This Is Why David Paulides Recruited Dr. Melba Ketchum For The Bigfoot DNA Project
Almost 4 years ago, David Paulides was searching for a special kind of person to head the Bigfoot DNA research team he was assembling. With over 100+ purported Bigfoot samples, this person had to be capable of leading several experts and and multiple laboratories.
Prior to enlisting Dr. Ketchum's services, Paulides had interviewed a number of scientists to lead his team, but nobody stood out to Paulides more than Dr. Ketchum. He decided to go with her because she had the interest, background and demeanor he was looking for to work with a variety of personalities and professions.
It remains to be seen how far along they are in their search to prove the existence of Bigfoot. What we do know is that Dr. Ketchum has been working nonstop and she seems committed to the study. According to people close to the project, the results have been nothing short of enlightening, encouraging and surprising at the same time. Paulides tells us that the information that's been leaked to the media is but a shot glass of sludge on a mountain of data. He claims there is only one DNA expert who has all the data sitting in front of them, and that is Dr. Ketchum.
The following questions and answers from Dr. Ketchum's Facebook page tells us a lot about her expertise in DNA. The woman truly knows what she's talking about:
Question: I'm still unclear on why cells don't degrade over time even if not exposed to bacteria. Isn't exposure to air itself (especially oxygen) corrosive, or is decomposition only driven by organic processes? Does the sample need to be completely sealed off from air, as at the middle of a tooth?
Answer: It is sealed off more or less in bone and better yet in teeth and that is better. Most of the degradation is due to bacteria and enzymes though. As long as DNA is dried, it is extremely durable. We actually have gotten DNA from cremated remains before. It is very difficult but can be done in some cases. So, if it can stand fire, it can stand air also. Of course the less air the better once it is dry as it can carry contaminants if the DNA is openly exposed.
Question: Why do many fossils only have mitochondrial DNA if they have any DNA available at all?
Answer: You have to use a number of very technical procedures to try to obtain nuclear DNA from fossils. Oftentimes it is too degraded to extract. In the case of Neanderthal and the Denisovan finger bone, these very ancient remains only had nuclear DNA because they were in a dry environment (cave) and the conditions were not conducive for degradation to occur. Even at that, it is quite the achievement to be able to sequence them at all. The reason it is easier to obtain the mitochondrial DNA (maternal lineage) is that 1. It is a small loop of DNA (about 16.5 kilobases) and 2. There are about a hundred copies of mitochondrial DNA in a cell so it is 100 times more prevalent than the nuclear DNA in the nucleus of the cell. So, it degrades less due to size and number.
Question: What about modern samples and DNA yield as far as degradation?
Answer: If the DNA has been left out in the environment, especially a wet environment, even the best samples can degrade. So, extracting DNA from any type of specimen can be tricky if it has been out in the weather, especially wet weather as it promotes bacterial and fungal growth and therefore degradation of the exposed sample. That is why we never suggest collecting DNA in plastic bags, they hold moisture. Allow the sample to dry and then put it in a new paper bag.
What? No critics responding to say that Dr. Ketchum doesn't know what she's doing? And where are those so quick to call her a hoaxer? Might her answers above (gasp!) mean that she's the real deal?
ReplyDeleteI look forward to her research results, whatever they may be.
I agree. I'm excited, but growing impatient by the day. Hopefully this thing gets released soon.
DeleteOk I will be your huckleberry.
DeleteHer lab has a triple F rating by the B.B.B.
so (gasp!) she is not the shining ray of light described in post.
Any proper investigations will have used many independent labs in blind trials, so it will not be just her lab that did the work. It is the consistency of the whole body of results that will establish the reliability of the final conclusions. Looking forward to seeing the paper.
DeleteKetchum is the Black Hole of DNA testing. After four years, it is time to call her on this hoax. If you really need to have a test done, use an independent lab and publish the sequences yourself to the federal GenBank.
DeleteSusan Schafer PhD
The GenBank Direct Submission Staff
Bethesda, Maryland USA
*******************************************************************
(301) 496-2475
(301) 480-2918 fax
gb-admin@ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (for updates/replies to GenBank entries)
info@ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (for general questions regarding GenBank)
Actually I was also in that string and joining in myself. I was pleasantly surprised to know that Dr. Ketcham DID know what she was talking about; and she said some right things that had been wrong when the news leaks came out. Which told me that the leaks were not coming from HER, she knew the differance. So whatever else is going on, Melba Ketcham knows enough about genetics to be able to at least teach introductory-level college courses on the subject, IMHO.
