The Occult Section

So many interesting anecdotes about Bigfoot, and so little actual proof. I came across this story of a woman who has been holding on to some biological material (hairs and skin, mostly) from what she claims is a sasquatch. Her story, while extremely interesting, doesn’t bring us any closer to determining if Bigfoot exists, unfortunately.

SUTHERLIN, Ore. – Betty Klopp has been holding on to these strands of hair and bits of skin for nearly 45 years.

“Of course I’ve kept it,” Klopp told KPIC News. “I wouldn’t give it up for anything.”

She believes the clumps came from a bigfoot.

No one has proven the existence of bigfoot - or sasquatch or yeti or skunk ape, as some call the creature.

Klopp is convinced the forest dweller is really out there.

“Oh definitely,” she said. “I don’t think people should go around shooting him if they find him.”

Her sasquatch keepsake comes from her parents. Klopp said her parents were driving along in the 1960s, towing a small trailer, when they swerved off the road to avoid hitting what they believed was a man.

Klopp said her parents stopped at the Porter Creek Store to assess what had happened. They got out of the car and searched the area, but they found nothing.

The next day, her parents discovered pieces of skin and hair snagged on the trailer.

“This is something you don’t run into every day, quite literally,” Klopp said.

She said the material was sent to a university of Montana for testing about 3 years ago. The results showed the DNA was too deteriorated and the hair too degraded to make any identification.

Klopp still believes. She decided to share her story after hearing reports that someone in Texas had killed a bigfoot.

“There are reports that someone has one and has shot it and is storing it in his freezer,” Klopp said. “I would like to know for sure.”

It’s a shame that usable DNA could not be extracted from the samples that she has. DNA testing was pretty non-existent in the 1960s, and I’m guessing it would have been pretty tricky for her to preserve the hair and skin well enough for it to be tested. Plus, there would always be the issue of contamination.

Technorati Tags: bigfoot, cryptozoology, dna, finding bigfoot, media, montana, News, oregon, paranormal, people, sasquatch, skunk ape, sutherlin, thoughts, yeti

This is a fascinating story that I frankly don’t know how to process. The location of the body of 32-year-old King Richard III, who died in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth Field, has been unknown for centuries. Fast forward to 2009, when Philippa Langley allegedly sensed the exact spot where his body was (underneath a parking lot) and funded an excavation. A body was discovered and just recently has been confirmed as that of the king. Is Philippa Langley psychic? Or is there something else afoot (and if so, what?)?

A 3D reconstruction of King Richard III’s face

A WRITER told yesterday how her intuition led archaeologists to the lost remains of King Richard III.

Edinburgh-based Philippa Langley was researching a play on the king, known as Crookback because of his deformed spine, when she had a hunch she was standing on his grave.

She funded a dig of the site – a council car park in Leicester.

And DNA results have now confirmed a body found there was that of the 32-year-old king, who was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.

It matches the genetic make-up of two living descendants of Richard.

The skeleton also has a curved spine, confirming contemporary accounts.

Philippa, who is secretary of the Scottish branch of the Richard III Society, recalled the visit which prompted the dig yesterday, saying: “It was a hot summer and I had goosebumps so badly and I was freezing cold.

“I walked past a particular spot and absolutely knew I was walking on his grave.

“I am a rational human being but the feeling I got was the same feeling I have had before when a truth is given to me.”

What are your thoughts? While this entire story seems kind of unreal, it’s fascinating to me how it’s all played out.

