Do you have an unknown biological father or mother? Here's what you need to do to use DNA testing to identify your unknown biological father, or at least get more information about that father's family tree.
If you have a known parent and an unknown parent, you can use a very simple process to identify your unknown parent, or at least learn more about that parent's family. I'll explain this process using a real-life scenario, with details changed for privacy reasons. But you can also follow these steps and adapt them to your own situation.
DNA test to find a biological father or mother
I know a woman, let's call her Lora, who is looking for her biological mother. Lora was raised by her birth father, but all she knows about her birth mother is that 80 years ago, when Lora was born, she was working with her father at a Ford Motor factory in Detroit. Circumstances were such that Lora's mother was forced to hand her over to her father to raise.
Lora suspects that her biological mother has probably died a long time ago, but she would still like to know who she was. She decides to get oneautosomal DNA test.
starting
Lora keeps testingAbstammungs-DNAbecause its huge pool of tests increases your chances of connecting with close DNA matches. Knowing her biological father's family well, she researches and creates an online family tree for him at Ancestry.com. In this tree, he only identifies his biological mother as a "biological mother" who has lived in Detroit for 80 years. (Here are more tips for creatingthe best tree online for your DNA profile.)
She receives the results of her DNA test...
When Lora receives the results of her DNA test, she links them to her family tree. Then she goes to the DNA homepage and selects the option to View all DNA Matches. As this is an autosomal DNA test, matches from her will include relatives on her mother's side and her father's side. She has to separate these coincidences.
The easiest way to do this is to identify matches in yourof Fatherside (of which she understands something) and put it aside. Beforehand, she clicks Groups > Create Custom Group at the top of her mailing list and creates a group called "Mother Page". Repeat this process to create a group called "Daddy's Side". She chooses different colors to identify each group.
Lora then looks for the closest possible DNA match that she can see from her father's side. Ideally, she would have her father, her father's brother, or that father's own brother also take the test.ancestry.But she doesn't have that option, so she looks for familiar names and faces in the list of usernames and photos. (If you don't find a close match here, use the search box to find your last name and your mother's maiden name in the match tree fields under Match First Name and Last Name as shown below. Lora can expand this search for additional surnames of your ancestors.)
Lora identifies a close DNA match on her father's side: a first cousin. He clicks the Add/Edit Groups box next to this mailing's username and adds it to the Parent Side group.
Click here to read this related article.
Then select from that game's profile pagecommon games🇧🇷 This shows everyone tested at Ancestry who shares DNA with her and this relative of your father's. Lora scrolls through the list of shared matches and adds them to the Parent's Side group using the Add/Edit Groups option to the right of each of her close matches (4th cousin or nearest). When finished, it will return to the group's main page. Any remaining close matches without the parent page tag are added to the parent page group.
(Note: If Lora's biological parents were genetically related, this process wouldn't work. She initially assumed that wasn't the case.)
Working with DNA Matches of an Unknown Biological Father
Now that Lora has separated her biological mother's DNA matches from her father's, she can focus on the former. Under Groups, select the Parent Site group and start reviewing this mailing list.
It is possible for Lora to see a very close relative, such as her own biological mother or a half-sibling.ancestryThey can be identified based on the genetic distance between them. But your closest matches tend to be in the range of first cousins to fourth cousins, which happens. Few of them have posted trees and few have responded to the messages she sends. Discouraged, she puts the search on hold for a few months.
But not forever.It's good to be back because in the meantime another great DNA match has surfaced...
Read what Lora discovered and what her next steps should be.
Tips for YOU
If, like Lora, you have DNA Matches that you want to contact, then ourFree Guide to Contacting DNA MatchesIt's a must! We've collected our best tips in a free download just for you!
Show me this free guide
Diahan Southard
As founder and CEO of Your DNA Guide, Diahan Southard has been teaching people how to find family history answers in their DNA for several years and has been involved with genetic genealogy since childhood. Diahan teaches internationally, writes for popular magazines, consults with leading analytics companies, is the author of Your DNA Guide–The Book and producer of Your DNA Guide–the Academy, an online learning experience.
