from the crime scene are tracked from their recovery until they are tested and therefore not altered in any way. This insures that nobody tampers with the samples. The samples themselves are often of unknown origin. For example, a blood spatter on a wall could have come from anyone, victim, suspect or even an unknown individual. Of course chain of custody is a must when you are working a crime scene. We had really good chain of custody on a lot of the samples. However, this testing is a little different than a forensic case in that we were simply trying to determine the source of the samples, human, animal, or unknown. It's nice to have chain of custody and eyewitnesses collecting hair, but if you go out to the country and find a strand of hair on a fence, it could be washed and tested to determine what species it came from regardless of where it came from or who handled it because you can't alter the DNA. We're not trying to place an individual at a crime scene. In this type of scientific investigation, there is no crime and it doesn't matter where it's found, only what the DNA shows matters and DNA can't be altered with the kind of testing we did.. Therefore, it is nice but not imperative to have chain of custody since the DNA will tell you what the sample was from.

Decontaminating the hair samples

The DNA study used forensic methods to wash and decontaminate the hair samples. The process is documented in detail in the DNA study. The fact that the samples were not contaminated is apparent in the results of the DNA analysis.

In the Bigfoot Files - Yeti episode Dr. Sykes confirmed and validated the decontamination protocols used by the DNA Study to ensure the hair samples were pure and not contaminated. Below is the statement from Dr. Sykes:

The fact is hair is very resilient. You can clean any suggestion of contamination from the surface of the hair without damaging the DNA that lies within. This is something we have only known in the past couple of years.

Below is the documentation from the DNA Study of the cleaning process.

DNA Isolation

Since the presence of normal human DNA contamination of submitted samples was a primary concern throughout this study, all samples were thoroughly cleaned in a manner consistent with forensic testing procedures. In order to further rule out contamination from human personnel and lab workers, samples from submitters and scientists working with the samples were collected for comparison with the results obtained in the various DNA tests.

Hair samples were then sorted into two groups for extraction at DNA Diagnostics. DNA from those samples containing 5-50 or more single hair roots were selected and the roots clipped into 1.5 mL microcentrifuge tubes. The hair roots were thoroughly cleansed with water and ethanol prior to extraction to remove any extraneous DNA.

Flesh, Blood, Sylvia

Sample 26 -  A piece of flesh, hide, and hair reported to be from Bigfoot that was shot in Northern California.

Sample 31 - Blood collected from a plate that had sand paper on it to cut the tongue when the Bigfoot licked it. This was collected by the Erickson Project under the supervision of a PhD in wildlife biology.

Sample 140 – Blood/Plague/Tatar collected of a down spout that had been bitten into and punctured.

Processing the samples

Sample 26 – Flesh with hair

A small sample of flesh with hair was analyzed by Douglas G. Toler, MD, F.C.A.P. of the Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, Huguley Pathology Consultants, P.A. 11803 S. Freeway Ft. Worth, TX 76115. Dr. Toler determined that the skin was not human and that the tissue was not contaminated with bacteria or fungus.

Several hairs with follicles from Sample 26 and sent it to Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences (Dallas, TX) for analysis. The hairs were processed robotically.

A core sample from the flesh was taken to ensure no contamination. This sample contained a high quality DNA that yielded both mtDNA and nuDNA.

The nuDNA was of a high enough quantity and quality that core samples underwent a structural analysis using electron microscopy.

Sample 31 Blood from food trap.

Sample 31 was collected from a research site using a food trap and forensic techniques to ensure that there was no human contamination.  The DNA extracted from the blood was of high enough quality and quantity for a complete nuDNA genome. Sample 31 was collected and submitted by the Erickson Project. The collect of the DNA via the food traps was supervised by a PhD.

Sample 140 – Fresh dried blood from down spout.

Sample 140 was fresh dried blood from the inside of a vertical downspout that had been chewed and the individual was injured by sharp metal. The inside of the downspout was clean and untouched by humans and the blood sample fresh and pristine. Large bite marks, hair, and fang marks were also evident on the downspout. The pipe was crushed to the point that the metal was torn with force. The DNA extracted from the blood was of high enough quality and quantity for a complete nuDNA genome.

DNA Boot Camp

What is DNA

First let’s define DNA. DNA is short for deoxyribonucleic acid, it is the molecule that contains the genetic code of all organisms. DNA is in each cell in the organism and tells cells what proteins to make. A cell's proteins determine its function. DNA is inherited by children from their parents. The DNA in a person is a combination of the DNA from each of their parents.

DNA has a double helix shape, which is like a ladder twisted into a spiral. Each step of the ladder is a pair of nucleotides. The four nucleotides in this ladder are adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). The nitrogen bases are found in pairs. 'A' only pairs with 'T', and 'C' only pairs with 'G'. The bases are held together by hydrogen bonds. If you unzip the DNA so you only have one side of the ladder you still know what the corresponding nucleotide is because DNA can only pair in this order. This is important to understand for discussions later on in this chapter.