Technorati Tags: Battle of Bosworth Field, britain, car lot, crookback, dig, discovering the body, dna, Edinburgh, england, excavacation, excavating, excavation, face, facial reconstruction, intuition, king richard iii, paranormal, parking lot, people, Philippa Langley, psychic, scoliosis, skeleton, thoughts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE‘BIGFOOT’ DNA SEQUENCED IN UPCOMING GENETICS STUDY

Five-Year Genome Study Yields Evidence of Homo sapiens/Unknown Hominin Hybrid Species in North America

Contact: Robin Lynne, media@dnadiagnostics.com, 231.622.5362

DALLAS, Nov. 24–A team of scientists can verify that their 5-year long DNA study, currently under peer-review, confirms the existence of a novel hominin hybrid species, commonly called “Bigfoot” or “Sasquatch,” living in North America. Researchers’ extensive DNA sequencing suggests that the legendary Sasquatch is a human relative that arose approximately 15,000 years ago as a hybrid cross of modern Homo sapiens with an unknown primate species.

The study was conducted by a team of experts in genetics, forensics, imaging and pathology, led by Dr. Melba S. Ketchum of Nacogdoches, TX. In response to recent interest in the study, Dr. Ketchum can confirm that her team has sequenced 3 complete Sasquatch nuclear genomes and determined the species is a human hybrid:

“Our study has sequenced 20 whole mitochondrial genomes and utilized next generation sequencing to obtain 3 whole nuclear genomes from purported Sasquatch samples. The genome sequencing shows that Sasquatch mtDNA is identical to modern Homo sapiens, but Sasquatch nuDNA is a novel, unknown hominin related to Homo sapiens and other primate species. Our data indicate that the North American Sasquatch is a hybrid species, the result of males of an unknown hominin species crossing with female Homo sapiens.

Hominins are members of the taxonomic grouping Hominini, which includes all members of the genus Homo. Genetic testing has already ruled out Homo neanderthalis and the Denisova hominin as contributors to Sasquatch mtDNA or nuDNA. “The male progenitor that contributed the unknown sequence to this hybrid is unique as its DNA is more distantly removed from humans than other recently discovered hominins like the Denisovan individual,” explains Ketchum.

“Sasquatch nuclear DNA is incredibly novel and not at all what we had expected. While it has human nuclear DNA within its genome, there are also distinctly non-human, non-archaic hominin, and non-ape sequences. We describe it as a mosaic of human and novel non-human sequence. Further study is needed and is ongoing to better characterize and understand Sasquatch nuclear DNA.”

Ketchum is a veterinarian whose professional experience includes 27 years of research in genetics, including forensics. Early in her career she also practiced veterinary medicine, and she has previously been published as a participant in mapping the equine genome. She began testing the DNA of purported Sasquatch hair samples 5 years ago.

Ketchum calls on public officials and law enforcement to immediately recognize the Sasquatch as an indigenous people:

“Genetically, the Sasquatch are a human hybrid with unambiguously modern human maternal ancestry. Government at all levels must recognize them as an indigenous people and immediately protect their human and Constitutional rights against those who would see in their physical and cultural differences a ‘license’ to hunt, trap, or kill them.”

Full details of the study will be presented in the near future when the study manuscript publishes.

Technorati Tags: bigfoot, bigfoot dna, cryptozoology, debunking, dna, dna sequencing, dr. melba ketchum, loren coleman, media, Melba Ketchum, News, paranormal, people, press release, sasquatch, supernatural, thoughts

Ah, Bigfooters. They’re not nearly as crazy or as bombastic as ghost hunters, but sometimes they can give them a run for their money. I firmly believe that if any so-called paranormal phenomenon will be solved and/or explained during our lifetimes, it would be the Bigfoot mystery (sorry, fellow ghost hunters, but we are barely beginning to scratch the surface in our field, and way too many people are muddling the view with wonky science and fame-seeking). A lot of interesting research has been done on the big hairy fella, and a lot of it promises to be interesting. And it promises and promises, and keeps on promising, but so far, zilch. This story illustrates exactly what I mean.

“I’ll…ummm…gladly donate some DNA for your…study…”

During the first half of Coast to Coast AM on Friday, July 27, 2012, the guest was Rhettman Mullis, the scientific mind behind Team Bigfootology. Aside from his story of Patrick, the human-Bigfoot hybrid, and his revelations regarding the Bigfoot language, Mullis’ made one tiny statement that seemed to go unnoticed: “I already know what one of the outcomes are and I’m not at liberty to discuss that.”

