Family Matters: Can Adoptees Use Family Tree DNA to Find Biological Fathers and Mothers?

First, a disclosure: Over 11 years ago, we adopted a child from another country. Less than a year ago, someone claiming to be a relative called us on the phone, allegedly from an overseas phone line. Even though we have no idea how they found us and didn't share our address with the caller, a few weeks later a packet appeared on our doorstep, from overseas, containing a letter and an alleged group photo of our son's "family."

All of this happened, even though we'd never searched for our son's biological family. Eventually, that led us to look at services like Family Tree DNA, found here: familytreedna.com. We felt like we needed to be pro-active and start gathering information for the sake of our son, our family and... yes... his biological parents. To us, he is our child, always and forever in our hearts as much as our other two children.... but we can't ignore the fact that this wasn't always so. We also respect his right to find out the genetic, medical and other information about his biological family if he should ever wish to do so.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but you could say the topic of family tree DNA literally called us on the phone, came knocking on our door and arrived on our doorstep. Although we were always open to a search if our child wanted it, we were suddenly thrown into the world of trying to figure out our son's actual genetic heritage. The truth mattered.

Family tree DNA testing and genealogy is also a sizzling hot issue for many other adoptees and their families besides us. Take John Harman Dittrich, drummer and lead singer for the country band, Restless Heart. He has been searching for his biological relatives and has even used DNA testing to try and unlock the secrets of his past. He is still searching, although he has come closer to finding a match than before. Even so, he has a long way to go.

DNA and genealogy is so popular that it is also going to be the highlight of an upcoming conference sponsored by the Maine Genealogical Society, with Megan Smolenyak, author of a book on using DNA and genetic tests to trace family roots, set to be a key note speaker at that conference (set for Sept. 20 at the Wyndham Portland Hotel in South Portland - see sources at end of article).

But can an adoptee use family tree truly DNA to find a biological mother or father and a link to the biological family tree?

Possibly. Male adoptees are already using consumer DNA tests to try and narrow down the surnames of their biological fathers. At least 30 men used a test from Family Tree DNA to find their biological surnames, according to information at BBC News: news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7459578.stm This is the same test we may use as we try to ferret out the truth about who is contacting us and whether our son's biological father - or a very skilled scam artist - has found us. We feel it is a potential tool,even with its pitfalls.

How DNA tests may help provide the name of an adoptee's biological father

Although it is a very complex topic, there are genetic markers on the Y chromosome that may be shared by biological fathers and sons. The key word here is "may" and finding a surname or last name of a potential father can be only the start when finding an exact match. However, results have been very promising in some cases. It can some light in what could otherwise be a very dark tunnel. When a family surname (commonly called a family's "last name" ) is relatively rare but could still be in a database, then some close matches can be found. With luck, a link to a family tree- or family tree DNA - can be established.

How DNA tests may help find the family tree DNA of a biological mother

According to information at the Family Tree DNA test site, their database is the largest in the world and they note that their prediction can be made in 90% of cases "with absolute certainty". When it comes to the maternal line (the biological mother), there are 22 additional tests done to determine the mother's line. Also, according to info at the site, the predictions for maternal or the mother's genetic line is more likely to result in error than those given to determine paternity.
Family tree DNA testing carries risks as well as benefits

DNA tests are not foolproof when it comes to finding an adopted child's biological father. Although they may hint at likely matches, there is also a very real possibility of false matches, especially when some last names are very common. Consider surnames like Smith or Jones and you start to see how difficult it could be to find the specific match for an adoptee's biological father. Even so, with some last names there can be striking clusters of common ancestry. There is indeed promise in DNA family tree testing. For us - and for many adoptive families and their children - it could give some clues to potential family connections.

Genetic or similar facial and other features can back up DNA tests

According to information from some DNA tests, people who have - or had - similar last names may share genetic likenesses as well. In other words, they may literally look alike. When we got the packet of photos from the people claiming to be related to our son, we thought we could see some shared facial characteristics, from the dark hair of every male in the photo to certain eye shapes and other facial features. Then again, the family looked like many of the people in that particular country. Without a family tree DNA test, we really couldn't trust what we were seeing...not completely. Not yet.

However, some researchers believe that there are genetic similarities between men who share surnames. This material may pass on unchanged from father to son, resulting in families with sons who look very much alike, similar to the way the Osmond family is famous for having family members who look almost like clones of one another. This doesn't happen in all cases, of course. Just as often, people can see a wide diversity of physical characteristics in brothers who have he same father and mother.

Family tree DNA tests can help narrow down the town where an adopted child was born

In some cases, adopted families have something to go on, particularly if adoptive records were unsealed or they gave permission to be contacted later. In others, just knowing a specific country (China, Romania, South American) where the adoption took place can help narrow down geographical areas and even specific towns. In some countries, birth families and their ancestors may spend their whole lives in one or two cities. This may make a search much easier.

The family tree search becomes much more difficult , however, if agencies kept poor records, biological parents died or moved from country to country. Some seem to just drop off the face of the earth or don't want to be found. Clearly, there are ethical and moral issues here. It is far from a simple matter, not when you have the feelings an adopted family at stake, not when you have a confused or fearful adopted child dealing with the sudden emergence of alleged relatives and not when you have a biological family who has given up a child for adoption. We're grappling with all those issues as we explore the world if family tree DNA tests.

Future developments may hold out even more hope for adoptees trying to find clues to their past

While it is currently costly, there may be a time when finding all the genetic variations for one particular individual and the biological father may be possible. If so, it would be much easier to find out if a biological father was a true match for an adopted child. We are staying on top of the news as much as possible. At this point in time, those wishing to investigate family tree DNA tests need to do their homework, know the pros and cons and keep up with the latest research.

Sources:
1. Family Tree DNA website: www.familytreedna.com/
2. Adoptees Use DNA to Find Surname, BBC News, June 18, 2008, written by Paul Rincon at: news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7459578.stm
3. Drummer on A Quest to Uncover his Past, June 1, 2008 - Press and Sun Bulletin and Press Connects: www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article
4. DNA to be Highlight of Genealogy Conference, June 30, 2008. Bangor Daily News, bangornews.com