ReplyDeleteWhich is nothing to say about her business practices or the knowledgeability or efficiency of her associates, I wouldn't have any direct experience in those areas and I would not venture any personal opinions yet... All I am saying is I was listening in to see if she said the wrong thing and instead of that, she DID say the RIGHT things.
Best Wishes, Dale D.
You know what I find interesting. Since Dr Ketchum has started answering questions we haven't had a peep out of Robert Lindsay.
ReplyDeleteI think it's because he knows that now we can go direct to Dr Ketchum, and ask her if what he is saying is true or not.
Shaun, UK
I appreciate Dr. Ketchum coming forth and giving us information on DNA, something I know very little about, and would like to learn more, and learning it due to my extreme interest in Sasquatch is probably the only way I would have gained any knowledge. Keep the Q&A coming Dr. Ketchum.
ReplyDeleteWell Robert ! What do you have to say for your self ? WELL !!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe BBB is a joke and the complaints on Melba were from ONE customer who didn't LIKE his animal's test results and refused to pay his bill and reported her to the BBB just to take it out on her. Do some research, will ya?
ReplyDeleteCorrect Guess he should have bought better quality stock from more repeatable people...
DeleteMaybe it's just a question of you get what you pay for~~~~Inexpensive Horse~~~poor stock line?
Yawn. On the basis of three general questions, she is now the world's expert on DNA. Let's talk about chain of custody of the samples and contamination without an established chain of custody.
ReplyDeleteGo ask her, she'll probably respond...without revealing samples or submitters, there is no conflict with describing the chain of custody requirements of the study.
DeleteDavid from the PAC/NW
You can find those same answers with a simple Google search or by taking an interduction course to DNA analysis. She's a fraud
ReplyDeleteAnd you're another troll with no life.
DeleteI guess if someone disagrees with you that makes them a troll. Half of the bigfoot community thinks shes a scammer. Even Dr muldrum has spoken up out of concern. He thinks she's "full of it" ill take his word over yours anon...
DeleteMaybe she was tailoring her response to suit her audience. Judging by some of the comments here, perhaps she aimed too high. So enlightening to see people plucking statistics out of their gluteus maximus and attributing words to people that have never been uttered by them. You must be disciples of Lindsay.
DeleteAren't you the one that is posting as Anonymous? Fraud?????? Put your name where your mouth is or shut up!!!!
DeleteNo one is doubting she knows a little or even a lot about how to get DNA results. That doesn't change the fact that she's a loon and shouldn't be trusted or even taken seriously
ReplyDeleteGoes for you too, troll.
DeleteNo troll at all. MANY PEOPLE who know the Dr personally and professionally describe her as a loon or crazy. I didn't know that was up for debate. She claimed bigfoots braided her horses hair to atleast 4 well respected researchers. That's a fact. She's nuts. Hopefully her science isn't as crooked as she is.
DeleteShe's a loon? What? Someone with an advanced degree is a loon? How does anybody know that she is a loon?
DeleteIf she is a loon, then the skeptics will jump all over this via using ad hominem arguments to paint her as a loon and discredit this bigfoot DNA study?
I say just sit back and enjoy the ride! Don't get your hopes up because you know very well if evidence proves there is really a Sasquatch it will take more research and investigating and more opinions from creditable Doctors. This is just the begining.
ReplyDeleteLindsay Broughton
I 100% agree!
DeleteDavid from the PAC/NW
Of course it's just the beginning. This whole search for Sasquatches is basically still in its infancy, there's been lots of bumps in the road with many more miles to go. We know practically nothing about the species, at least we're about to learn they really are there which is something many of us already knew. But Dr. Ketchum's work is a welcome validation and the first big step of many new steps. Also remember, Sasquatches don't give a damn having encountered us many times so they already think we all know about them.
Delete^in what way will it be established that they "really are there"?
DeleteI agree. Only a specimen will convince skeptics.
DeleteYup, the world will demand a body.
DeleteSigh! Who needs to convince any skeptic. They can read the science like the rest of us. They can take it or leave it, just so long as they are educated enough to put up cogent arguments to refute the science. You don't need to travel to the moon to know it is not made of cheese. You don't need a body to prove something exists.