Esteban C Stenger December 27, 2019 at 1:21 pm
I made 23andMe about ten years ago. I have been following the information for a long time and I have never received anything. They didn't offer any help. They would send the 5th and 6th generations, but all I was interested in was finding my father. I do not recommend them at all. Steve Stenger (stang-r@juno.com)
reply
but January 30, 2020 at 00:11
Stephen, you understand that if no next of kin other than fifth or sixth cousins receive a DNA test, 23andMe will not have results for you.
reply
Scott Morse November 22, 2020 at 4:06 pm
Excellent article. Your scheme is very similar to the approach I used. Although my efforts (20 years) to discover my biological father have been unsuccessful, I am fully aware of the waiting game side of the equation. I believe that a large proportion of people who unsuccessfully search for "unknown" often have unreasonable expectations. I would tell these people that all is not lost. As the popularity of DNA testing grows, so does the DNA database. Sooner or later, that elusive giver will show up. Thanks for a well written explanation.
schottreply
- (Video) AncestryDNA's Dot System: An Introduction
Diahan Southard November 23, 2020 at 2:18 pm
Thank you Scott for sharing your experiences, they are invaluable! You are absolutely right, your patience will eventually pay off.
reply
Cherie Ohlson on January 26, 2021 at 3:35 pm
Diahan, if I bring all the matches to my known match on my mother's side, I would have about 10 matches. This left thousands of leftovers, some of which must be part of the mother site. If I take all the leftovers and put them on the father's side, am I kidding? Should I find common matches with each of the ten people and add more people to Mom's list? and go on like this until there are no more matches left for mom to share?
reply
Material on January 26, 2021 at 5:59 pm
This article specifically talks about finding biological parents. Therefore, his known match on his known father's side is considered to be a very close match. A half brother or a first cousin. Your situation is different because your known partner is more distantly related. And yes, stick with the DNA Skills course and you'll see that in Lesson 3 I talk about expanding your network.
reply
Viktoria Limback April 5, 2021 at 6:49 pm
I have a similar but more complicated case. My biological mother is Asian, Korean or Japanese, and I was born in South Korea. My father was an American-born white American who brought me to the United States from South Korea in 1955 on his American passport. He was an only child and died in 1979 before DNA testing was available. His parents are all dead.
I don't have a birth certificate and can't get one because:
(Video) What to do with your DNA Test Results in 2022 | Part 1
A. I don't know who my Asian biological mother is;
B. If you are Korean, according to the US Embassy of Korea: Only male Korean citizens can and must report the birth of a child born in Korea (husband, uncle, cousin, brother or son). My father was an American citizen;
My birth name was given to me by my biological father and they are names in English/French/German and also in that order (first name, middle name and last name).
I have many problems with incorrect information about myself on the Internet and in various places, even DNA and genealogy databases received and stored incorrect dates of birth, addresses and information relating to me. I know this because I paid for the My Heritage DNA test but I gave up after finding your website about me ignoring the information you provided as correct and replacing it with WRONG DOB, FAMILY AND ADDRESSES from your archived databases even before I registered and paid for the DNA test (this is the main reason for my rejection. I offered to mail proof of my name and date of birth and other confidential documents, but I was given an address in Israel that was correct .) single address So I refused to ship my confidential life records outside of the US and so again I couldn't clear the wrong date of birth etc. with me.
My driver's license and ID have been stolen from me several times in the past due to thefts and people using my name to get credit cards, money, etc. illegal use of my name. Fortunately, in the state of CA where I currently reside, as long as you know your driver's license number and your CA DMV photo matches what's in the CA DMV registration database, you can get a replacement driver's license. (or earlier) and how I make my IDs according to Compensated Theft).
But since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack, credit bureaus and most government agencies require a birth certificate, which I don't have and can't get because birth certificates are based on the mother's information.
the dilemma and the need to know the biological mother.
I have tried to get help from lawyers, legal centers, etc., but no help.
