Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2005 10:46:50 GMT -5
DNA proves Bigfoot still a big myth
Findings don't dim believer's ardor; Some convinced legendary sasquatch is stalking remote community near Whitehorse
BILL MAH - CanWest News Service - Friday, July 29, 2005
A DNA test has proved a tuft of hair plucked from a Yukon forest is more Bighoof than Bigfoot.
To the disappointment of true believers everywhere, an Alberta biologist announced yesterday the mysterious tuft belonged to a bison, rather than a sasquatch reportedly spotted in the Yukon last week.
"Maybe it's possible that the sasquatch stepped on the bison hair sample on his way out of Teslin, (Yukon)," said University of Alberta professor David Coltman yesterday, joking with reporters in Edmonton.
"The DNA profile of the hair sample we received from the Yukon earlier this week clearly matches reference DNA profiles from the North American bison. We, therefore, conclude that this hair sample could not have come from a hairy bipedal animal that was reportedly sighted near Teslin last week."
However, the DNA result has not squelched the debate between skeptics and the townspeople who believe the legendary sasquatch is stalking the remote community of 400, located about 100 kilometres southeast of Whitehorse.
"It doesn't surprise me," chuckled Bruce Wiseman, a 25-year Teslin resident who estimated roughly 60 per cent of townspeople believe in the sightings.
"Maybe somebody did see something and they really believe that it was a sasquatch, but as far as there being a sasquatch, no, I doubt there is."
Roger Smarch still believes, however. He was there when his cousin found the clump of coarse, chocolate-coloured hair in an area where several people swear they heard or saw the creature.
"I still think there's something there," Smarch said. "I mean, I still found a footprint."
Smarch himself found crushed meadow flowers and small trees snapped in half and a footprint, more than 30 centimetres long and pressed deep into the mud, in the area where the creature was last heard.
After the hair was tentatively identified by a Yukon government wildlife technician as bison fur, Coltman offered earlier this week to perform a DNA test, "partly on a whim, partly because I thought it would make for good material for a lecture."
But even Coltman acknowledged the results don't end the debate.
"On the basis of what we found, we cannot rule out that there could be a bipedal primate species that is as yet undescribed."
The hair's DNA was significantly degraded, said Coleman, suggesting the tuft had been separated from its owner and exposed to the elements for more than a year. It's also possible the hair could have come from a stuffed trophy animal or might have undergone a tanning process used to preserve hides and trophy mounts, Coltman said.
But he said there is no evidence to suggest a hoax is being played. "We don't know how the hair got there or whether the people who found it put it there or somebody else put it there or whether it blew there on the wind. I think I have to leave that up to the readers' imagination."
Coltman said he's already received other requests for testing unusual samples.
"I've been contacted by somebody who has a wolf or dog-like animal that ran across her roof and thinks that this may be a werewolf. I think I'll just leave that one alone."
Findings don't dim believer's ardor; Some convinced legendary sasquatch is stalking remote community near Whitehorse
BILL MAH - CanWest News Service - Friday, July 29, 2005
A DNA test has proved a tuft of hair plucked from a Yukon forest is more Bighoof than Bigfoot.
To the disappointment of true believers everywhere, an Alberta biologist announced yesterday the mysterious tuft belonged to a bison, rather than a sasquatch reportedly spotted in the Yukon last week.
"Maybe it's possible that the sasquatch stepped on the bison hair sample on his way out of Teslin, (Yukon)," said University of Alberta professor David Coltman yesterday, joking with reporters in Edmonton.
"The DNA profile of the hair sample we received from the Yukon earlier this week clearly matches reference DNA profiles from the North American bison. We, therefore, conclude that this hair sample could not have come from a hairy bipedal animal that was reportedly sighted near Teslin last week."
However, the DNA result has not squelched the debate between skeptics and the townspeople who believe the legendary sasquatch is stalking the remote community of 400, located about 100 kilometres southeast of Whitehorse.
"It doesn't surprise me," chuckled Bruce Wiseman, a 25-year Teslin resident who estimated roughly 60 per cent of townspeople believe in the sightings.
"Maybe somebody did see something and they really believe that it was a sasquatch, but as far as there being a sasquatch, no, I doubt there is."
Roger Smarch still believes, however. He was there when his cousin found the clump of coarse, chocolate-coloured hair in an area where several people swear they heard or saw the creature.
"I still think there's something there," Smarch said. "I mean, I still found a footprint."
Smarch himself found crushed meadow flowers and small trees snapped in half and a footprint, more than 30 centimetres long and pressed deep into the mud, in the area where the creature was last heard.
After the hair was tentatively identified by a Yukon government wildlife technician as bison fur, Coltman offered earlier this week to perform a DNA test, "partly on a whim, partly because I thought it would make for good material for a lecture."
But even Coltman acknowledged the results don't end the debate.
"On the basis of what we found, we cannot rule out that there could be a bipedal primate species that is as yet undescribed."
The hair's DNA was significantly degraded, said Coleman, suggesting the tuft had been separated from its owner and exposed to the elements for more than a year. It's also possible the hair could have come from a stuffed trophy animal or might have undergone a tanning process used to preserve hides and trophy mounts, Coltman said.
But he said there is no evidence to suggest a hoax is being played. "We don't know how the hair got there or whether the people who found it put it there or somebody else put it there or whether it blew there on the wind. I think I have to leave that up to the readers' imagination."
Coltman said he's already received other requests for testing unusual samples.
"I've been contacted by somebody who has a wolf or dog-like animal that ran across her roof and thinks that this may be a werewolf. I think I'll just leave that one alone."
Source: www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=79774803-bee9-444a-91b6-c111bac3dbe4