There are two types of DNA, Nuclear and Mitochondrial. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is found in cell mitochondria and is from the mother only. Nuclear DNA (nuDNA) if found in the cell nucleus and is a combination of genetic code from both the father and the mother. mtDNA is more abundant and easier to extract and test. nuDNA is more difficult to extract and test therefor samples in quality and quantity are required for successful extraction nuDNA.

Definition of terms

·       Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is found in cell mitochondria and is from the mother only.

·       Nuclear DNA (nuDNA) is found in the cell nucleus and is a combination of genetic code from both the father and the mother.

·       Genbank is an institution that collects and stores DNA sequences for ALL life forms on the planet. Once a DNA sequence is placed into the database comparative analysis can be run on it using a special software program called BLAST.

·       BLAST is a software engine that compares a DNA sequence against all the DNA sequences stored in the Genbank database and reports any matches from this database. The current number of base pairs stored in the Genbank database is 152,599,230,112.

The above diagram shows the difference in mtDNA and nuDNA and from who it originates.

Now that we have the DNA basics down, how do you perform a DNA test?

DNA is tightly wound together in its natural state. Think of it like a jumbled wad of rubber bands tangled and intertwined. In order to sequence the DNA the strands must be unwound or broken into sections and unzipped. Remember you only need one side of the helix or ladder to decode DNA because as I have previously pointed out,  A/T and C/G are always paired together. So if we have one side of the ladder we know what the other side has to be. 

Special enzymes are used to break down the DNA and unzip them into single strands. Once we have the DNA broken down into strands we need to stack like strands together. There are multiple copies of the DNA in the cell. So when the DNA is broken down we may have thousands of copies of the same sequences. We now need to stack these like threads together one on top of the other so we can see the sequences. DNA testing is like a transparency picture. If you only have one copy of the transparency it is light and difficult to see. But if you have 25 copies of the same transparency and you stack them together one on top of the other then you can see the picture clearly. DNA testing is the same way. The greater the DNA density the better, this will make the DNA easier to see or what is known as “Amplifying”.

In order to “stack” the DNA together scientist use what is known as a primer. The primer’s basic function is to gather like strands of DNA together and stack them so it is easier to see the DNA sequence or amplify the sequence. In the early days of DNA testing primers had to be designed for individual species and even subspecies within a family of organisms. For example primers were developed for humans, bears, dogs, cats, pigs, cattle, etc. If you were trying to identify unknown DNA you would use the primer for the individual species on the sample. If the primer found and stacked the DNA together or amplified the DNA then you knew you had this species. If nothing was amplified then you knew you did not have this particular species. 

These primers still exist today but as scientific advancements have been made in the field of DNA processing machines were developed that could process the DNA faster and more accurately. Primers were also developed to help speed up the process. What is known as a “Universal Mammal Primer” was developed. Scientist with the use of a DNA Sequencer and Universal Primers can now process DNA and get a profile faster and more accurately. Just like with the species specific primers if you use a mammal primer and the DNA does not amplify then your DNA sample is not from mammal.

Here is a very important aspect to DNA testing. The test will be affected by the quantity, quality, and purity of the DNA sample. If you have multiple copies of the DNA strands, the strands are not damaged and intact, and the DNA is all from the same organism then the primer will amplify correctly and you will get good clear results. If you have limited amounts that are contaminated the results will not amplify well. To use the transparency analogy again, now you have two transparencies of two different pictures. Some parts of the picture may be alike some different. So when the primers stack them on top of each other the picture is fuzzy and blurred and not easy to recognize. 

Below is a close up of DNA ladders on an agarose gel.

The process I have just described in very simple language is known as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).  This is the method the independent reference labs and Dr. Ketchum used in the DNA Study to sequence the Sasquatch DNA. Since Dr. Ketchum was aware critics and the scientific community would be crying contamination she set up extremely strict processing methods in order to ensure she obtained non-contaminated DNA from a single source. She used forensic laboratories and processes to gather, wash, and then process the DNA. The same processes and standards were used that law enforcement laboratories use when processing DNA.  She also used forensic laboratories in blind studies so the laboratories did not know what kind of DNA samples they were receiving. They received the DNA, forensically processed it, and then returned the results to Dr. Ketchum.

The Testing and Results

Hair samples - Non-Human hair yields HUMAN mitochondrial DNA

Below is the section of the Sasquatch Genome Study Concerning the hair screening results:

The medulla and root were found to be the two most discriminating characteristics of the microscopic examination. Most of the novel hairs had medullary structures and diameter ratios that were clearly distinct from human hairs. Even though a variety of medullary structures were observed, the micrographs in Figure 5B depict those most commonly encountered. Most of the novel hairs had elongated roots with a somewhat “spade” shape, which is a feature of some animal hairs but is typically not seen in human hairs (Figure 5C, left). Human hairs exhibit characteristic uniform imbricate scale patterns of the cuticle. Several different cuticle patterns were observed on the submitted samples. The hairs exhibited wide imbricate scale patterns proximally that transformed to close imbricate patterns distally. These patterns are distinctly non-human in appearance (Figure 5C, right). Most of the submitted hairs were not microscopically consistent with any of the hairs from the reference collection of common animal hairs that included human, cat, dog, cow, horse, deer, elk, antelope, moose, sheep, fox, bear, coyote, wolf, rat, mouse, monkey, beaver, squirrel, llama and others.

