DNA limits

[teancum79]

So on this other forum (I'm really not advertising) some people suggested that DNA science has disproved the claims made LDS people about the connection of the Jewish people and the Native Americans.

There argument (which I found laughable) is as follows:

There is a little marker ob the Y chromosome Of many people in the Middle East. It has not been found in Native Americans. Thus proving that they did not come from the Middle East.

The fact that not everyone in the Middle East has the marker and that lack of evidence of a claim does not prove the claim wrong seems to have escaped them.

There 2nd point was that DNA tracking has shown that Natives have been in the Americas for 15000 years and came from Asia. I'm wondering how does DNA know where it has been and how do we test a theory that assumes a little bit if DNA will tell you its ancestors geography history

[dianaholberg]

I posted a link not long ago to a documentary about DNA connections between people groups.. It is on www.bodocus.com in the anthropology section... I think it's called "Journey of Man". I thought it was really well done.

[calyrelf]

I enjoyed that link very much, Diana. It was indeed very well done. This subject has always been fascinating to me, and I am so glad that they can trace this genealogy before it is too late.

As soon as the world becomes homogenized, it will be impossible to obtain this DNA info. Thank goodness there are still some isolated tribes on earth from which to glean this knowledge.

[teancum79]

Well I'm in the 3rd part right now. I don't have broadband at home so I have to watch it at work. While the guy has a good screen presence for a nerd I'm still not buying their "science". It's interesting alright, but so is Stargate. Thus far all the degree packing people have done is made guesses at what could have happened.

[dianaholberg]

LOL teancum... my thoughts were similar. Notice that although I said well done, I have never expressed a view on it's veracity. However, I am able to reconcile what was presented in the movie with my beliefs regarding Creation, just as I am able to reconcile the concepts of evolutionary development with Creationism. I think the problems arise when we insist that we have to be able to explain everything perfectly rather than admitting that science (or history, or any subject) is only as reliable as we are in cutting through our inherent subjectivity.

Meanwhile, the real problem with the LDS doctrine, IMO, is the absolute lack of evidence for 1800+ years... not that there is evidence to disprove it.