World databases have limited Asian DNA databases and my father's other children who were born in the USA from different biological mothers refuse to help me or to take DNA tests to prove that we have the same father.
If the US also created birth certificates for the biological father and not just the mother, I wouldn't have as much trouble correcting birth certificates, addresses, etc. wrong, either by fraud/identity theft, etc.
I could get Medicare health insurance and my retirement would accurately reflect past earnings and I wouldn't have to constantly fight false birth dates and false information about myself.My name and correct date of birth are listed on the immigration documents that my father filled out in Michigan in 1965 when I was 5 years old, but immigration did not complete the process and said that immigration requires a marriage certificate which my father means that my biological mother got married and also needed a delivery. Certificate of completion of the immigration application process; Things my father couldn't produce.
I also know my correct name and date of birth from Michigan Juvenile Court records because I was tutored by the court and state of Michigan after my father divorced my stepmother in 1965.
So how can someone with my complicated life get help through DNA and what types can I get if I don't have a stepbrother to help me?
reply
Material April 5, 2021 at 8:19 pm
Victory,
I hear you. Looks like you've come a long way. It shouldn't be that hard to find out more about yourself.
The best thing about DNA is that no one can replace or change it. It is a record of your equity and can be used to get more information. So testing with one of the top five DNA testing companies will give you information about your family. You probably have many more DNA matches with your father's family, but this could change over time as databases grow.
Here's a quick guide to available DNA testing companies that we hope can help you get started:https://www.yourdnaguide.com/ydgblog/2020/8/6/which-dna-test-companyreply
Cristina on March 5, 2022 at 12:28 pm
I don't know where to go, I know my biological mother and her side of the family. All I know is what state they were in when she got pregnant and that my biological father lived next door. Apparently Native American, he was married with 9 other children. My mom doesn't talk about it and my grandparents died before I could ask. My aunt and uncle were too young to remember all the details. My birth certificate lists my mother's husband as the father and I was born in a completely different city and state. I was 20 when I was told my dad wasn't my dad. Where should I start? I don't have a lot of money for tests and kits, but before I die I want to know where I'm from. I just need a little guidance.
reply
(Video) What Can DNA Testing Tell You about your Family History?Diahan Southard on March 7, 2022 at 8:33 am
Hi Cristina. Sounds like you actually know quite a bit about your biological father, and that will come in handy. Use this page to help you decide where to get a DNA test:https://www.yourdnaguide.com/ydgblog/best-dna-tests-ancestry🇧🇷 then go tohttps://www.familysearch.org/search/catalogand look up your mother's location when she became pregnant. See if you can find the city directory, which tells you who lived next door at that time. Lots of luck!
reply
Tiffany Wingo on May 11, 2022 at 7:04 am
Where should I go, all I have are names and dates of tragic conception and known whereabouts. I know my mother but I don't know my father, what DNA test will help me!
reply
Daniel Franz on May 11, 2022 at 1:05 pm
Hi Tiffany, have you ever taken a DNA test? This is a great place to start. You can read our review of the best consumer DNA tests and decide which one is best for you:https://www.yourdnaguide.com/ydgblog/best-dna-tests-ancestry.
reply
post a comment
FAQs
Can I find my biological father through DNA test? ›
Consumer DNA testing, in many cases, is the only way that a biological father can be accurately determined. It's a two-step process: Take as many DNA tests as you can. Your results will be matched to others in company databases who share common DNA with you.
Which DNA test is best for biological father? ›- Our pick. AncestryDNA. A DNA test kit that's great for tracing your roots and finding relatives. ...
- Runner-up. 23andMe. A more polished interface, with results for maternal and paternal heritage. ...
- Upgrade pick. FamilyTreeDNA. A data trove for genealogists with a bigger budget.
The lab compares the tissue samples from the mother, the child, and the man to see what special characteristics – known as “genetic markers” – the child shares with the mother and the man who may be the father. These tests are very accurate in showing whether or not the man is the biological father of a child.
