OT: DNA among races

[Guest guest]

I changed the subject line.....just in case.....

 

I read about the DNA thread, whether or not it can help with determining

lineage.....

 

I do want to say that my husband had to have DNA testing done to show

paternity for his son.....

 

Among the 6 markers that were tested.....4 of those my husband had in common

with the mother of his son. Strange???? I thought so..... I was thinking

perhaps they'd gotten something mixed up at the lab.

 

I talked to the main technician....some kind of doctor....anyway, he said

that those 4 markers were common in the caucasian population. The other 2

that were tested were not common. That was how they determined paternity.

 

Does this mean that they could possibly determine lineage? Maybe, maybe

not....or maybe just not yet.

 

I just wanted to give you some food for thought. I think it's pretty

interesting myself.

 

Candy in AL

[Guest guest]

There was a show on PBS--I think it was called a question of race; not sure--but

they did mitochondria DNA studies on a group of students. mDNA is only

inherited through the mother's line, so they were using it to see if they could

tell where a person's matrilineal line came from. The first girl they tested

was black and she matched up with a person that was Yoruba (group of people in

West Africa) and then she matched up with someone in Western Europe, then an

Asian, and so on. When they were done with all the students, they were just as

likely or not likely to match up with a person in their so-called 'race' as they

were outside of it.

 

Race is based on physical characteristics and those occupy only a very small

portion of a person's code. If you try to base race on physical

characteristics--it becomes very blurred. For example, I am tri-racial--black,

Irish, and Native American. Most people look at me and figure that I am black.

However, I have curly (not kinky) bright copper hair, freckles, and light skin.

My face is flat--an Asian/Native American characteristic and I definitely have a

Chata nose. My children blur the lines further, my son is fair as most

Caucasians with blonde hair (but it's kinky); my daughter has auburn, loosely

curled hair and honey-skinned, but my baby boy looks 100% Chata like his

grandfather. So, how can that be picked apart? What gene will say " black,

white, or other " ?

 

I was rather surprised that this special aired. They even touched on the

subject of certain groups having certain diseases. It is usually assumed that

black people get sickle cell disease. However, they interviewed a doctor

treating a young white girl with it. He said that in the Mediterranean area it

is very common and in some places in Greece, it had a 30% carrier rate (that's

higher than blacks here). Doctors harp on diabetes, high blood pressure, and

the lack of skin cancer in non-white racial groups. I don't think they ever

looked at the (what is obvious to me) fact that the majority of non-whites eat a

very poor diet (ever been to the produce section in a poor neighborhood?) or

that most non-whites don't go sun-bathing--whatever for when you've got a

natural tan? I never see these things mentioned and I think for the most part

it is done on purpose. People like to know 'what' they are dealing with and we

like to do it based on what 'category' we think people fall in. When the lines

get blurred, we don't know exactly how to approach or react.

 

I'm sorry this is so long and probably way more than you wanted to know. I am a

freelance writer when I'm not dabbling in creams, soaps, and EOs (lots of greasy

stained papers around here) and I've written a lot of info on this and other

stuff.

 

Everyone take care!

 

Drae

-

C. Lucas

 

10/4/04 11:47:44 AM

OT: DNA among races

 

 

I changed the subject line.....just in case.....

 

I read about the DNA thread, whether or not it can help with determining

lineage.....

 

I do want to say that my husband had to have DNA testing done to show

paternity for his son.....

 

Among the 6 markers that were tested.....4 of those my husband had in common

with the mother of his son. Strange???? I thought so..... I was thinking

perhaps they'd gotten something mixed up at the lab.

 

I talked to the main technician....some kind of doctor....anyway, he said

that those 4 markers were common in the caucasian population. The other 2

that were tested were not common. That was how they determined paternity.

 

Does this mean that they could possibly determine lineage? Maybe, maybe

not....or maybe just not yet.

 

I just wanted to give you some food for thought. I think it's pretty

interesting myself.

 

Candy in AL

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Hi Drae,

 

 

WOW! Lots of info there!

