Possible early release date for Ketchum DNA Study. Several lines of evidence seem to be converging around a possible early release date for Dr. Melba Ketchum’s Bigfoot DNA study.
1. Sequencing of the Bigfoot nuclear genome. There was a rumor around November 1 that the team was ready to finalize the sequencing of the entire Bigfoot nuclear DNA genome. Approximately one month later, Ketchum released an optimistic but cryptic comment on her
Facebook page about
some remarkable recent progress.
The nuclear genome was
only partially done in the early days of the study. For instance, the MC1R gene that we discussed earlier has about 1,000 polymorphisms. Of those, only ~400-500 had been done by the time that our source released data to us.
There are many reasons that make full sequencing of the nuclear genome a difficult task. The main one is the use of primers. Human primers were initially used for the nuclear DNA, but since Bigfoots are not humans, the team soon ran into a lot of problems with the use of human primers.
That is, human primers simply did not cut it for Bigfoot nuclear DNA. So the team had to invent their own new primers, and this is an immensely complicated task. Further, sequencing has to be run repeatedly, sometimes even backwards. In a phrase, it’s a great big mess.
After a year or so of messing around with all these problems, the team has apparently ironed out all of the kinks. After Wally Hersom may have given the go-ahead for the funding for the entire nuclear genome around November 1, I estimate that it may have taken ~1 month to get it done. That coincides remarkably with Ketchum’s optimistic
Facebook release on December 1.
2. A cryptic comment on Ketchum’s Facebook page on December 3, only two days after the possible completion of the nuclear sequencing. Here it is:
For all of the people speculating on the Erickson project, Adrian and I have agreed to set aside the NDA to tell you that his group is a successful participant in this project. His research project to obtain the DNA samples is separate from us. His samples will be in the paper along with all of the successful submitters. And, yes, his great footage will come out so lets let all of the rumors go, OK? And once again, please know that we are at the mercy of the journal as to when we can announce. Thanks!
The phrase to watch here is:
And once again, please know that we are at the mercy of the journal as to when we can announce.