How do you know if you are the biological father without DNA? ›Blood-Type Test
A blood-type paternity test can also help eliminate a potential father or determine if paternity is probable. The IDENTI GENE blood-type paternity test shows how ABO blood-typing and inherited-trait theory can be used to assist with answering paternity questions.
Every child gets 50% of their genome from each parent, but it is always a different 50%. During meiosis, gametes get a random chromosome from each pair. This means that there are over 8 million possible DNA combinations from 23 chromosome sets!
Does your bloodline come from your father? ›Among the many things parents hand down to their children are 23 pairs of chromosomes – those thread-like structures in the nucleus of every cell containing the genetic instructions for every person. We inherit a set of 23 chromosomes from our mothers and another set of 23 from our fathers.
How can you tell who your biological father is? ›A DNA paternity test is nearly 100% accurate at determining whether a man is another person's biological father. DNA tests can use cheek swabs or blood tests. You must have the test done in a medical setting if you need results for legal reasons. Prenatal paternity tests can determine fatherhood during pregnancy.
What percentage of DNA makes you the father? ›Paternity testing using DNA is extremely confidential and accurate. Each person's genetic profile is unique; a child's DNA is comprised of 50% from their biological father and 50% from their biological mother. Results are obtained by testing a DNA sample from the child, mother, and alleged father.
What percentage is DNA for a father? ›The genetic material of a child is inherited from the parents in equal portions, hence the child's genome as presented in a paternity report reflects the 50% DNA they get from their mother and the 50% DNA they get from their father.
Which parent determines your DNA? ›The egg and sperm together give the baby the full set of chromosomes. So, half the baby's DNA comes from the mother and half comes from the father.
Can one baby have two fathers DNA? ›
Although this is quite rare it can happen and it's called superfetation. Two babies are conceived from separate acts in two different cycles. These babies can be from the same father or two different men. When heteropaternal superfecundation occurs, the babies are from different fathers.
Do you carry your baby daddy DNA for 7 years? ›Male fetal progenitor cells persist in maternal blood for as long as 27 years postpartum.
How can a man tell if a child is his? ›According to the company “DNA paternity testing determines the biological father of a child. We all inherit our DNA from our biological parents — half from our mother and half from our father. A DNA paternity test compares a child's DNA pattern with that of the alleged father to determine if there is a match.”
What does a DNA test say when you are not the father? ›If the tested father is not the child's biological father, the results will be exclusion of paternity. The probability of paternity in this case would be 0% and the Statement of Results on the report will read “The alleged father is excluded as the biological father of the tested child.
Can your DNA not match your parents? ›Undetermined matches
This can also happen if the relative happens to be related to both of your parents. You may also find genetic relatives that do not share DNA with either of your parents. Since all your DNA comes from either your mother or father, a genetic match must share DNA with one of your parents.
Genetically, you actually carry more of your mother's genes than your father's. That's because of little organelles that live within your cells, the mitochondria, which you only receive from your mother.
Whose DNA is stronger mother or father? ›Genetically, a person actually carries more of his/her mother's genes than his/her father's. The reason is little organelles that live within cells, the? mitochondria, which are only received from a mother. Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell and is inherited from the mother.
Are you half siblings if you have the same father but different mothers? ›They may share the same mother but different fathers (in which case they are known as uterine siblings or maternal half-siblings), or they may have the same father but different mothers (in which case, they are known as agnate siblings or paternal half-siblings. In law, the term consanguine is used in place of agnate).
What DNA is only passed from father to son? ›The y-chromosome is inherited more or less unchanged from father to son to grandson, indefinitely. Chromosomes contain the DNA that determines our inherited characteristics, and the y-chromosome is one of the 46-chromosomes in the nucleus of each of the cells of all human males.
Do babies get their father's blood type? ›A baby may have the blood type and Rh factor of either parent, or a combination of both parents. Rh factors follow a common pattern of genetic inheritance. The Rh-positive gene is dominant (stronger) and even when paired with an Rh-negative gene, the positive gene takes over.
What facial features are inherited from father? ›
As well as the tip of your nose (which is 66% likely to be passed down from a parent), the other most-inherited features were your philtrum (the area directly beneath your nose), your cheekbones, the inner corners of your eyes, and the areas both above and below your lips.