The hairs were evaluated for DNA testing by observing the presence or absence of hair roots and adherent tissue material. Hairs with apparent translucent tissue material and/or anagen or catagen phase roots were considered as suitable candidates for nuclear DNA (nuDNA) testing. Hairs with telogen phase roots without tissue or hairs lacking roots or tissue were considered suitable for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) testing. Hairs that exhibited non-human microscopic characteristics and that did not match any known animal species were recommended for DNA testing.

The “smoking gun”

It is important to note that until the DNA study many hair samples had been tested throughout the years and they kept coming back “human Mitochondrial DNA”. David Paulides noticed this trend and wrote about it on his blog

http://www.nabigfootsearch.com/bigfoot_dna.html

The first place that NABS turned for information about bigfoot DNA was “The Track Record”, a newsletter produced by Ray Crowe for 17 years. There was not an index for the track record at the time, we reviewed all 174 documents and gleaned the DNA articles and submissions. After reviewing the Track Record documents we turned to the web to see what it had to offer, not much. The year we undertook this review was 2005 and many of the television shows about bigfoot did not exist.

Results

The results of our research found that over 95% of the DNA on purported bigfoot specimens returned as “Human”. NABS found this as an extremely puzzling result considering the “BIG” names in the bigfoot world that consider themselves researchers proclaimed that bigfoot was a type of ape. Many of these “researchers” claimed that the DNA showing “human” was compromised or contaminated and the results should be disregarded. We saw this same discussion time after time, discount the results, they are wrong. Again, almost every moderately famous researcher known for investigating bigfoot issues proclaimed the studies and results were flawed, every one!

Refusing to accept the possibility that the Bigfoot could be closely related to humans the results were always explained away as “human contamination”. In fact these were most likely legitimate Bigfoot samples yielding human DNA. It is statically very improbable that the scores of samples tested over the years were all contaminated. If even one was legitimate then we have some ground breaking findings that validate the finds of the DNA Study.

When Dr. Ketchum analyzed the mtDNA contained in the skin tags of the Bigfoot hair every sample tested human. The point cannot be stressed enough, NON-Human hair yielded HUMAN mtDNA. When you link the eye witness testimony that witnessed a large hairy bipedal hominid leaving the hair you now have empirical evidence that Bigfoot is a human hybrid.

Below is the summary of the hair results from the Sasquatch Genome Study:

One hundred eleven samples of blood, tissue, hair, and other types of specimens were studied, characterized and hypothesized to be obtained from elusive hominins in North America commonly referred to as Sasquatch. DNA was extracted and purified from a subset of these samples that survived rigorous screening for wildlife species identification. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing, specific genetic loci sequencing, forensic short tandem repeat (STR) testing, whole genome single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) bead array analysis, and next generation whole genome sequencing were conducted on purported Sasquatch DNA samples gathered from various locations in North America. Additionally, histopathologic and electron microscopic examination were performed on a large tissue sample.

The mtDNA whole genome haplotypes obtained were uniformly consistent with modern humans. Of the 20 whole and 10 partial mitochondrial genomes sequenced, 16 diverse haplotypes were found suggesting that these hominins did not originate in a single geographic location.

In summary, our data indicates that the Sasquatch has human mitochondrial DNA but possesses nuclear DNA that is a structural mosaic consisting of human and novel non-human DNA.

Below is Sasquatch hair compared to human hair:

Source: (http://www.human-resonance.org/sasquatch_genome.html )

Species determination - mtDNA

The hair samples were tested using universal mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b primers for species determination.

The results:  All 111 screened samples revealed 100% human cytochrome b. Furthermore no heteroplasmic bases were found that would indicate contamination or a mixture. Heteroplasmy is defined as the presence of more than one mitochondrial genome within a tissue sample from a single individual. No heteroplasmic bases  were found, the mtDNA was from a single source therefor contamination is impossible.

mtDNA complete genome sequencing and HV region (haplotype) sequencing results

In order for one to understand the following results the term haplotype. A haplotype is the group of genes that a child inherits from the mother. Like haplotypes are grouped together and assigned a letter from alphabet. This grouping is called a haplogroup.

HV region sequencing will give the haplotype of the individual.

Thirty hair samples that had ample skin tags were selected for mtDNA complete genome sequencing and for HV region sequencing to determine the haplogroup of the samples.  The samples were sent to Family Tree DNA for sequencing. The source of the samples was withheld from Family Tree DNA.

Results

From the study:

DNA samples were successfully amplified and sequenced across the whole mitochondrial genome and the HV1 locus using both human specific and universal primers. The sequences that were subjected to BLAST searches in GenBank®40 showed consistent homology with human haplotypes. No mitochondrial DNA homology with apes, Neanderthal or Denisova cave sequences were found.

