Gene Detectives

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 4:26 pm

Chris Paton wrote:Response from the BBC re: complaint....

.....much snipped ................

I'll leave you to make your own minds up about it...!!!

Chris

See above

David

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 4:42 pm

David

Do I detect a trace of cynicism emanating from your new company

Perhaps you should e-mail Mr (should that be SIR ?) Dermott Lynn a copy of the services you are offering. The BBC appear to be into new ventures and it might suit their portfolio admirably.

Presentation suitably low key

Costs very resonable particularly if the client has picked up the tab for their DNA tests.

Initial company outlay minimal. Venture capital not required. Staff will be the (Ad)venturers

Russell

Post by **emanday** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 5:18 pm

Brilliant, David

But I would like to add my request for a "crossed legs" smiley to joette's

Muriel · Post by **Muriel** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 5:43 pm

Dermott Lynn sounds like an utter pratt (can't find a pratt emoticon!).

Muriel

Chris Paton · Post by **Chris Paton** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:11 am

DavidWW wrote:We absolutely guarantee you a family tree you can be proud of, one that will show your descent from such famous historical figures as Mary Queen of Scots, Oliver Cromwell, Sir Francis Drake, William the Conqueror, Charlemagne, the Norse god Woden, Charles II's head coachman's illegitimate son, a 4th cousin twice removed of Henry VIII, Cyril the Incontinent of Babylon, Frederick the Flatulent of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Baron Frankenstein, Joan Collins and the Man in the Off-Licence Round the Corner.

I thought I was Cyril the Incontinent's only known surviving descendant?! Can't wait to meet up with potential lost cousins through his line - though I would suggest clothes pegs for the nose might be in order for the bit where I get to choose which one is my cousin out of the three...! lol

(And I'm thinking the wet patch on the studio floor might be a dead giveaway... lol )

scooter · Post by **scooter** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:42 am

DavidWW wrote: 1. Photographs, both full face and profile
2. A tape of your voice.
3. Details of your physical quirks, e.g. ability to rub head and stomach in different directions simultaneously, touch the tip of your nose with your tongue, etc., etc.,
4. Lung capacity, height, blood pressure, eye sight.
5. "Deep ancestry" DNA test results.

..and how about being left, or right handed?

Scott

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:05 am

Scooter wrote:
DavidWW wrote: 1. Photographs, both full face and profile
2. A tape of your voice.
3. Details of your physical quirks, e.g. ability to rub head and stomach in different directions simultaneously, touch the tip of your nose with your tongue, etc., etc.,
4. Lung capacity, height, blood pressure, eye sight.
5. "Deep ancestry" DNA test results.
..and how about being left, or right handed?

Scott

See point 3

, - I seem to recall that the gene for this is recessive ........., but, as with all such physical characteristics, the fact that there isn't a match is not evidence of there being no link.

And in terms of our ancestors up to quite recent times, many in Scotland were forced to be right-handed, even if their natural tendency was to being corrie fisted.

David

scooter · Post by **scooter** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:24 am

DavidWW wrote: And in terms of our ancestors up to quite recent times, many in Scotland were forced to be right-handed, even if their natural tendency was to being corrie fisted.

:shock:

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:38 am

Scooter wrote:
DavidWW wrote: And in terms of our ancestors up to quite recent times, many in Scotland were forced to be right-handed, even if their natural tendency was to being corrie fisted.

I only missed the "force them to use their right hand" policy by a couple of years. My elder brother didn't, but then we both have a high ambidextrous rating.

Ambidextricity, BTW, is not just to do with writing, but many other actions. There was a quiz in the Air NZ magazine many years ago with 20 questions to be answered left, right, or both/either, along the lines of....

Writing hand,
throwing/bowling arm,
batting position,
use of scissors,
which hand used to strike a match,
plus another 15.

To which could be added a modern one, - use of mouse!

I came out as nearly 100% ambidextrous.

I can't find an equivalent quiz on the www, but http://www.cs.uu.nl/wais/html/na-dir/lefty-faq.html is well work a look.

BTW polar bears are reputed to be left handed, see http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/ ... uest_x.htm , but this is dispelled by http://www.scienceyear.com/wired/index. ... index.html

David

Chris Paton · Post by **Chris Paton** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:05 pm

I believe it is a well known fact as well that if you are of a white skin colour, you are believed to be of European origin, but if you have a very very very super duper white whiter-than-white skin, it can be attributed to the fact that you come from County Antrim. As someone who gets snowblindness just from looking at the underside of my arms, and who is therefore forced to wear long sleeved shirts even to bed, I can personally testify to the accuracy of this theory, and was wondering whether a colour or tonal chart chart would therefore be another useful tool for your exciting new research service?

Chris