# 53 bicycles: A lateral thinking puzzle **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [July 9, 2017, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868 "2017-07-09T19:51:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 78
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1541 "2017-09-22T00:38:02Z")
Any kind of error or mix up _at all_ in the DNA testing? Does she have any Jewish relatives in her past? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1542 "2017-09-22T00:42:26Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Any kind of error or mix up _at all_ in the DNA testing? No. > [@](#): > > Does she have any Jewish relatives in her past? Yes and no. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1543 "2017-09-22T01:05:53Z")
Is she one of a set of multiple births? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1544 "2017-09-22T01:06:25Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Is she one of a set of multiple births? No. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1545 "2017-09-22T01:11:36Z")
Is she adopted? ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1546 "2017-09-22T01:30:03Z")
Is she the result of an affair? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1547 "2017-09-22T01:57:04Z")
When you say “50% Jewish,” can you clarify that? Because I could be wrong, but I don’t think results would actually say that. Some questions that might help: 1. Did the results actually say “50% Jewish”? (If so, I’m guessing there’s something strange about the results themselves–or I could use my ignorance fought on this matter) 2. Did the results say “50% Ashkenazi”? 3. Did the results say “50% Sephardic”? 4. Did the results reference a difference Jewish population? And a bonus question: 5) Does the 50% come from both mother and father (e.g., both are also 50% Jewish)? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1548 "2017-09-22T01:57:29Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Is she adopted? No. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1549 "2017-09-22T01:58:42Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > Is she the result of an affair? No. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1550 "2017-09-22T02:03:27Z")
I wasn’t even aware there were genes for being Jewish that could be detected by DNA testing. Can the same test also detect Catholic genes? As for the question, were both parents 50% Jewish? With Jewish fathers and Catholic mothers, and considered Catholic. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1551 "2017-09-22T02:07:40Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > 1. Did the results actually say “50% Jewish”? (If so, I’m guessing there’s something strange about the results themselves–or I could use my ignorance fought on this matter) Reputable genetics experts described them that way. > [@](#): > > 1. Did the results say “50% Ashkenazi”? I believe the ancestry was primarily Ashkenazi, but it’s not really relevant. > [@](#): > > 1. Did the results say “50% Sephardic”? I believe there may have been some Sephardic ancestry, but it’s not really relevant. > [@](#): > > 1. Did the results reference a difference Jewish population? Not as far as I’m aware. > [@](#): > > And a bonus question: > 5) Does the 50% come from both mother and father (e.g., both are also 50% Jewish)? No. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1552 "2017-09-22T02:10:23Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Is she adopted? > [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > No. Is one of the parents adopted? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1553 "2017-09-22T02:11:29Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > I wasn’t even aware there were genes for being Jewish that could be detected by DNA testing. Can the same test also detect Catholic genes? Judaism is both a religion and an ethnicity. There are genes that identify unique Jewish populations as referenced by **Left Hand of Dorkness** , such as Ashkenazi and Sephardi. I don’t believe Catholicism can be tied to a specific ethnicity or genetic identity (although Irish can). > [@](#): > > As for the question, were both parents 50% Jewish? With Jewish fathers and Catholic mothers, and considered Catholic. No. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1554 "2017-09-22T02:12:48Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Is one of the parents adopted? No. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1555 "2017-09-22T02:16:23Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > **A woman grew up in an Irish Catholic family. Both sides of her family are proud of their Irish heritage. But when she has her DNA tested at [Ancestry.com](http://Ancestry.com), the results show that she is 50% Jewish. Why?** Thanks for those clarifications–not trying to be a butt, just trying to make sure I understood what was going on. With that said, 1. Do both of her biological parents identify as Irish Catholics? 2. Did she grow up with her biological parents? 3. Do her biological parents believe they have Jewish ancestry? 4. If tested, would her biological father test 100% Jewish? 5. If tested, would her biological mother test 100% Jewish? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1556 "2017-09-22T02:35:24Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > 1. Do both of her biological parents identify as Irish Catholics? Yes. > [@](#): > > 1. Did she grow up with her biological parents? Yes. > [@](#): > > 1. Do her biological parents believe they have Jewish ancestry? No. (Her biological parents are deceased, but that’s not really relevant.) > [@](#): > > 1. If tested, would her biological father test 100% Jewish? Yes. > [@](#): > > 1. If tested, would her biological mother test 100% Jewish? No. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1557 "2017-09-22T02:48:03Z")
Were one of the parents adopted? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1558 "2017-09-22T02:51:27Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Were one of the parents adopted? No. Psst – see post #1553. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1559 "2017-09-22T04:22:21Z")
Does it have anything to do with [matrilineality in Judaism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrilineality_in_Judaism)? ---
**Author:** ![newme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e0b2c6/32.png) [@newme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newme)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1560 "2017-09-22T06:19:45Z")
All words used in the following questions should be interpreted in their most commonly used manner. 1.)Lets call the woman DAUGHTER. Is DAUGHTER human? 2.)Lets call DAUGHTER’S biological mother MARY. Would any other person besides MARY be considered her Mother in any way relevant to this puzzle? 2.A) Does MARY identify as Irish Catholic? 3.)Lets call DAUGHTER’S biological father PATRICK. Is PATRICK 100% Jewish? 4.) Does PATRICK identify as Irish Catholic? 5.) Would any other person besides PATRICK be considered DAUGHTER’S father in any way relevant to this puzzle? 6.)Is DAUGHTER a chimera? 7.) Does DAUGHTER have any meaningful amount of DNA that she did not inherit from MARY or Patrick? 8.)Are MARY and PATRICK human? 9.) The puzzle references “family”. Are DAUGHTER, MARY and PATRICK in the “family.” 10.)Is there anyone outside of DAUGHTER, MARY, and PATRICK in the “family” and relevant to this puzzle? 11.) If the answer to both 3) and 4) is yes, is reconciling that the key to the puzzle? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=77) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=79)