The results showed that the mtDNA was human. The haplotypes were human. Blast searches showed that the sequences did not match Apes, Neanderthal, or Denisovan. Of the thirty samples twenty yielded whole mitochondrial sequences and ten yielded partial mitochondrial genomes. The thirty samples showed sixteen different human haplotypes.

The interesting and unexpected finding is the origin of the haplotypes.  The majority of the haplotypes show origination from Europe, Asia, and Africa. On only four of the haplotypes originated close to where the samples were collected in North America.

Source for haplotype stats and map:

(Source: http://www.human-resonance.org/sasquatch_genome.html)

The North American haplotypes represented the following Native American Tribes:

Haplotype A6L2c - Inuit and Nivkh peoples

Haplotype C - Evenks and Yakuts peoples

Haplotype D -  Aleuts people

The Asian, African, and Europe haplotypes represented the following peoples:

Haplotypes H and T - European peoples

Haplotype V – Arctic Saami

Haplotype H1a (Sample 26, flesh/hair) - Basque of the Pyrenees mountains

Haplotype L0d2a - South African Khoisan peoples

Nuclear DNA Analysis of the 30 samples

The amelogenin gene was sequenced from the thirty samples. The amelogenin gene is the gene in humans that is related to tooth and enamel development. It is used in humans to determine the sex of unknown human subjects.

Results

The DNA samples yielded four types of results: XX, XY, Y and null. The X chromosome failing to amplify also known as “dropout” was considered by Dr. Ketchum as the “most significant of the findings observed with the STR genotype analysis of amelogenin.”

Below is the result table from the study:

From the chart above seven samples only yielded a Y chromosome. Twelve of the samples that amplified and yielded human haplotypes failed to amplify for sex determination. This is very strange, but in my opinion to be expected from a creature like a Sasquatch.

Some of the samples indicated a normal human X chromosome while others failed completely to amplify.

When the Y chromosome was amplified across Exons (exons are parts of DNA that are converted into mature messenger RNA) 1, 2, 4/5 and 8, varied results were obtained, with no samples successfully amplifying and sequencing across all five exons (except the human controls).

When the nuDNA sequences were compared to Genbank using a BLAST search, none of the nuDNA sequences matched any organism in the database.  Again DNA that had human haplotypes contained sequences that do not match any known organism.

Many sequences failed to amplify with the human primers.

From the DNA study:

The documented anomalies came from DNA samples that yielded long sequences with pristine electropherograms at other loci including at least one AmelY exon. Notably, this indicated that the DNA was of high quality and that degraded DNA was not responsible for the anomalies.

Below is table 4 showing the above described results:

The nuDNA of selected samples were tested for the following human specific genes:

MC1R - human/Neanderthal red-hair color gene

TAP1 SNPs - human antigen gene

MYH16 - This gene is associated with the sagittal crest in apes and was analyzed in an effort to determine if the unknown hominin was related to apes.

The Results: 

MC1R - human/Neanderthal red-hair color gene

Samples 28, 33, 35 and 37 had sufficient DNA extracted and were chosen for MC1R locus sequencing. The primers used for the MC1R gene were for apes, humans, and Neanderthals.

The samples were sequenced at DNA diagnostics and SeqWright lab.

DNA Diagnostic Results: The samples indicated normal human MC1R sequence and carried alleles for red hair color in humans. The samples were not from apes or Neanderthals.

SeqWright Lab Results: Partial human sequences in some DNA samples, while others had unknown sequences that were not human, ape, or Neanderthal, and still others failed to amplify.

All human control DNA amplified and sequenced successfully from both labs.

MYH16 - This gene is associated with the sagittal crest in apes and was analyzed in an effort to determine if the unknown hominin was related to apes.

The primers used were for both ape and human.

The samples were sequenced at DNA diagnostics and SeqWright lab.

DNA Diagnostic Results: All DNA samples that successfully amplified yielded results consistent with humans and aligned with the human reference sequences.

SeqWright Lab Results: All DNA samples consistent with humans.

TAP1- human antigen gene associated with breast cancer, diabetes and several other syndromes.

DNA Diagnostic Results:  Some samples showed human TAP 1 sequences and others failed to amplify. Unknown sequences were found and some amplifications with TAP 1 primers yielded long sequence of unknown origin. Two sets of 2 samples had long unknown sequences that failed to match anything Genbank, but interestingly matched each other. Two of these samples, samples 33 and 44, matched with one another although there were some SNPs that were inconsistent between the two sequences. These two samples were different in hair color and obviously were from different individuals and were retrieved at different times. Samples 33 and 44 were collected from the same general area and the donors are thought to be related. Samples 10 and 43 also matched each other. Samples 33/44 TAP 1 sequences were different than Samples 10/43. Sample 33 and 44 were supposed to be related individuals, while samples 10 and 43 came from different locations. 

