Bigfoot and Sasquatch hairs no match for DNA analysis

By Sharon Begley NEW YORK (Reuters) - A genetic analysis of hair collected by people catching a glimpse of what they believed was a yeti, Bigfoot or Sasquatch has matched the samples to bears and other common animals, dealing a blow to those who believe mythic beasts roam the wild unbeknownst to science. The researchers undertook the analysis, reported on Tuesday, because of complaints from eyewitnesses that despite hundreds of sightings and footprint evidence, science has never taken seriously their claims that surviving bands of ancient humans, extinct apes, or other mysterious creatures roam the Pacific Northwest, Himalayas and elsewhere. Since rejecting a claim without examining the evidence is unscientific, said geneticist Bryan Sykes of Oxford University, he and colleagues decided to investigate. He teamed with Oxford University and the Museum of Zoology in Lausanne, Switzerland, to solicit hair samples "attributed to one of these creatures by the donor," he said. Read More http://ift.tt/1rf8lyR