Gene Detectives

[Chris Paton]

I've just watched the first twenty minutes of Gene Detectives, hoping to watch a show all the way through, having only caught the end of one yesterday for the first time. Unfortunately I switched off after twenty minutes. I have to say, I don't think I have ever been more disgusted at the creation of a TV show in my life. It is fundamentally rubbish, absolute rubbish.

The show clearly stated that the mother of the main character, Mark, was herself adopted and had an original first name that was an extremly rare name variant. So why in the name of God did they have three potential candidates in the studio to have DNA tests done? Antony will already have known who the mother was from his genealogical work. I may be thick, but if he can narrow down the possible list from over 200 to just three, I would imagine if asking the final three if they had ever given a child up for adoption themselves would likely yield the answer, not some completely irrelevant DNA test or some pseudo-science facial recognisiton software. Maybe asking the mother if her first name was Phazey (I think that is what it was) prior to her own adoption would give the answer too. Mark obviously knew that from the info given to him about his background by his mother prior to his own adoption, and if he didn't, the genealogist, Antony, would not have known that unless he had traced her himself. It's really an insult to the intelligence.

Genealogical programmes should not focus on the techniques used but on the stories they produce. That is why WDYTYA works so well. But this effort is clearly a series commissioned by some idiot who thinks DNA is the next unique selling point. The fact that it is completely unnecessary to the problem at hand probably did not occur to them. This show does need any kind of pseudo science, but as I suspected yesterday, most likely has it purely because without it the investigation at hand would have ended with Antony in his introductory piece. There is no implied criticism of Antony here, he obviously succeeded in finding the guy's mother, but the programme makers should be gathered at the side of a field and humanely shot...

I would strongly suggest that people switch off this utter tripe as it will give a bad name to genealogy programmes.

Utter, UTTER rubbish.

Chris

[DavidWW]

But it's not just DNA tests (presumably Y chromosome haplotypes, but that's not explained) it's the weight and "scientific" credibility given to (a) facial characteristic comparisons, (b) unusual physical abilities e.g. ability to touch the tip of your nose with your tongue, etc., etc., and (c) health characteristics, e.g. similar blood pressure., etc., etc.

Based on various matches the person seeking the lost relation is "persuaded" to choose which of the three they believe to be their relative, sometimes, predictably, changing their opinion in the light of subsequent tests, - all this in the situation, where it's already known to the production crew which of the three is the relative.

All three, BTW, it is made clear, receive professional counselling to cover the possibility that they are the missing relative being sought, -- Ehhh!?, but why all three ?

The fact that there would be matches for (a) ,(b), & (c) with 2 or 3 of any 10 people invited in off the street is not explained.

(Of course there'll often be fascinating matches in terms of (a),(b), & (c), but to use such "tests" on a predictive basis is indeed pure unadulterated pseudoscience. E.g. I'm one of very few people who can bend and double over the top of my ear and tuck it into the inside of the ear. The only other person I know of who could do this was the crickect commentator Brian Johnston, - ergo, we must be related See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_priori_a ... hilosophy) )

I couldn't not watch several episodes last week after my first experience, - they were so bad, that they had to get better, didn't they - but when I saw a certain smiling face this morning, I immediately switched channel.

I even watched all of the programmes y'day and Monday as I just couldn't believe that they would be as bad as those from last week.

Obviously the correct long-lost relative is identified long in advance (otherwise why pay someone's airfare and other expenses from the US as was the case last week, and ditto Australia this week), and then, but only then the the programme researchers go out and find two other folk, and then make it appear as if all the "tests" described above, and only those, lead to the identification of which of the three is the long-lost relative.

Utter, UTTER rubbish

I'd put it a lot stronger than that, but the word censor would cut in , and I might even receive a formal warning.

As to Anthony Adolph, I'd severely criticise him for allowing himself to get involved in such a travesty, unfortunately including his outright and enthusiastic endorsement of the various "tests". I can't imagine that this will have done his professional reputation any good, - at least among fellow professionals.

I'd have emailed him but for the fact that he hasn't spoken to me since I criticised his boxout on the Scottish situation in an article on marriage records in Your Family Tree a few years ago, - including his believe that "hamfests" were a fundamental part of Scottish marriage customs. There were only another 5 or so fundamental errors in 150 words!

I wouldn't have thought, either, that Society of Genealogists would have wanted to appear to be endorsing the series via the frequent use of shots of their London HQ.

David

[Russell]

I take back everytghing I said about 'Digging up your roots'

In the light of your comments it was, in comparison, smooth, well considered and utterly professional.

I was going to watch but have utterly changed my mind.

Russell

[emanday]

Just to add my hapence worth, Russell.

Chris and David's comments, while a lot more expert than I could even come close to, are absolutely spot on. This has to be the most ill-conceived "genealogy" programme I have ever seen, and I have put genealogy in inverted commas as I actually think this is just another example of the media cashing in on people's feelings.

I've watched some of them , also hoping it might get better, but throughout every one I saw, I kept asking why they were putting this poor person through all that. As already mentioned, they must be aware of who the real long lost rellie is before they even roll the cameras.

Anthony Adolph should distance himslef from this and, as David said, I also am more than a little disturbed that the Society of Genealogists building is being shown as some kind of "validation".

Chris's judgement -

Utter, UTTER rubbish

I concur, absolutely!

[sporran]

Hello all,

I'm one of very few people who can bend and double over the top of my ear and tuck it into the inside of the ear. The only other person I know of who could do this was the crickect commentator Brian Johnston

Vincent van Gogh could do that as well, and put it in either earhole!


Regards,

John

[emanday]

I'm one of very few people who can bend and double over the top of my ear and tuck it into the inside of the ear. The only other person I know of who could do this was the crickect commentator Brian Johnston

Based on their "pseudoscience", David, Brian Johnston, my Dad and my Grandfather are all related!

[joette]

I agree but why did I make myself late for work by watching this tripe this AM & boo my eyes out at the end??
It got me in the heart as this lad adopted at six months who had searched for his birth parents for years was "happily reunited" with his Mother.
I know they recieve counselling & he rightly "knew" who his Mother was from first look but I feel that it is not only ill-concevied from a Genealogical viewpoint but I fear it is also praying on the emotions of those in a very vulnerable,desperate position.
A bit like Surprise Surprise with the pseudo-scientific tosh thrown in.
I can bend the top joint of my fingers & keep the rest of my finger straight-none of my siblings can-any rellies out there???

[emanday]

Conversely, both my husband and I could wiggle our ears! His family background covers Italy, Greece, France and Turkey, so we aren't related!

Neither of our kids can do it!



Helpmaboab - does that mean ma waens urny ma waens

[Muriel]

I watched the first programme & haven't watched any of the others - I though it was just too cruel. They had obviously advertised for people seeking living relatives & then just abused them by putting these vulnerable people through torture in the name of "entertainment".

Muriel

[IanS]

I can bend the top joint of my fingers & keep the rest of my finger straight-none of my siblings can-any rellies out there???

Hey, we must be related Joette I was first shown it by a school-mate, who was flabbergasted when I could do it too.... Have since found out abt. 35 yrs later we are related..... Scary Both hands , all fingers, seperately or all together.