According to Rhettman Mullis, he and his team are the only people using a true scientific method to conduct Bigfoot research in North America. They’re working closely with Bryan Sykes, former professor of Human Genetics at University of Oxford, who is also conducting DNA research on Bigfoot hair samples at at Lausanne Museum of Zoology in Switzerland.

During his interview with George Noory on Coast to Coast AM, Mullis slipped in the following statement:

“I already know what one of the outcomes are and I’m not at liberty to discuss that. But it’s a very exciting conclusion. And so, what we’re hoping is, now that we have that answer, let’s see what Dr. Sykes comes up with and let’s see how they compare, because he’s the one that’s going to put this in the history books and put this in the biology books as fact.”

Bryan Sykes’ research project is currently in the sample submission stage. Samples may be submitted for DNA analysis, at no expense, until September. DNA analysis will be conducted during the month of November and Sykes hopes to publish results as early as December of 2012.

Sykes is well known in academic circles for his ground-breaking techniques for analyzing ancient DNA. His technique for extracting DNA from centuries-old human bones led to his theory that all Europeans are descended from seven distinct females. His book, “The Seven Daughters of Eve”, is fascinating reading and written in a style that makes it easy for anyone to read and understand.

Dr. Melba Ketchum has also been working on Bigfoot DNA research here in the United States for quite some time, and Bigfoot enthusiasts have been waiting for her to publish her peer-reviewed paper since April 2012. In an angry outburst from Ketchum which turned up on her Facebook news feed this week, Ketchum had this to say in response to an article posted by Robert Lindsay at “Bigfoot News: July 12, 2012”:

“The manuscript is NOT at the Nature Group! How many times do I have to say this? There is no pub date yet! Those pics are not real either, it looks like the hair is mounted on something fake (or tanned) and it really looks more like tanned coyote hide. The morphology is wrong for BF hair. Talk about grasping at straws. I wish people would stop bombarding me with emails every time all this fiction gets posted but that is all it is, fiction. Geez…. Ok, now that I have responded this time, this is the last post I am going to comment on the subject of this blog….and I am not going to waste my time answering any emails on it either. Just know, whatever that blog says as it pertains to ANYTHING we are doing or know, it is NOT true and I will not address this again. There are no leaks from our group and NOBODY, even the submitters, know anything at this time as the dynamics of the study have radically changed. I have way too much to do to than to answer a lot of emails. I don’t want to be rude and not answer so I am posting this as an answer to all. Please do not expect anything further until the paper is released. Thanks everyone and I appreciate the support.”

Read the whole story at “Robert Lindsay: Ketchum DNA paper should publish from August 21 – September 4, 2012 (Update: Ketchum responds)”

So, Dr. Ketchum says, “The dynamics of the study have radically changed”, and Rhettman Mullis says,“I already know what one of the outcomes are and I’m not at liberty to discuss that.”

So far, no one’s letting any details slip, and gossip has it that leaking information at this point will either jeopardize Ketchum’s research paper or dim the limelight she’s been basking in.

Sykes seems to have definitive milestones set up for his research project, though, something that Ketchum has never seemed to be able to do. Sykes also has the backing of a major university and museum, and a scientific research staff to keep things moving along.

The race is on. If Ketchum can’t, or won’t, publish her paper before Sykes publishes in December, she might as well hang it up. Either way, December promises to be a very interesting month for Bigfoot fans.

A lot of people keep claiming they have “exciting” finds from their DNA research, and it either never gets released, or we end up with stories like the debacle we had last year with the “Bigfoot face smudges.” I do understand the need for these researchers to be patient, and not release anything until all the results are in. But the bottom line is people have to stop with the cryptic “I-know-something-you-don’t-know” statements. Either publish your findings, or keep quiet. Otherwise, you just look like every other hoaxer out there who makes big promises they can never deliver on.

