I don't know about testing Arabs and Israelis to confirm that Arabs are descendants of Ishmael, but a lot depends on the details regarding the DNA that they are trying to test. My suspicion is that nobody is talking about testing Abraham's DNA or Ishmael's DNA. The testing would presumably involve testing of DNA from multiple living Jewish Israelis and multiple living Arabs people to look for commonalities and differences.
Some cancers can be evaluated by doing chromosomal or DNA tests on the tumor. The details vary by test, but proper sample preparation and storage are important because all biological specimens degrade over time. Some of the chromosomal or DNA changes can be subtle, and these might be hard to detect on a specimen that necrosed (think 'rotted') during transport.
Ohio Man Wants to Sue Over Botched Test
Dec 17, 10:35 AM (ET)
By CARRIE SPENCER
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A man whose surgically removed lymph node spoiled before it could be tested for cancer wants the Ohio Supreme Court to allow patients to sue doctors and hospitals over the anguish of wondering if a treated disease will return.
Attorneys for John Dobran argue he should be able to recover pain-and-suffering damages now that he has lost his best chance of knowing for sure whether cancer cells lurk somewhere in his body.
But Dayton Clinical Oncology Program, the physician practice Dobran sued, argues the case would set a precedent for a flood of patient lawsuits, driving up medical costs. The practice asked the justices to reverse an appeals court ruling that the case should go to trial.
The justices heard arguments this fall. A ruling could come by early next year.
Dobran had a cancerous mole removed from his arm in 1998, and surgeons removed the nearest lymph node to determine if the disease had spread, court records show. Dobran, 55, of Dayton, had melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer.
Dobran agreed to participate in a study in which half of the tissue would be examined locally by microscope and the rest sent to California for more sensitive DNA testing. If that test indicated cancer, he would be considered for experimental treatment.
The microscope showed no cancer, but the frozen tissue thawed on the way to California and wasn't usable for DNA testing.
http://apnews.myway.com//article/20031217/D7VG7FKO2.html
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