 

I don't know much about DNA.....so I was just giving my opinion about what

they found in my husband's case.....

 

I had called an independent DNA lab after we got the information, and I even

had someone to ask me if my husband and his ex were brother and sister! I

almost fainted! But, that's what was so funny about it......4 out of 6

markers were IDENTICAL.

 

So, whether or not those markers are shared by caucasians....as opposed to

any other race....I don't really know. I just know what the doctor told

us.....

 

I understand the tri-racial thing......

 

I am not really sure about my own ancestry.....I have Cherokee, Welsh,

Irish, German....and other stuff rolled in. Very confusing to be sure.

My entire family looks more Native American. Dark hair, olive

complexion..... Then there is me. I have blond hair, blue/green eyes, and

very very fair skin.

 

When I was young, my sisters teased me and said they had gotten me out of a

garbage can.....and that they'd adopted me. LOL It wasn't funny then, but

now, I get a kick out of it. Anytime my sisters introduce me to their

friends, they can't believe we are related.....until you hear us talk.....We

all sounds alike. And we have very similar mannerisms......even though both

of my sisters were grown and married by the time I was 6 years old.

 

It's amazing to see how folks differ.... and how they are the same.

 

DNA is facinating for sure....I wonder what else they will 'discover'

regarding DNA??? Thanks for the info, Drae.

 

Have a great day!

Candy

[Guest guest]

Hi Drae,

I lived next to Aboriginal people and the grandfather was always yelling at

the kids not to stay in the sun because it would make them " whiter " . I have

since heard this from someone else, but don't know if it's true.

 

Virginia

 

At 01:56 AM 5/10/2004, you wrote:

> or that most non-whites don't go sun-bathing--whatever for when you've

> got a natural tan?

[Guest guest]

Hi Virginia,

 

The sun turning you 'white'--wow. Might he be refering to the bleaching effects

of the sun on hair? I've seen some people of the Dreamtime with fair hair. I

know the sun will bleach bones and hides.

 

Now, the sun does make my hair turn from dark copper to an outright fiery red

(I know it sounds weird to be darker skinned and have hair this color:-)

Sometimes I keep it covered because the sun is fierce here in Florida; even in

the winter. My grandmother, who was half Irish, told my mother not to give me

coffee because " it makes you black " . Here in the southern USA, it's desirable

to be fair-skinned rather than dark--even though this is not so true as it used

to be. I guess it used to be especially advantageous during segregation because

some people could pass for 'white' instead of 'colored'--many people in my

family left the South and did just that.

My father used to tell my mother to put me out in the sun because I was

fair-skinned. I wish she hadn't listened!! I've got a million and one

freckles! I try to stay out of the sun now because of that but I let my kids go

out in the sun. I do put sunscreen on my oldest son, though, he is very fair

with blonde hair and he burns very easily. I've been burned on several

occasions even though my skin is a cross between cinnamon and burnt orange. My

tan lines take about a year to fade (my daughter still has them on her from last

year!!)

 

Wait a minute!!! I don't know why I wasn't think of this--if you are darker

skinned and you go out in the sun a lot, you will get an 'ashy' appearance to

the skin. It can eventually look like you've been rolling in an ash pit if you

are 'chocolate' or darker. From what I understand, this is how sun damage is

manifested in darker skin peoples.

 

Hope you are enjoying upcoming spring! Where are you in Australia (or New

Zealand??)?

 

 

-

Virginia Dawes

 

10/15/04 6:36:18 AM

RE: OT: DNA among races

 

 

 

Hi Drae,

I lived next to Aboriginal people and the grandfather was always yelling at

the kids not to stay in the sun because it would make them " whiter " . I have

since heard this from someone else, but don't know if it's true.

 

Virginia

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Andrea,

I think you maybe right about the " ashy " appearance. Will find out more

when I can.

I am in the suburbs of Perth in Western Australia. It was considered to be

the most isolated capital city in the world by Dennis Conner when he was

here for the America's Cup. It gets pretty hot here, and is considered to

be a dry, Mediterranean climate.