Whole Human Genome SNP analysis:

Twenty-four samples were tested on the whole human genome (2.5 million SNPs) Illumina® Bead Array69 platform using the Illumina® iSCAN instrument.  All of the 24 samples failed to meet the human threshold of 95% SNP performance. The results ranged from 53% to 89% SNP performance.

Dr. Ketchum attempted to duplicate these odd results by purposely degrading human blood samples. The samples were degraded with bacteria. Even though the samples were degraded they were successfully sequenced and tested at 97.15% compared to the 89% of the non-degraded Sasquatch samples.

To further rule out contamination and address the possibility that normal human DNA samples could produce such markedly low SNP performance in the Illumina® Bead Array assay, a separate group of human DNA controls was tested. These samples were extracted from buccal swabs obtained from sample handlers and laboratory workers and were also subjected to identical Illumina® Bead Array testing. These human control DNA samples yielded SNP performance above the 99%.

Below is table 8 from the Sasquatch Genome project that shows the scores of the Sasquatch samples compared to the purposely degraded human samples.

Conclusion from the Sasquatch Genome project:

The failures across all 2.5 million SNPs tested in the Illumina® Bead Array when compared with the human threshold designated above 95% SNP detection, even in severely degraded human DNA samples, suggests sequence variation from human in the actual DNA obtained from the unknown hominin samples.

The findings reveal that non-human hair, that  yielded human mtDNA,  failed to yield human results when the nuDNA was tested for human SNPs.

Electron microscopic examination of Sample 26

Sample 26 was selected to be examined by an electron microscope. The sample was selected because of its purity and lack of degradation. The electron microscope analysis was used for the following reasons: (From the Sasquatch Genome Study)

Electron microscopic characterization is considered superior to biochemical techniques when it comes to an accurate topographical analysis of single- and double-stranded DNA such as contour length/width, twisting, backfolding, nucleic acid-protein interactions, DNA-RNA heteroduplex analysis, R-loop mapping, degradation, replication, or packaging into higher order complexes.

The results from the microscopic examination:

·       Long double stranded DNA up to 15-20 kb, but some of the DNA also comprised smaller fragments.

·       Most of the DNA showed clustering of material along the length or at ends and were typical of disordered single-stranded segments.

·       There were also frequent single-stranded gaps and single-stranded ends which were not observed with the degraded human DNA control sample.

·       Occasionally, with the single-stranded ends, a back folding was observed that is typical for unspecific base pairing that can occur in the absence of treatment with formaldehyde glyoxal or elevated temperatures.

·       Single-stranded DNA segments residing within double-stranded .

Summary of the microscopic results:

Electron micrographs of the DNA revealed unusual double strand – single strand – double strand transitions which may have contributed to the failure to amplify during PCR. The high quantities of single stranded DNA, interspersed with double stranded DNA may suggest substantial structural abnormalities of the DNA itself. The DNA was visualized twice by electron microscopy from aliquots of two different extractions from the same sample 26. Both of these extractions not only had yielded successful PCR amplifications previously, but were combined and utilized for whole genome nuclear sequencing at a later time. Alternatively, the abundance of single-stranded loci observed by electronic microscopic could be evidence of genetic manipulation of the Sasquatch genome.

Figure 12-B from the Sasquatch Genome Study showing the unusual double strand – single strand – double strand transitions.

Below is a graphic drawing of the unusual double strand – single strand – double strand transitions.

Next Generation Whole Genome Sequencing

Due to the large number of failures to amplify, failure to meet the human SNP threshold and unusual sequences obtained, Dr. Ketchum selected three samples (26, 31 and 140) with large amounts of high quality DNA were selected for next generation whole genome sequencing.

The DNA from these three samples was sequenced using the next generation Illumina platform at the University of Texas, Southwestern in Dallas, TX, a laboratory that sequences human genomes.

In depth analysis of all three genomic sequences (samples 26, 31 and 140) was performed at the University of Texas, Southwestern and alignment confirmed by the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

Below is a picture of the instrument used to sequence the DNA

Q30 Scores

The run summary generated by the HiSeq 2000 next generation sequencer provides scores called Q30 for run quality and purity of the samples. The Q30 can also be used to determine if there was any contamination (or mixture) found in the samples sequenced. According to Illumina, a pure, single source sample would have an Q30 score of 80 or greater with an average of 85. However, if there was contamination present in the sample sequenced, the sequences would compete against one another prior to sequencing causing a contaminated sample to have a Q30 score of 40 to 50. The Q30 scores for the three genomes sequenced had Q30 scores of 88.6, 88.4 and 88.7 for samples 26, 31 and 140. The Q30 scores conclusively prove that the sequences were from a single source, non-contaminated, and that the qualities of the sequences were far above the average genome (80) sequenced using the Illumina next generation sequencing platform.