Is the biological father the real father? ›The father and mother whose DNA a child carries are usually called the child's biological parents. Legal parents have a family relationship to the child by law, but do not need to be related by blood, for example in the case of an adopted child.
How many children have a different biological father? ›These numbers suggest that the widely quoted and unsubstantiated figure of 10% of non-paternal events is an overestimate. However, in studies that solely looked at couples who obtained paternity testing because paternity was being disputed, there are higher levels: an incidence of 17% to 33% (median of 26.9%).
How much of the DNA should match in a case of paternity? ›Paternity tests can be hard to understand. Matching with someone at 14 out of 24 markers seems like a lot, but these tests are designed so that a father and child should completely match. To figure out why all of the markers should match between a father and child, let's break down how paternity tests work.
What percentage of the child's DNA should come from the father? ›You receive 50% of your genes from each of your parents, but the percentages of DNA you received from ancestors at the grandparent level and further back are not necessarily neatly divided in two with each generation.
How much DNA does a father share with his son? ›The autosomes (chromosomes 1–22) are passed down equally from each parent; one copy from each parent. Therefore, a parent and a son or daughter would share 50% of their autosomal DNA.
Can you get 100% DNA match? ›High probabilities of 99% and above are commonly seen in DNA paternity testing, but never 100%. This is because results are based on statistical calculations. A result of 100% would only be possible if AlphaBiolabs tested every male of the same ethnicity as the biological father.
What does probability of paternity 99.9 mean? ›When we say the probability of paternity is 99.99% for example, we mean that the tested man is 99.99% more likely to be the biological father than another man chosen at random from his same ethnic group. The CPI, or combined paternity index, is a calculation that helps us arrive at the probability of paternity.
Which parent determines the ethnicity of a child? ›Beginning in 1989, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) changed their standards for determining a child's race. Since that time, a child's race has been determined by the race of the mother as reported on the birth certificate.
Who is your closest blood relative? ›- Husband, wife or civil partner (including cohabitee for more than 6 months).
- Son or daughter.
- Father or mother (an unmarried father must have parental responsibility in order to be nearest relative)
- Brother or sister.
- Grandparent.
- Grandchild.
- Uncle or aunt.
- Nephew or niece.
Can siblings have different DNA results? ›
Many people believe that siblings' ethnicities are identical because they share parents, but full siblings share only about half of their DNA with one another. Because of this, siblings' ethnicities can vary.
Can a child be related to two fathers? ›It may be possible for stem cells from a male to be used to produce an egg, allowing for the child to have two biological fathers. Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are stem cells that give rise to sperm or egg cells.
Do siblings with different fathers have the same DNA? ›Not at all. During recombination, when the genetic material is passed down from parent to child, the children and it's siblings would retain about 50% of the same DNA. This means that the children would share replicas of pieces of their parent segments on the exact chromosomes.
Can two humans have different fathers? ›Heteropaternal superfecundation is an extremely rare phenomenon that occurs when a second ova released during the same menstrual cycle is additionally fertilized by the sperm cells of a different man in separate sexual intercourse.
How can I tell who the father of my baby is without a paternity test? ›Another option is to test the child's DNA against the DNA of a sibling using our Siblingship Test or Half-Siblingship Test. We can also determine paternity using another close relative of the potential father, such as a brother or sister. For all these tests, including the mother's DNA greatly optimizes conclusiveness.
Does a Sons DNA stays in mother? ›DNA from male fetuses can remain in mothers' brains for a lifetime. Giving a whole new meaning to "pregnancy brain," a new study shows that male DNA—likely left over from pregnancy with a male fetus—can persist in a woman's brain throughout her life.
How long do babies take off dad? ›The optimal strategy, says No Regrets Parenting author Harley Rotbart, M.D., is to divide leave: a couple of weeks at birth, when moms need the most help; a few around three months, when mom usually goes back to work; and the rest between six and nine months, when babies interact more and become even more fun to be ...
