It is a fact that humans are naturally curious about their origins. Sometimes it is not a case of curiosity but rather the need to know their origins for medical reasons. DNA and genetic testing may be an avenue you may want to travel to help solve the adoption obstacles. Genetic testing may help solve the mysteries of the past.

For years I had searched for my birth father. My first personal experience with DNA was two or three years after finding my natural family. My sister’s father, had admitted that there was a possibility that he could be my natural father. He was not sure and agreed to do DNA testing to find out for sure. We had our blood drawn and after about a 6 week wait we had the results. The results came back that he was NOT my natural father.

My second personal experience with DNA testing was about 4 years ago. I had received a phone call from a friend of my natural mothers. They had grown up together and were friends up until my natural mother’s death. I had never met or spoke to this person but she was given my name and number by mutual friends that I had spoken to in regards to whom my natural father could be. This person was kind enough to share with me the name of a man who very well could have been my natural father. She also informed me that he had died three months earlier. Long story short, I contacted one of his three daughters and we met two days later. The daughter I had contact coincidently lived a half hour from me. We were all originally from Western PA and now two of us were living in Eastern PA. We spent several hours together and looked through hundreds of photographs. We saw resemblances but we both still had our doubts. This is when we turned to DNA testing. We had our blood drawn and after waiting 10 weeks we had the results. The sibling ship test confirmed that we were NOT sisters.

So, if you want to pursue this avenue in your search here are a few things that you can do to get started.

First, sign up for adoption lists that apply to you and your adoption situation. In addition, if you know your families surnames, you can try posting messages on GenForum at http://genforum.genealogy.com/ and Rootsweb at http://lists.rootsweb.com/. You may also try finding your natural family by searching different databases. A few to try are ZabaSearch at http://www.zabasearch.com/ or the White Pages at www.whitepages.com. Another searchable free database is Switchboard located at www.switchoard.com.

If you were conceived from an egg/sperm donation, join the Donor Sibling Registry at http://www.donorsiblingregistry.com/

You can utilize DNA in your adoption search. If you are a male, you may utilize DNA surname testing with one of the three testing companies that host surname projects. They are:

DNA Heritage at http://www.dnaheritage.com/;
Family Tree DNA at http://www.familytreedna.com/;
Relative Genetics at http://www.relativegenetics.com/relativegenetics/index.jsp

DNA Heritage and Family Tree DNA offers a Y-Base and a Y-Search which are free databases where you can upload your results to compare with others results in competitor testing companies. Not all clients up load their results ot the Y-Base and Y-Search so you may want to consider testing with both companies to ensure the compareison of your results in their databases. Select the tests with the most possible Y-chromosome markers. It may help to test with the company that has the largest database with which to compare results.

If you are female, DNA testing an inform you of your ethnic origins. I know that if you are testing with Family Tree DNA you can you’re your test kit through Adoptees DNA project to receive discounted group pricing. The link is http://www.familytreedna.com/surname_join.asp?code=T42871&special=True&projecttype=S