Results

• The three genomes matched each other and were form the same “unknown” species.
• The three genomes were compared to all the genomes in Genbank. The BLAST search did not match any known sequence in the Genbank database.
• The mtDNA sequences produced by the Illumina next generation platform matched the mtDNA sequences extracted from the same samples by Family Tree DNA in the early stages of the study.
• The genomes from samples 26 and 140 were used to produce a primate “family tree” using a tool provided by Genbank called BLASTn. This produces a graphic representation of where the genome falls in the primate family.

Below is the primate family tree from the Sasquatch Genome Study.

Summary

Over a five year period over one hundred samples of  hair, tissue, tree bark shavings, saliva, and blood submitted by a nationwide team of submitters from 14 US states and two Canadian provinces.

All samples were screened prior to DNA analysis to eliminate common wildlife species using a variety of methodologies including microscopic morphological examination and comparison against a large reference collection of known North American wildlife hair.

Over one hundred hair samples passed the initial screen and were determined not to be human or from a known wildlife species.

It was discovered during testing that Sasquatch hair alone would not yield mtDNA. This was unusual because both human and animal hair will yield mtDNA. Only hair samples with ample skin tags were selected could be used for the study.

To avoid contamination the hair samples were forensically processed and cleaned.

Sylvia, flesh, blood, tooth, finger nail and enable samples were also submitted to the project.

The hair samples were sent to multiple labs for blind testing. All the samples were determined to be human, with results consistent with human mtDNA.

Non-human hair yielded human mtDNA.

Results from purported Sasquatch samples tested over the previous two decades had always yielded a result of human mtDNA. These results were always dismissed as “human contamination”. The results of the Sasquatch DNA study support the conclusion that these samples were in fact Sasquatch samples.

Thirty mtDNA samples were selected for complete genome sequencing and HV region (haplotype) sequencing results. The samples yielded haplotypes that showed the origination of the Sasquatches to be from Asian, African, and Europe.  Only four out of the thirty haplotypes originated close to where the hair samples were collected in North America.  Also none of the samples contained mtDNA from apes, Neanderthals, or Denisovians.

The amelognein gene from the nuDNA of the same thirty samples was sequenced to determine the sex of the subjects. Mixed results were obtained for human chromosomes to others failing to amplify, while others would only amplify the Y chromosome. Again we pure, non-contaminated samples that yielded human mtDNA failing at times to amplify when human primers are used for sex determination.

The samples were tested for the MC1R - human/Neanderthal red-hair color gene, MYH16 - This gene is associated with the sagittal crest in apes and was analyzed in an effort to determine if the unknown hominin was related to apes, and the TAP1- human antigen gene associated with breast cancer, diabetes and several other syndromes. The MC1R results were human, no ape or Neanderthal sequences.  The MYH16 results were human. The TAP1 results showed unknown when compared to the Genbank database, but the samples matched each other.

Twenty four samples were tested on the whole human genome (2.5 million SNPs) Illumina® Bead Array69 platform using the Illumina® iSCAN instrument.  All of the 24 samples failed to meet the human threshold of 95% SNP performance. The results ranged from 53% to 89% SNP performance.  Attempts were made to duplicate these results with degraded human control DNA. The attempt was unsuccessful. The degraded human DNA scored 97.15% compared to the non-degraded Sasquatch DNA that scored 89% at best. The mtDNA from these samples tested as human but the nuDNA results for the SNPs were non-human.

 A core sample was taken from the flesh sample number 26 and examined under an electron microscope. The results showed the nuDNA to be very unusual and non-human. Electron micrographs of the DNA revealed unusual double strand – single strand – double strand transitions. This could suggest evidence that the Sasquatch nuDNA had sometime in the past been genetically manipulated.

Three samples that contained ample nuDNA were selected for Next Generation Whole Genome Sequencing. The DNA from these three samples was sequenced using the next generation Illumina platform at the University of Texas, Southwestern in Dallas, TX. In depth analysis of all three genomic sequences (samples 26, 31 and 140) was performed at the University of Texas, Southwestern and alignment confirmed by the University of North Texas Health Science Center. The resulting genomes were compared to the complete Genbank data base using a BLAST search. No match was found the three genomes were from a completely unknown species yet the three samples aligned and matched each other.

Conclusion:

DNA from over one hundred separate samples of hair, tissue, toenail, bark scrapings, saliva and blood obtained from dozens of collection sites throughout North America have been extracted, analyzed and sequenced. The hair samples were not consistent with human or any known wildlife hairs. Analysis of the DNA found that the mitochondrial DNA was human, but the nuclear DNA was from a unknown source. All known ape and relic hominin species such as Neanderthal and Denisovan were eliminated as being contributors to both the nuclear and mitochondrial sequences. Whole genome analysis showed that the Sasquatch is an unknown species with some DNA sequences not matching humans or any known species while other sequences matched humans and other primates. The conclusion of the Sasquatch genome study is as follows:

The data clearly supports that these hominins exist as a novel species of primate. The data further suggests that they are human hybrids originating from human females. This hybridization can be likened to humans with Denisovan admixture resulting from Denisovan males mating with human females103. The same type of mating potentially occurred with Sasquatch; however, in the case of Sasquatch, the admixture is human. Though preliminary analysis supports the hybridization hypothesis, alternatively, it could also be hypothesized that the Sasquatch are human in origin, having been isolated in closed breeding populations for thousands of years. Nevertheless, the data conclusively proves that the Sasquatch exist as an extant hominin and are a direct maternal descendent of modern humans.

