DNA Doe Project - General Discussion

[djanga]

Possibly but on the spreadsheet it says "GIGANTIC, HUGE, OFF THE WALL, GLORIOUS NEWS coming before Year End (we hope)! Can hardly wait to share!"

If the big news were posting FTDNA matches then why would they have to "hope" that the news would come before the year's end? Also I'm not sure that FTDNA matches being posted really matches the extreme excitement of the statement on the spreadsheet. But maybe...?

Maybe Ancestry has granted ONLY DDP access to their database?? That would be monumental. Although I'm not sure why the news would be posted on their spreadsheet first so hmmm not sure that fits.

Gedmatch facebook page has recently started to post a lot of news about solving cold cases... So possibly it is related to Gedmatch. Just a thought though.

 

[Susikatze]

So I really really hope the "private" matches will be available, at least coded to preserve privacy and only to LE... i really really really hope and pray. So many Does have 90% of their matches hidden since the privacy update... it would help tremendously and send so many Does home.

On the other hand, the change in policy was the result of a big lawsuit and of course privacy rights are sacrosanct, especially since DNA is such sensitive personal data... so, i dont think that is the case. But one should never stop dreaming, right?

 

[djanga]

So I really really hope the "private" matches will be available, at least coded to preserve privacy and only to LE... i really really really hope and pray. So many Does have 90% of their matches hidden since the privacy update... it would help tremendously and send so many Does home.

On the other hand, the change in policy was the result of a big lawsuit and of course privacy rights are sacrosanct, especially since DNA is such sensitive personal data... so, i dont think that is the case. But one should never stop dreaming, right?

I remember I have read somewhere that Gedmatch was sold to a forensic service company about a year ago and it was followed by a huge discussion about the future of Gedmatch... and there is more about it (but it was posted more than a year ago). So, I really hope the Big news is related to Gedmatch. Still, you are right, it sounds unreal!

 

[Susikatze]

Yes it was sold to a private company (Verogen) that also offers DNA forensic services. I have not heard from them yet in connection with any case, though, but they may be really private or just about to build their portfolio...
And that is actually why I doubt the data will be available to the DDP... because, competition!

 

[doggybag2355]

I almost wonder too if maybe a few cases suddenly had high matches.

 

[djanga]

Yes it was sold to a private company (Verogen) that also offers DNA forensic services. I have not heard from them yet in connection with any case, though, but they may be really private or just about to build their portfolio...
And that is actually why I doubt the data will be available to the DDP... because, competition!

And also: if Gedmatch starts to charge for their service, may be they will change something else? I have not heard about Verogen solving cases, but if you go to Gedmatch facebook page starting a few months ago it is all about solving cold cases... Fingers crossed

 

[djanga]

I almost wonder too if maybe a few cases suddenly had high matches.

May be, but why than they do not update the spreadsheet with it now? And as well know if somebody is identified it can take a few months before the announcement...

 

[doggybag2355]

May be, but why than they do not update the spreadsheet with it now? And as well know if somebody is identified it can take a few months before the announcement...

Not sure, I know it did take them a little bit to update Pulaski County Jane Doe when she got her big match last time

 

[djanga]

Not sure, I know it did take them a little bit to update Pulaski County Jane Doe when she got her big match last time

May be that’s true, I also hope there are identifications (may be Sumter co couple identification can be gigantic news as so many people follow the case). But I personally believe it is more generic

 

[Susikatze]

I also doubt its one of the popular cases and i dont think it is one single case, more like some general update.

 

[Awsi Dooger]

May be that’s true, I also hope there are identifications (may be Sumter co couple identification can be gigantic news as so many people follow the case). But I personally believe it is more generic

I agree with generic. "OFF THE WALL" was the phrase that jumped out to me. That hints that it was totally unexpected, and not something pushed for by DNA Doe Project.

I also don't think a solve of a specific case -- even the high profile Sumter County Does -- would qualify as "off the wall."

The assumption has been that the database firms are just sitting there under frozen terms and robotically denying all access or allowing only certain access, depending on their policies and also the law. But sharp people work in those firms also. And they've no doubt seen the progress and benefit of using genealogy to solve old cases. Plus CeCeMoore emphasized the viability of using the data to help with new cases. Once she highlighted that angle in the final episode I immediately thought the database firms would work toward a cloaking method of opening things up but without sacrificing privacy or violating their stated terms.

Cloaking was one of my favorite terms from Star Trek. I had to get that word in there. Not often used on Websleuths.

 

[doggybag2355]

I agree with generic. "OFF THE WALL" was the phrase that jumped out to me. That hints that it was totally unexpected, and not something pushed for by DNA Doe Project.

I also don't think a solve of a specific case -- even the high profile Sumter County Does -- would qualify as "off the wall."

The assumption has been that the database firms are just sitting there under frozen terms and robotically denying all access or allowing only certain access, depending on their policies and also the law. But sharp people work in those firms also. And they've no doubt seen the progress and benefit of using genealogy to solve old cases. Plus CeCeMoore emphasized the viability of using the data to help with new cases. Once she highlighted that angle in the final episode I immediately thought the database firms would work toward a cloaking method of opening things up but without sacrificing privacy or violating their stated terms.

Cloaking was one of my favorite terms from Star Trek. I had to get that word in there. Not often used on Websleuths.

That would be nice to suddenly have the ability to see cases like we did back in 2018, or even possibly have more access to say Ancestry without them sacrificing privacy.

 

[Susikatze]

That is what I was suggesting, making matches available to LE and genealogy companies, but coded to preserve privacy rights. It would be too good to be true.

 

[DNA_Sleuth]

Ok, I got permission to give everyone an early Christmas / New Year present: drum roll please . . . Adding the highest match # from FamilyTreeDNA to each of the cases. This is a huge work effort, but will surely give you hope on some of the cases! (Check out the numbers on the Sumter cases) Doe Upload.xlsx

 

[doggybag2355]

Ok, I got permission to give everyone an early Christmas / New Year present: drum roll please . . . Adding the highest match # from FamilyTreeDNA to each of the cases. This is a huge work effort, but will surely give you hope on some of the cases! (Check out the numbers on the Sumter cases) Doe Upload.xlsx

I KNEW IT

 

[leilarose68]

Ok, I got permission to give everyone an early Christmas / New Year present: drum roll please . . . Adding the highest match # from FamilyTreeDNA to each of the cases. This is a huge work effort, but will surely give you hope on some of the cases! (Check out the numbers on the Sumter cases) Doe Upload.xlsx

Thanks, Joan! Looking forward to all of the new matches, I know it will be a lot of work!!

 

[Susikatze]

So so so so lovely! Thank you for the update and thank you in general for making the spreadsheet public! So thankful for that!

 

[Susikatze]

Whoa, most of the cases DO tremendously benefit from that! So excited!

 

[doggybag2355]

Whoa, most of the cases DO tremendously benefit from that! So excited!

I can't believe how good Nation River Lady and Marion County John Doe are!

 

[DNA_Sleuth]

Thanks, Joan! Looking forward to all of the new matches, I know it will be a lot of work!!

I hope I didn't "oversell" this! Just excited to show everyone the FTDNA high match!