Dr. Bryan Sykes Responds to Moneymakers' Criticisms of Bigfoot DNA Study

Dr. Bryan Sykes

"I really don't know whether any of the samples arrived thanks to the BFRO or not." --Dr. Bryan Sykes

In a previous post we shared some reporting from Black Bag's Matthew Phelan regarding criticism by Matt Moneymaker. Matt Moneymaker was quoted as saying the Sykes bigfoot DNA study was meaningless scientifically.

Since our post, Matt Moneymaker Calls Sykes' Bigfoot DNA Study "Meaningless", Matthew Phelan was able to get a response to Matt Moneymakers comments from Dr. Bryan Sykes. 

Here is the correspondence between Black Bag and Sykes:

Black Bag: This is to Moneymaker, specifically, but Sykes may know something too: Moneymaker says that the "BFRO did not provide any of the North American samples, nor did we endorse those few samples from North America that were focused on in the associated TV program." UK Channel 4's Bigfoot Files, presumably. Is this, in fact, correct? Further, to Moneymaker, why did the BFRO not submit samples?

Sykes: I really don't know whether any of the samples arrived thanks to the BFRO or not. They were all submitted by individuals and not by organisations.

Black Bag: Moneymaker asserts that a substantial portion of the submitted samples were excluded "because there was a relatively small amount of material in the sample (i.e. only a few hairs in the sample ... like MOST authentic bigfoot hair samples)." Dr. Sykes, can you speak to the veracity of this and —- overall —- explain in more detail the rubric by which those 18 samples were excluded?

Sykes: Not so. Many samples consisted of only very few, sometimes a single, hair. I had a slight preference for samples with two or more hairs simply because if I had found any to be from an "anomalous primate" I would have had an independent lab test them before publishing the results. That turned out not be necessary. All told I was sent 95 hair samples of which I sent 37 (now 38) for analysis of which 30 (now 31) yielded DNA.

Check out what else Dr. Bryan Sykes has to say about funding bigfoot research and the three questions we should ask when pursuing Bigfoot in the Black Bag

Matt Moneymaker Calls Sykes' Bigfoot DNA Study "Meaningless"

Matt Moneymaker Called Sykes Bigfoot DNA Study, "Meaningless scientifically"

"because there was a relatively small amount of material in the sample (i.e. only a few hairs in the sample ... like MOST authentic bigfoot hair samples)." --Matt Money maker on why some submitted samples were not even anlyzed

Gawker.com was able to get an official response from Discovery News regarding the recent results of Dr. Bryan Sykes DNA study. Even better? They got a response from BFRO founder and Finding Bigfoot co-host Matt Moneymaker. In a few short words Matt Moneymaker claims the study "meaningless scientifically."

Read the full response why below:

The actual DNA analysis by Sykes' team was surely performed with the highest integrity and accuracy but the overall effort was already corrupted by that point. It was corrupted at the sample inclusion stage.

Note: The BFRO did not provide any of the North American samples, nor did we endorse those few samples from North America that were focused on in the associated TV program. None of the "bigfoot" samples that came from the US had a strong *credible* connection to a bigfoot sighting or some other credible corroborating evidence (i.e. footprints).

To be fair Dr. Bryan Sykes has not ruled out the possibility of a Yeti or Sasquatch being out there. He has said so in his response.

"While it is important to bear in mind that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence and this survey cannot refute the existence of anomalous primates, neither has it found any evidence in support. Rather than persisting in the view that they have been 'rejected by science', advocates in the cryptozoology community have more work to do in order to produce convincing evidence for anomalous primates and now have the means to do so."

Click the following link to read the entire Gawker article titled, "Bigfoot Field Research Organization Head Calls DNA Study 'Meaningless'"

Boy Scouts are Now Officially Messin' with Sasquasatch

Jack Links Beef Jerky Joins Boy Scouts as Official Protien 

“From their high-quality products that are perfect for those who are out enjoying the Scouting experience to their expertise with fundraising programs, Jack Link’s and the Boy Scouts of America are a good fit...”--John Stewart, the BSA’s director of corporate engagement. 


The alternate title to this post was, "Sasquatch is the official protein for Boy Scouts,"  but discretion got the better of me. In the new video promoting Jack Link's as the official protein of the Boy Scouts. Our familiar friend makes a cameo at the very end, looking more like a sports team's mascot, versus the terrifyingly funny Sasquatch we are used to in the Messin' with Sasquatch campaigns we are used to. I guess the Boy Scouts needed a warmer cuddlier version, which I'm fine with. The design is great and still resembles the Jack Link's Sasquatch we love.

Watch the videos followed by the official Boy Scouts of America press release below.








FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
The Boy Scouts of America and Jack Link’s® have teamed up on a multiyear partnership that will make Jack Link’s “The Official Protein Snack of the Boy Scouts of America” and the organization’s four national high-adventure bases.

The agreement will put many of Jack Link’s popular beef, pork, and turkey jerky products onto the shelves of BSA retail facilities and into the hands of the thousands of youth and adult members who sign up each year for adrenaline-pumping adventures at its national high-adventure bases in Florida, Minnesota, New Mexico, and West Virginia.

On the local level, where BSA councils manage their own fundraising campaigns and host more than a million boys and girls at long-term Scout camps around the country each year, Jack Link’s will be designated as a Preferred Service Provider.

“From their high-quality products that are perfect for those who are out enjoying the Scouting experience to their expertise with fundraising programs, Jack Link’s and the Boy Scouts of America are a good fit,” said John Stewart, the BSA’s director of corporate engagement. “We are constantly looking for ways to create authentic, relevant opportunities for brands to speak to America’s youth, families, and communities. This is a great representation of that effort.”

To help spread awareness of the partnership, the two organizations have already produced several “Scoutin’ With Sasquatch” videos—inspired by Jack Link’s iconic “Messin’ With Sasquatch” advertising campaign—that show the mythical creature enjoying a number of Scouting activities such as hiking, camping, and even zip-lining.

About the Boy Scouts of America

The Boy Scouts of America provides the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, which helps young people be “Prepared. For Life.®” The Scouting organization is composed of 2.6 million youth members between the ages of 7 and 21 and more than a million volunteers in local councils throughout the United States and its territories. For more information on the Boy Scouts of America, please visit www.scouting.org.

About JACK LINK’S BEEF JERKY – Feed Your Wild Side™

Headquartered in Minong, Wisconsin, Jack Link’s is the leader in the meat snack category and the fastest-growing meat snack manufacturer worldwide. The Jack Link’s brand represents a heritage of quality and consumer trust. Well known for its iconic Messin’ With Sasquatch™ advertising campaign, Jack Link’s offers more than 100 premium meat snack products at retail outlets in more than 40 countries. Check out JackLinks.com for more information on the brand.