How birth certificates and DNA testing help adoptees on a bio family search

Adopted and interested in starting a search? We’ve gathered more detailed information for you here and identified places to go for more. Two paths—the DNA-first route and the records-first route—are the main paths adoptees use today to begin a search for biological relatives.

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Stigma, health, DNA, and adoptee rights: a discussion with Gabrielle Glaser about the changing landscape in America

On today's episode, Glaser talks with DNA Clarity and Support host Brianne Kirkpatrick about the history of coerced adoption in the United States and the influence of culture and stigma on women who in other circumstances might have chosen to parent rather than surrender their to the adoption system.

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DNA Discovery, Adoptees, ROH Brianne K. Williams DNA Discovery, Adoptees, ROH Brianne K. Williams

“I have uncovered skeletons in every family tree I have worked on.”

John’s story starts with a personal medical crisis leading to a decision to search for information about his biological parentage. It ends with him embracing the truth of his biological origins, a situation that many others in the same shoes have struggled to accept because of society’s stigma around conceptions between parents who are related to each other.

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“Dear Brianne, I’m Adopted...Where Do I Even Start?”

I have people reach out through my website who are adopted or donor conceived and are at the very start of a search, asking where do I even start? It can be overwhelming trying to learn all of the ins and outs of searching whether using access to records or DNA testing.

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Genetic Sexual Attraction - A Couple’s Story as a Result of a 23andMe Test Discovery

A story was posted on Reddit by someone claiming to have discovered he and his girlfriend are half-siblings, the discovery coming after both opted in to the DNA Relatives feature for their 23andMe test.

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DNA Testing: Ten Tips for Adoptive Parents

I’ve compiled ten tips for adoptive parents based on common questions and issues. The focus is on parents of children under the age of 18, but these points can apply to other families as well, including those who utilized egg, sperm, or embryo donation in building their family.

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