Table of Contents
Dr. Michael Whiting on the DNA ControversyDr. Michael F. Whiting, a prominent geneticist whose work has received widespread attention (it was featured as the cover story in cover article in Nature in mid-January 2003), recently gave a lecture at BYU entitled, "Does DNA Evidence Refute the Authenticity of the Book of Mormon?: Responding to the Critics." Please watch the video presentation.
He also has an excellent article, "DNA and the Book of Mormon: A Phylogenetic Perspective" in the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, Nov. 2003.)
Short Summary
Introduction: The DNA Challenge for the Book of Mormon What Does the Book of Mormon Claim?
"Others in the Land": Not a New Position!
What is a Lamanite?
Asiatic Origins Taught by the Book of Mormon?
What Does DNA Evidence Show?
Enter Haplogroup X
Discovery of Haplogroup X in Siberia
Throwing out the Pearl with the Clamshell: The Likelihood of Discarding the Most Interesting Evidence
Uncertainty in Dating a Haplotype
An Inflated Mutation Rate? Perhaps a Critical Problem
Other Problems in mtDNA Analysis
Could Lehi's Genes Vanish Without a Trace?
The Success of DNA Analysis in Tracking Jewish Ancestry:
More Questions for the Book of Mormon
What is "Jewish DNA" anyway? Is It Really Absent in Native Americans?
An Ancient Melting Pot
HLA Genes: Possible Evidence for Transoceanic Migrations to the Americas
The Mathematics of Ancestry: Lehi as a Common Ancestor Squaring All the Evidence
Literature Cited
Other Recent News
Other Resources and Links
Dr. Michael Whiting does NOT officially speak for the Mormon church in this matter or any other. I’ve read this publication of his and frankly it is full of holes. And this publication of Whiting’s was not made in a credible peer-reviewed mainstream academic journal.
The matter is quite simple. The unique m-DNA and y-ch genetic markers found in Mongols/Siberians are generally found in the Native Americans. The unique m-DNA and y-ch genetic markers found in Jews are generally found in the Lemba tribe of Africa. And the scientists in linguistics, anthropology and archaelogy have been in full consensus agreement that the Book of Mormon story timeline is untenable for anywhere in Mesoamerica. And not one shred of credible evidence has been found for the Nephite/Lamanite civilization(s).
I wish just as much as you that the Book of Mormon could be true. Unfortunately the truth is very humbling to accept. I suppose that I could’ve been obstinate and stiffneckedly full of pride when I made this unfortunate discovery. But I couldn’t bear the thought of having to face my children in the years ahead with questions of “why didn’t you tell us daddy”. So I decided to be honest with everyone that I no longer believe in the stories of Joseph Smith; and for just as good reason as why I don’t believe in the stories of the Flat Earth Society.
Maybe someday you too will come down from your Zoramite Rameumptom and accept the honest truth.