Delete....and by specimen, you mean a corpse, right? A dead bigfoot will not convince a skeptic. The Geogria-Boys saw to that.
DeletePlus, if some "less-than-scrupulous" individual "collected" a specimen, it would quickly find itself in the hands of science and the door would slam in our faces faster than you can say NDA. Then we'd be right here, wishing "somebody would just BAG ONE!!!" Even though they did and we have valid proffesionals working on it...
Just sayin'.
David from the PAC/NW
With my first comment being said, I would like to add that I truly respect everythig Dr. Melba is doing and I greatly admire her for putting herself out there in the name of Science. She has my support!
ReplyDeleteLindsay Broughton
I'm continually amazed at the number of critical and dismissive comments that always come from "anonymous" posters. Not only on this blog but on blogs, in general.
ReplyDeleteFor someone to use a Better Business Bureau rating as a commentary on the efficacy of Dr Ketchum's lab. Shows a real lack of knowledge as to how the BBB works and why so many business owners, less than 1%, actually participate in the BBB program. That's a subject for another blog.
That being said. If we are willing to "slam" anyone who is willing to do the ONLY work being done, in this area, on this subject. We should at least identify ourselves and declare our expertise that qualifies our criticism.
Just my opinion.
She is not the only one doing work in this area. If you can't keep up don't play.
DeleteOK Ed,
DeleteI'll bite.
Name the others that are currently doing this type of work and are openly putting their name on the line like Dr Ketchum is?
that's right Ed, nobody else is doing this but Dr. Ketchum. In fact, many others have tried and all have failed, nice try..
DeleteIt is interesting to see how some of you sit back and coment on her knowledge of genetics/science of DNA and so forth then make proclamations on her scientific credintials. Only other doctor types trained n the science of DNA studies will be able to access wheather or not her depth of knowledge in the field is where she claims. Also what is this about chain of custody? Do you know something the rest of us has not heard about? Did you just hear the term used on T.V. do you know what it involves? I can not concive that the study does not have procedures in place. But yea, maybe you should inquire befor you start lobbing shots broadside. The type of comments you are putting out without including some amount of supporting background may cause people who do not know you to question your level of synaptic activity and i'm sure you would not like that.
ReplyDeleteSo much hate, If you dont believe these creatures are real whats the harm in letting the crypto kids have some fun? I mean really, these squatchers are probably in much better physical condition than most of you keyboard warriors who sit around drinking redbull n eating pizza pockets.
ReplyDeleteReally, worst case scenario these people are out in the woods learning about they're local ecosystems, anything that opens the door to a healthy lifestyle and encourages scientific thought patterns is amazing in my book.
Trolls n hate filled small people, Go find a blog about the jersey shore and put the negativity you spew here to a good use....
Absolutely agree. What are the smallminded ones thinking, why do they hate. I'm guessing they're really insecure indivduals probably bullied in school or at work, maybe it's simple jealousy of having no healthy hobby themselves. As a gut feeling, I've felt from the get go Dr. Ketchum will be the one to crack it and this for some reason is probably making other scientists jealous that it won't be them. Or they're simply upset it's getting cracked at all, how it's daring to disrupt the present situation of ruling mainstream science's general self-loving complacency as decisionmaking Gods.
DeletePerhaps Dr. Ketchum will be "the one" to crack this puzzle, maybe not. At the very least she has pulled the curtin back for the scientific community, I picture most mainstream scientists to scared to look though. In all likely hood a drunk redneck will hit one on a road somewhere and the species will be named "homo sapien daryl james tucker the fourthis" ...
DeleteOne last note, I agree that posting anon allows peps to just flap their lips bout what they prolly know not. I have fought several long and drawn out battles w/ my putter of wheather or no I can post under my name, My putter says I must post anon. It won. my post just above and thjis one are by Tom B. I'll try latter to convince my putter that we can use our name.
ReplyDeleteYou have to have administrator rights to talk to your 'putter....mmm'k skeeter?
Deletethere is no report.
