Sykes et al. anomalous primate-hair DNA study

Record summary

Bryan Sykes and colleagues analyzed hair samples submitted as possible evidence for unknown primates, including material associated with Himalayan and Southeast Asian creature traditions. The 2014 Royal Society paper reported ordinary mammals, including a controversial match to an ancient polar-bear lineage for one Himalayan sample. The study matters because it tested cryptid claims with genetics rather than eyewitness testimony. Its interpretation remains disputed because sample provenance, contamination, chain of custody, and the relationship between submitted material and named legends are unevenly documented.