The Sasquatch is a human hybrid species, the mtDNA is human and the nuDNA is unknown.

Zoobank Registration of the Sasquatch

Homo Sapiens Cognatus - Cognatus is from the Latin which essentially means “related by blood.”

External Support for the Sasquatch Genome Study

Given the toxic nature of this subject most mainstream scientist have stayed away from the paper, afraid for their careers. The biased against the study is institutional and wide ranging. Though it is a subject for another book the Sasquatch Genome Study was caught in the crossfire in the war between the evolutionist and the creationist. Darwin’s theory is dying in my opinion but absent any cogent theory the Darwinist (99% of mainstream science) must protect the theory at any cost. Since the Sasquatch Genome Study could call into question many of the tenants of the Darwinist it had to be squashed.

There was also an attitude pervasive in the mainstream that just could not allow “A woman veterinarian from Texas and a bunch of rednecks” to make one of the most profound discoveries of the century. Below is a quote from Dr. Kethcum:

"It seems mainstream science just can’t seem to tolerate something controversial, especially from a group of primarily forensic scientists and not “famous academians” aligned with large universities, even though most of our sequencing and analysis was performed at just such facilities.

We encountered the worst scientific bias in the peer review process in recent history. I am calling it the “Galileo Effect”. Several journals wouldn’t even read our manuscript when we sent them a pre-submission inquiry."

There has been support for the study amongst a quiet but growing group of scientist and researchers.

One of the supporters is Dr. David Swenson, he is a Biochemist and has over 39 journal publications to his credit. He looked at the paper and the data and made the following statement:

Brien Foerster, Jeff Kart, and other interested parties. I went over the manuscript by Melba Ketchum on Bigfoot genomics. My desktop had difficulty with a blast analysis of the consensus sequences. It helped me understand more about the project. This collaborative venture has done a huge project that taxes me to fully grasp. I see interesting homology with a standard human sequence with 99% match for mitochondria. From my abbreviated study, the nuclear genome seems to have human and nonhuman sequences.

My opinion of the creature is that it is a hybrid of a human mother and an unknown hominid male, Just as reported. For all practical purposes, it should be treated as human and protected under law.

Brien, selection of Melba's lab for your studies is a very good call.

Sasquatch is real, as proven by genetic analysis.

A study published in the Journal Nature appears to support the general findings of the DNA study. One of the main criticisms of the Sasquatch DNA Paper published in early 2013 was that hybridization between Sasquatch and modern humans was "ludicrous", "impossible", or "wild speculation". But wait, fast forward to December of 2013 and a group of scientist publishes a paper in the Journal Nature that essentially claims that the genome of a Neanderthal skeleton they discovered was actually a hybrid, a mixture of modern humans, Denisovans, Neanderthals, and a "potential unknown hominin".

From the Journal Nature study:

"The new analysis finds that the genomes of Han Chinese and other mainland Asian populations, as well as of Native Americans, contain about 0.2 percent Denisovan genes…..

The genome comparisons also show that Denisovans interbred with a mysterious, fourth group of early humans also living in Eurasia at the time."

Sources: (http://www.sci-news.com/othersciences/anthropology/science-neanderthal-genome-fourth-lineage-01624.html) and (http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v505/n7481/full/nature12886.html)

The results are extremely similar to Dr. Ketchum's results, a genome that shows hybridization with modern humans and a unknown hominin.

A world renowned genetic scientist Dr. Tom Gilbert, of the University of Copenhangen, recently sequenced hairs from a purported Orang Pendek (A Sasquatch like creature that lives in South East Asia). 

He received hairs that were analyzed and determined not to be human or from a known animal. When he tested the mtDNA from these non-human hairs the results came back human.

Though critics claim contamination, Dr. Gilbert is a world renowned Professor of Genetics and I would assume he would know how to properly process a DNA sample without contaminating it.

Dr. Gilbert has over 125 peer reviewed publications to his credit. He recently was lead author of the paper where the whole genome was sequenced from a 12000 year old Native American child (Anzick-1). 

YouTube video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcPrXZyBUfo

Gofundme support

From Dr. Ketchum:

Hi all, just wanted everyone to know we do have academics supporting the paper and our research via the Gofundme campaign. These two folks were kind enough to donate to the sequencing project and put their names on their donations. I just thought you would like to see that we do indeed have support from other scientists and these guys actually put their money down to prove it! I've posted them below but you can go to the page here to see for yourself: http://www.gofundme.com/b1f5ak

Libby Rutledge, Ph.D. - $100
Thank you so much for your Sasquatch Genome Project paper. I assign this paper for discussion in my senior molecular biology class at Salish Kootenai College.

