Bigfoot DNA Report Hypothesis 2011

DNA from Bigfoot, or Sasquatch is currently being sequenced by several groups in the Americas and abroad, and the data from at least one of these groups is expected to soon be publicly released. My own preliminary research perhaps indicates some interesting and significant features that will require comprehensive tests and investigation to quantify. The commentary on data that I have been able to gather from my own sources are independent of the foremost researchers who are now performing in-depth sequencing of nuclear DNA from the larger-than-human North American primate variously known as Sasquatch, Bigfoot, Skunk Ape and other local appellations.

The primary concept that has emerged from my own studies is an intriguing hypothesis. The Sasquatch, or Bigfoot, appears to be what I would categorize a Progenitor Species - with which Neanderthals, Cro Magnon man and modern humans may share a common, recent ancestor. They may even be in the direct lineage that resulted in modern humans.

First it is necessary to define the concept of a Progenitor Species. In the context of currently living organisms, the closest analog that we have would be among the Equine family, which includes Horses, Zebras, Donkeys, Indian Onagers and Wild African Asses. The Progenitor Species that has a common ancestor with the modern horse is a rare breed that was until recently was extinct in the wild, known as the Przewalski Horse, or, by the Mongolian name, the Takhi. In the early 20th century, there were only 15 Takhis left alive, in zoos or private reserves. They were brought back from the brink of extinction through conscientious breeding programs. Small herds have recently been released in Mongolia, which was the last place they inhabited in their wild state.

Przewalskis or Takhis have a distinct and notable difference in their genetic makeup from the modern horse, in that they have two extra chromosomes. Takhis have 66 chromosomes, but the modern horse has only 64. Despite this marked genetic difference, Takhis can breed with the modern horse and have fertile offspring. Other members of the Equine family can also breed with horses, but with a few very rare exceptions, the offspring are infertile.

We know that the Takhis are an ancient breed, as evidenced by their appearance in cave paintings dating back thousands of years. Physically they have many characteristics of other members in the Equine family in addition to the horse. They have short legs, a large head and a stocky build reminiscent of donkeys and asses. Their mane has stiff bristles that stand up straight from the neck like Zebras. The legs of the Takhis have stripes or bars, also similar in pattern to those of many Zebras. The extreme rarity of the Takhis has severely limited experiments in breeding with other members of the Equine family, so the ability to breed with donkeys, zebras or asses has not yet been determined in comprehensive studies.

Some of the DNA samples from Sasquatch, or Bigfoot, according to reports, appear to also have two extra chromosomes than modern humans. Humans have 46 diploid chromosomes, and the fore-mentioned purported samples of Sasquatch, 48. If the considerable anecdotal evidence from Native American sources as well as some early reported cases by European immigrants to the Americas can provisionally be considered authentic, they can also breed with humans and have viable offspring. This would lead to the possible correlation that Bigfoot are a Progenitor Species which has a pool of genetic material that is much closer to the ancestor of the known human family, Neanderthals, Cro Magnon, Homo Floriensis (Hobbits) and modern humans.

A more simple way of picturing this Sasquatch gene pool is that it would have more of the original ingredients of the ancestors of man and his earlier relatives. If so, they would have a numerically greater capacity for viable combinations of genes. The distinct possibility of hybridization would explain why certain DNA samples could appear to match the human DNA with only 46 or 47 chromosomes. A similar combination of genetic characteristics is seen in the Takhi/Horse hybrids, that have only one additional chromosome than the horse (65). Current genetic theory states that the reduced chromosome count that differentiates humans from other higher primates is due to a fusing of 4 diploid chromosomes to form only 2, which incidentally are about twice the length of the original 4 individual chromosomes. This chromosomal configuration is also seen in comparisons between chimpanzees (48 chromosomes) and humans (46 chromosomes). Other "great apes" such as gorillas, bonobos, bili apes, orangutans, etc., also have 48 chromosomes.

Such a proposed ability to breed with genetically divergent descendants or near-relatives would provide an explanation for the regional differences in the outward appearance of Sasquatches such as different colors of hair-coat, and facial appearance ranging from the more ape-like to the more human. Some of the specimens derived from Sasquatch-Human hybrids would likely have only 46 or 47 chromosomes and, in cursory tests of mitochondrial DNA, would type as human. It is important to note that there are over 30 billion bases that form the "rungs" of the DNA ladder helix (often abbreviated: CATG) in the human genome. The number of possible combinations are hence astronomical. To use another analog from the Equine Family. there are several well documented cases of hybrids between horses, donkeys, zebras and wild asses that were FERTILE, and had offspring that were also able to reproduce. Therefore, over countless millennia, interactions between the various multiple branches in the lineages of human ancestors are not only possible but are highly probable statistically.

An important point to note is that, based on this hypothesis, across the Americas, the Sasquatch or Bigfoot are not necessarily a distinct and easily identifiable species such as an elk or mountain gorilla, but would include rather, a confusing, divergent population of hybridized hominids. Note also that this does not preclude the possibility that there can also be a more "pure" or genetically ancient and original population (the Progenitors) that has not significantly interbred with humankind and that would appear as a more distinct species, most likely, those with 48 chromosomes.

A genetic makeup that can combine with widely variant strains of divergent, yet related species and subspecies would create a highly adaptable organism, that could survive in a wide range of climates and ecosystems. Such adaptability would also provide the rationale behind the very large geographic range of reported sightings of hominids/hominins variously known as Bigfoot, Sasquatch, Skunk Ape, Almasty etc., throughout the world.

The Progenitor Species hypothesis is here presented, not as a developed scientific theory, but as an avenue for further investigation. A full scientific analysis of DNA from purported Sasquatch, or Bigfoot, samples should include double-blind studies from independent labs staffed by qualified DNA experts. Comprehensive analysis of nuclear DNA is essential. The findings should be examined in the standard process of peer review and submitted as a scientific paper. The rigorous scientific methods required are both expensive and time-consuming, but will yield the most reliable results.

Sources:

for more information on the Przewalski Horse: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/AsiaTrail/fact-phorse.cfm

All other information on DNA tests are from various independent sources. No specific tests results are revealed herein, only an hypothesis based on the available reported data. An hypothesis is equivalent to informed speculation and cannot be considered a theory or fact until proven by rigorous, repeatable scientific tests.