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Genetics and Health

DNA Tests Matching Adopted Children

by Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD on September 11th, 2005

DNA tests are now being used to find the siblings of children, mostly girls, adopted from China. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that less than 10 pairs of sisters have been publicly identified, but including those identified privately, the number may be as high as 40.

Some of the questions raised:

  • Does the right to search - and to test - belong to the parent or the child?

  • What evidence, if any, should be grounds for initiating a search?

  • And if the bonds of adoptive families are as real and permanent as those of biological families - and adoptive parents insist that they are - is it hypocritical to look for a blood relation?

  • If the adoptive families search, will their child think that the adoptive tie is being undercut?

  • If the adoptive families don’t search, will their child blame them later for not seeking out facts when they might have been found?

At least two dozen websites exist with the sole purpose of finding the siblings of adopted children, not necessarily just those adopted from China. Most rely on photos, but DNA data banks (biobanks) are being set-up as well.

Here are a few links to these groups:

For the story of one family’s journey to adopt a child from China, visit American Family.

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POSTED IN: Genealogy and DNA

2 opinions for DNA Tests Matching Adopted Children

  • Genetics and Health » Genes Are Unique
    Nov 10, 2006 at 10:36 pm

    […] I just finished reading a very long, in-depth look at the way Asian-Americans (particularly Chinese-Americans) are thinking about and acting upon their DNA. Jeff Yang of SF Gate talks about the longing Asian-Americans have to know more about their ancestors (adopted Chinese siblings being matched via DNa testing) and how part of their destiny seemed intertwined with DNA. In a commodified world, we want to be special. In a time of uncertainty, we want a sense of destiny and direction. But most of all, as the globe fragments and atomizes, we want to belong — to be a part of a family, a bloodline, a brethren, however tenuous the tie. We want a tribe of our own. And that’s another big driver behind the latter-day fascination with DNA: What makes us different and individual also makes us similar and connected. […]

  • Genetics and Health » Olympic Skier Toby Dawson Finds Biological Father Using DNA Testing
    Mar 1, 2007 at 12:27 am

    […] Adoptions such as Toby Dawson’s are increasingly popular. I can imagine the market for DNA testing of lost kin will be booming as the children (mostly girls) adopted from China and other developing countries become adults. DNA testing of siblings adopted into different families are already happening. The question is, will the biological parents want to be found and if they do, for what reason? […]

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