Dr. Philip Haseley - $150
This is a challenge to all the wimpy academic types to come forward and support this research likewise.

George Knapp

December 2012

Scores of hair samples were sent to a dozen well-respected DNA labs across the country. The people at the labs weren’t told anything about the samples. They performed DNA analysis in the blind, then sent the remarkable findings back to Ketchum. I’ll put it this way — this is spooky stuff. The results are unequivocal: The hairs are not only from an unknown species, but they show a common link to humans. In other words, whatever these creatures are, they share a common ancestry with humans dating back about 15,000 years. Half of the DNA in the samples is simply unknown. The blind tests conducted by various labs weeded out known species such as bears or wolves. And in the end, they were left with the completely uncomfortable conclusion that the hairs came from a primate species previously unknown to science.

Source: (Knapp, George – Las Vegas City Life, December 2012)

http://lasvegascitylife.com/sections/opinion/knappster/george-knapp-i%E2%80%99m-dreaming-bigfoot-christmas.html

The Contamination Myth

Mainstream scientific critics of the study have been relying on their old standby “the samples were contaminated or not handled properly”. This claim is refuted throughout the paper beginning the forensic washing of the hairs that even Bryan Sykes admits “You can clean any suggestion of contamination from the surface of the hair without damaging the DNA that lies within. This is something we have only known in the past couple of years.” Dr. Ketchum knew before starting the study this would both a concern and a criticism so throughout the study steps were taken to ensure both no contamination and quality samples. The results themselves prove there was no contamination. This is demonstrated by the high Q30 scores to the lack heteroplasmic bases  when the samples were screened for cytochrome b.

Even those who had openly criticized the Sasquatch genome study and made unsubstantiated personal attacks toward Dr. Ketchum and other members of the team admitted there was no contamination. Below is an excerpt from Robert Lindsay’s blog:

"No contamination in Ketchum DNA findings. There is some little-known evidence that there is no contamination in her samples: Ketchum tested the Bigfoot nuDNA for several human genes, the names of which you can find in the manuscript. MC1R (human/Neanderthal red-hair color gene) showed up in the Bigfoot nuDNA as did the human antigen gene TAP1 (most of the time) and the jaw muscle gene MYH16 (which when present showed only a human profile rather than an ape one).

Not discussed in the manuscript are the tests Ketchum did for the TYR gene, which is associated with skin pigmentation, and the HAR1 gene, which is a “human accelerated region” associated with human neurological development. The human skin color gene TYR and human brain gene HAR1 were not found in Bigfoot nuDNA. Now that in and of itself is very interesting.

If the samples really were just bear or coyote or bobcat smeared with human contamination, all of the human genes should show up all over the place. The peer-reviewers for Ketchum’s manuscript only wanted positive, not negative, results included for gene tests, so the TYR and HAR1 data are not discussed in the manuscript. However, you can see the remnants of it in the Supplemental Data 12 appendix. The bottom line is the Bigfoot nuDNA is missing some important human genes that should be there if the nuDNA were in fact simply contaminated with human DNA.

Furthermore, if the samples were simply bears, coyotes or whatever with no human contamination present, the human genes listed above would not be there at all.

The conclusion is that the “contamination” meme bandied about is simply a red herring. Ketchum’s DNA results, whatever they were and whatever they mean, there simply not a result of contamination in any way, shape or form. Critics really need to get over the contamination BS."

(Source:  http://robertlindsay.wordpress.com/ )

Results of the Sasquatch Genome Study Verified by an Independent Study:

Via Dr. Ketchum's Facebook account on 09/04/2015

HUGE NEWS: Our research has now been independently verified genome wise. I don't know when or how they'll come out with it and I'm not at liberty to say who yet, but it's finished and matches what we got down to the smallest details. Thank you, God!

The results from my DNA samples

Sample #2 – Collected July 2011 – Brown hair

Haplotype – T2b

Same as samples (1,12,36)

Bigfoot in 1 = Oklahoma, 12 = Oregon, 36 = Washington

Amelogenin – XX (Male)

Sample #3 – Collected July 2011

Amelogenin – XY (Female)

SNP – 62.25

Sample #42 – Collected February 2011 – Reddish brown to brown

Haplotype – T2

Same as samples (39b, 41)

Bigfoot in 39b = Southern Alaska, 41 = North Texas

Amelogenin Seq Results

Only Exon 2 – H

Sample #11 – Collected August 2009 – Brown hair

Haplotype – A6L2c

Amelogenin – XY (Female)

Sample 38 – Collected October 2010 – Curly brown hair

Haplotype – V2

Amelogenin Seq Results

Exon 2,4/5,8 – H

SNP – 64.21

Sample 82 – Collected May 2011 – Light brown to blonde

Amelogenin Seq Results

Amelx, 8 – H

Sample 122 – Collected May 2011 – Mixed color

Amelogenin Seq Results

Amelx=H, 2=H-Chromose 13, 4/5 = H

Click here to view/download the Sasquatch Genome Study