How do you tell a child they have a different biological father? ›Who should do the telling? Ideally the parent and stepparent should tell the child together. You can refer to the other birth parent by their name; or as their 'birth father/mother'; or biological father/mother'; or 'Daddy/Mummy (name)'.
How can I tell if my son is mine? ›You can determine whether or not your baby is yours by taking a DNA paternity test. These tests are nearly 100% accurate in determining if a man is someone's biological father. You and your potential child can give blood samples at a medical office or swab the insides of your cheeks for cells.
How do I know if I am the father of a child without DNA? ›Blood-Type Test
The IDENTI GENE blood-type paternity test shows how ABO blood-typing and inherited-trait theory can be used to assist with answering paternity questions. With this test you enter blood types of the mother, child, and alleged father to determine if paternity is possible.
How does a paternity test prove who the father is? ›
The lab compares the tissue samples from the mother, the child, and the man to see what special characteristics – known as “genetic markers” – the child shares with the mother and the man who may be the father. These tests are very accurate in showing whether or not the man is the biological father of a child.
Can DNA of a father and son same? ›Every child gets 50% of their genome from each parent, but it is always a different 50%.
Is it possible for DNA test to be wrong? ›Yes, a paternity test can be wrong. As with all tests, there is always the chance that you will receive incorrect results. No test is 100 percent accurate. Human error and other factors can cause the results to be wrong.
How does not knowing your biological father affect you? ›People who do not know their genetic father often develop identity problems. They iden- tify with the unknown father, to whom they attribute all the personal characteristics that they cannot trace to others. Consequently, such characteristics are less strongly felt as being part of one's own personality.
How much is a DNA test to see who the father is? ›A home DNA paternity test (for personal knowledge and peace of mind only) costs $130 to $200. A legal DNA paternity test (with court-admissible results) for child support, child visitation, and immigration, typically costs $300 to $500, and includes professional DNA collection.
Can I find my biological father through 23andMe? ›23andMe is not a service designed to help people find their biological parents, but one feature can help you find and connect with genetic relatives.
How do I find my birth parents without their name? ›The best place to start looking for Birth Parents, even if you cannot access adoption records, is a Mutual Consent registry such as International Soundex Reunion Registry (ISSR). Mutual consent registries require both parties to register on the site to make a reunion possible.
What DNA test to find birth parents? ›- Take an AncestryDNA® test. One of the best ways to find members of your biological family is to take an AncestryDNA® test. ...
- Review your closest DNA matches. ...
- Contact your matches. ...
- View your shared matches. ...
- Look for common ancestors. ...
- Start descendancy research. ...
- Contact living family members. ...
- Hire a professional.
A paternity correction can only be made when it has been proven either by a DNA test or a court order that the man named on the certificate is not the natural father of the child.
Do me and my dad have the same DNA? ›And since everyone looks a little different, we know that everyone has a unique set of DNA. Each parent passes half their DNA to each of their children. So each egg has half of mom's DNA and each sperm has half of dad's DNA.
Does a DNA test show both parents? ›
These are the 22 chromosomes everyone has regardless of gender. That means your results will show both your parents' ancestry, even if you're female, but it'll be combined - you won't be able to tell which parent provided which country or DNA result.
Does DNA match with mother or father? ›Since all your DNA comes from either your mother or father, a genetic match must share DNA with one of your parents.
Does a birth certificate have parents names on it? ›Full birth certificate
Gives all details entered in the register: name, gender, date and place of birth. father's name (if given at time of registration), place of birth and occupation. mother's name, place of birth, maiden surname and, after 1984, occupation.
The States that allow birth parents access to nonidentifying information are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania (if the adopted person is at least ...
Can ancestry find my birth parents? ›If you hit a dead end with an adoption registry, an AncestryDNA® test could be a good next step. This test can help you find family who share your DNA—including biological parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and more.
How many DNA markers need to match? ›Matching with someone at 14 out of 24 markers seems like a lot, but these tests are designed so that a father and child should completely match. To figure out why all of the markers should match between a father and child, let's break down how paternity tests work.