I also have some Irish heritage and my ex-husband (Scotish and Irish) was a

redhead with freckles so I really had to watch my children in the sun.

I do not look forward to the summer 'cos I don't like the heat, but I

guesss you can't have everything. Nice talking to you.

 

Virginia

 

 

 

At 08:22 AM 16/10/2004, you wrote:

 

>Hi Virginia,

>

>The sun turning you 'white'--wow. Might he be refering to the bleaching

>effects of the sun on hair? I've seen some people of the Dreamtime with

>fair hair. I know the sun will bleach bones and hides.

>

> Now, the sun does make my hair turn from dark copper to an outright

> fiery red (I know it sounds weird to be darker skinned and have hair this

> color:-) Sometimes I keep it covered because the sun is fierce here in

> Florida; even in the winter. My grandmother, who was half Irish, told my

> mother not to give me

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hello oceanmoon,

In reference to your comment:

 

 

Wait a minute!!! I don't know why I wasn't think of this--if you are darker

skinned and you go out in the sun a lot, you will get an 'ashy' appearance to

the skin. It can eventually look like you've been rolling in an ash pit if

you are 'chocolate' or darker. From what I understand, this is how sun

damage is manifested in darker skin peoples.

 

 

 

This is totally NOT true. The ashy appearance comes from not using a

moisturizer.

 

Leslie

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/17/2004 2:43:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

oceanmoon writes:

 

I beg to differ. I read in one of Paula Begoun's (Cosmetic Cop) that

chornic sun damage can make darker pigmented folk's skin " ashy " looking.

 

 

 

Then please explain why people in Africa don't look ashy.

One other thing, you can't believe everything you read.

 

many blessings to you

Leslie

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

I beg to differ. I read in one of Paula Begoun's (Cosmetic Cop) that chornic

sun damage can make darker pigmented folk's skin " ashy " looking. Now, of

course, dry skin can make a person's skin look terribly ashy but I was referring

to long-term damage from UV rays. This is recent information in her last and

latest book--no sure but I think she go this from Am Dermotological Assc. She

mentioned this because despite there really not being any recommendations for

people of color using some sort of UV protection, she recommended based on this

information of long-term sun damage and the appearance it can eventually cause

in the skin.

 

 

-

 

 

10/16/04 8:20:46 AM

Re: OT: DNA among races

 

 

 

This is totally NOT true. The ashy appearance comes from not using a

moisturizer.

 

Leslie

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Perhaps some do have ashy skin--maybe it is not so readily noticeable--je ne

sais pas...but many clothing styles cover people up to protect them from the

sun. I live in a sub-tropic zone and try to stay out of the sun (like I want

my freckles to get any more prominent).

 

I certainly do not agree with all of Ms. Begoun's statements about skincare,

cosmetics, etc., but the majority of her research is from well-documented and

reputable sources. It does stand to reason that chronic, long-term UV damage

does something to skin--look at the skin of farmers and fishermen--wrinkles and

dry/ashy skin. However, I would at the same time think that the damage would

have to be really bad over a considerable period in very dark skin order to

manifest some damage. I just thought it was very interesting that she in one of

the few people to mention that darker-skinned people can suffer from UV exposure

and that they need sunscreen despite the fact they are afforded some natural

protection or else they could end up with the effects of overexposure.

 

What is in print does not make it a fact, but if she is able to give the source

of her information (studies done by dermatological associations and not

'independent' studies) then I would think it would hold true. Even so, one can

still choose to disregard it. Her book(s) is available in any library and this

info comes from her latest (and final) book.

 

-

 

 

10/17/04 5:51:40 PM

Re: OT: DNA among races

 

 

 

In a message dated 10/17/2004 2:43:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

oceanmoon writes:

 

I beg to differ. I read in one of Paula Begoun's (Cosmetic Cop) that

chornic sun damage can make darker pigmented folk's skin " ashy " looking.

 

 

 

Then please explain why people in Africa don't look ashy.

One other thing, you can't believe everything you read.

 

many blessings to you

Leslie