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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: bibliotaphist on Thursday 25 January 18 11:16 GMT (UK)

Title: Boris Johnson's mummified seven-greats grandmother
Post by: bibliotaphist on Thursday 25 January 18 11:16 GMT (UK)

BBC News - Boris Johnson 'is descendant' of mummified Basel woman http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42805485 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42805485)

Quote

[...]This was compared, by scientists working independently from one another, with DNA taking from living descendants of the Bischoff family.

The results were clear, showing a 99.8% probability that the descendants and the mummy were all from the same maternal line.

Now the scientists and the historians were sure: the mummy was none other than Anna Catharina Bischoff. Born in Basel in 1719, she died there in 1787.

Title: Re: Boris Johnson's mummified seven-greats grandmother
Post by: jfchaly on Saturday 27 January 18 18:45 GMT (UK)

The mummified ancestor would make a great addition to Who do you think you are.
The programme on Boris's family had some very interesting bits, including surname change.

jfch

Title: Re: Boris Johnson's mummified seven-greats grandmother
Post by: pharmaT on Saturday 27 January 18 19:07 GMT (UK)

I thought it was fascinating.

Title: Re: Boris Johnson's mummified seven-greats grandmother
Post by: Edward Scott on Saturday 27 January 18 19:13 GMT (UK)

I saw the photos, uncanny likeness - which one was Boris? >:(

Title: Re: Boris Johnson's mummified seven-greats grandmother
Post by: dowdstree on Sunday 28 January 18 23:03 GMT (UK)

So that's his family research done  :-X :-X

Suppose we all have "skeletons" in the cupboard ;D ;D

Dorrie

Title: Re: Boris Johnson's mummified seven-greats grandmother
Post by: Ruskie on Monday 29 January 18 00:54 GMT (UK)

Great story! I love this kind of thing. :)

Title: Re: Boris Johnson's mummified seven-greats grandmother
Post by: Guy Etchells on Monday 29 January 18 07:39 GMT (UK)

This is another case of making the facts fit the assumptions rather than following the evidence to a conclusion.
It is the DNA equivalent of a researcher hanging a family tree found on Ancestry or similar sites to their own ancestry, or the way “researchers” used to “claim” individuals on the IGI.
Even the BBC reporting of it shows their left wing bias and a feeble attempt to embarrass by the mentioning of syphilis at the top of the article and leaving the explanation right down at the bottom.
The 'is descendant' is in inverted commas for a reason, the reason being because the statement may not be true. The DNA only points to the possibility of the statement being true it does not prove the statement; there is still plenty of room for doubt.

Those who believe that DNA is 100% accurate in proving relationships will grab this and use it as evidence to support their assumptions disregarding what has actually been reported and, I suspect it will soon be included in the advertising for various commercial enterprises to support their exaggerated claims.

It is a pity that such an interesting discovery was reported in such a poor manner.

Cheers
Guy