ReplyDeleteWhat I don't get is all this talk from people being impatient, please. This search leads back centuries and all of a sudden after a few years of study that finally looks very promising everybody's losing patience. LOL If we'd known five years ago in 20 years the proof's there, everybody would've said great looking forward to that, now it's been what four years. Take a cold shower, hear about it in due time ungrateful impatient bastards. LOL Nobody thinks it'll be decades anymore, the hiding's over and the beast that isn't a beast but a man comes out of the shadows. The lost big brother is coming home to claim his place on the family tree, it's just history nobody reverse or erase whether some undoubtedly wish they could. Too bad, too late.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think the "proof" will be exactly?
DeleteWhat is the "proof" you think will be provided, exactly?
DeleteFolks, I hate to break it to some of you "haters" here, but .... YOU CAN'T FAKE DNA!!!! So WTF re: chain of custody and contamination? If she's identified Sas DNA, she can tell it apart from other critters or humans. It provides it's own confirmation! Please read and learn something!
ReplyDeleteJust playing devil's advocate, how could she possibly identify "sas DNA"? I would like to read and learn something about this, what do you suggest?
DeleteIdentification of an unknown species via DNA is achieved by comparison to DNA of known species. There are databases of DNA available to scientists for such work, GenBank being one. For example, if she has found novel DNA and can place it in the primate family, then she has found a new primate. And remember, her study includes samples from more than 100 Sas individuals, so she also has the ability to confirm the species to itself.
DeleteEaxctly right. DNA unlike what many clueless ones think happens to be a body essentially, it comes from somewhere from some unknown host. If it can't be matched with any other known primate, and it proves primate, then we have a new unknown primate in our midst. And if it shows up human too but not our own species, it's pretty safe to conclude from that we have 'Squatches confirmed in these woods. And indeed, Dr. Ketchum has done that very thing several times already. Those refusing to grasp that very scientific fact, will bare the new loon title.
DeleteWell I know Melba and can say without a doubt she is no loon. She is a well educated talented individual who takes great care in everything she does. She has worked on some very high profile DNA cases but due to professional ethics she can't and will not brag or talk about them. She is a humble down to earth person and does not deserve to be trashed by people who know little or nothing of her or her work on this or any other project..Thank you
ReplyDeleteJ.Stewart
She claims to have observed live sasquatches in the wild, and knows where they are but won't reveal the location in order to "protect" them. Wouldn't the best way to protect them be to conclusively prove their existence by providing a specimen? Her statements don't match up with her actions, which is why I remain skeptical of any of her claims.
DeleteNo loon huh? Ask her about the Bigfoots that play with her horses hair or ask if they are telepathic. Ask if she's ever "received"messages from them. She says they wanted her to find them and start the DNA study.
DeleteWhat? Nu uh?
DeleteIf this is true, wouldn't it be easier to use telepathy and ask a squatch to get in the back of a pick up and drive it to the nearest university for study instead of spending all of this time and money to do a DNA study.
Can't handle it, troll? What's the matter. In your view a humnalike species like the Sasquatches can't do anything with their long arms so you expect them to be completely immobile and just sit around all day quietly, right? Loon you are, yeah.
DeleteI do not know Melba Personally, but I agree she is no loon, if some of these skeptics
Deleteand trolls on here had an I.Q. higher than
40, they would be able to do a little research and find out that she has a very prominent business and is well respected by her peers.
She is going to go into the history books
and just from the grief and skepticism towards her, she will deserve all the credit that she will receive. Good luck to Dr.Kutchum and I hope will be happy after carrying the burden of the study for so long.
Well said, I agree.
DeleteSome well known scientists claim that God or Spirit exists and claim a shared consciousness in meditation.
ReplyDeleteFew take that faith and try and make a thesis of it, especially if their trade is hard science.
Dr. Ketchum can have any number of beliefs unprovable, and it is irrelevant to her trade, forensic genetics.
It will be hard to pass any real peeer-review witha goal to proving an unknown.
If she makes it?
Wow, what a lovely loon.
What a bunch of losers~~~all of you are! LOL!
ReplyDeleteThis is a hoax
ReplyDeleteMr. Pooper
I really enjoy listening to David P., and I believe that he is as thorough a researcher as they come... all bases covered, nothing left-out kind-of guy, but I am having a hard time accepting this. In order for "bigfoot" to have spread to the population - even within North America alone, that most experts agree upon, and to have survived this long as a "hidden" hominid species, there would have to have been an awful lot of women being raped otherwise procreating with these other "unknown" primates.
ReplyDelete