Technorati Tags: bigfoot, Bryan Sykes, cryptozoology, debunking, dna, ghost hunters, hair samples, media, Melba Ketchum, News, paranormal, people, Rhettman Mullis, sasquatch, thoughts, yeti

Part of me is really digging this story and its possibilities, and the other part of me is pretty sure this will turn out to be a circus. On the one hand, better, faster, more accurate DNA studies could hugely benefit the world of cryptozoology. On the other hand, every yahoo and yokel who’s ever found a strange strand of hair or oddly shaped poop is going to submit it for analysis.

It's amazing the products we've discovered here on our little blog...

LONDON (AP) — European researchers are planning to use new techniques to analyze DNA that could help crack the mystery of whether Bigfoot exists.

In a project announced this week, Oxford University and Lausanne Museum of Zoology scientists appealed to museums, scientists and Yeti aficionados to share hair samples thought to be from the mythical ape-like creature.

New genetic tests will be done on just a few strands of hair and should be completed within weeks. Even if the sample is judged to come from an unknown species, scientists should be able to tell how closely it is related to other species, including apes or humans.

Bryan Sykes of Oxford University said the group had already received many offers of samples to test, including blood, hair, and items supposedly chewed by Bigfoot. Sykes and colleagues plan to sift through the samples for the next few months before deciding which specimens to test. They will then publish their results in a peer-reviewed journal.

Other experts agreed recent advances made in DNA testing could theoretically solve the Bigfoot question.

“If the Yeti is real and somebody has found bits of their hair, you should be able to tell from the DNA in the hair if this is actually a Yeti,” said Mark Thomas, a professor of evolutionary genetics at University College London. He is not connected to the Bigfoot project.

But Thomas was unsure how likely it was anyone might have actual Yeti hairs. Some scientists theorize Yetis are either a distinct hominid species, or a mix between homo sapiens and Neanderthals or other species. There is already evidence of interbreeding between homo sapiens and Neanderthals.

“If Yetis have survived for the last 30,000 years, they have probably had a pretty miserable existence and are a small population vulnerable to extinction,” Thomas said. “It’s not as insane an idea as many might think, but the chances are pretty small.”

Sykes said he has always been intrigued by stories of Yeti sightings, but would rely on science rather than such tales to prove if the stories are credible. “It’s not really possible to fabricate DNA evidence,” he said.

He acknowledged that the chances of proving the existence of a new Yeti species are low, but said that the study was still worthwhile. “If we don’t look, we’ll never find out,” he said.

Bigfoot is a legendary giant, hairy, ape-like beast that is variously known as Sasquatch, the Abominable Snowman, Yeti and other names. It supposedly lives in heavily forested or snowy mountains. Although most scientists don’t believe in the beast’s existence, decades of eyewitness reports, suggestive photos and stories have kept the legend alive.

David Frayer, a professor of biological anthropology at Kansas University, told The Associated Press in an email that “No serious scientist (would) treat Yeti as a worthy research project.”

He said previous tests on supposed Yeti hairs have already been done – “and they turned out to be from a bison.”

I, as always, have to take exception to something in this post. For David Frayer, or anyone, to say that researching something like the Yeti or Bigfoot should not even be considered by a serious scientist is a bit irresponsible. So once upon a time, some hairs were tested and were found to be bison hairs. Does that automatically mean all research should stop? I really am not a fan of the fundamental believers out there who feel that every broken tree branch is a Bigfoot nest. But I’m also ashamed of skeptics who turn their nose up at things they don’t believe in simply because they refuse to accept that something is going on. People are seeing something in the woods, and to me that is worth researching, whether you believe in Bigfoot or not.

Technorati Tags: abominable snowman, bigfoot, cryptozoology, debunking, dna, hair sample, hoax, media, News, paranormal, people, sasquatch, thoughts, yeti