It is a very common occurrence: someone who was adopted would now like to learn about their biological family. Even with limited initial information, they can turn to one of many DNA website resources, including Ancestry.com and 23andme.
Because of the advanced technology and number of DNA websites, it is a very simple process to gather information from users. According to this article, most sites obtain the DNA from a cheek swab or saliva sample. You get your results in a few weeks and then are able to go online to see if anyone else registered shares your DNA. Even if you don’t find a result the first time, the website reminds users to continue searching as new information and people will continue to be entered.
This is exactly how Dolores Chalker used Ancestry to find family information. In this news video and article, Delores states that she was adopted in 1955. As an adult, she sent in a sample to Ancestry.com. Once she received her results, she was able to locate a half-brother, John Walker.
Delores contacted John, who was surprised to learn about their relationship. John asked his father about his past relationships and his father told him that he did have an affair with Delores’ mother. From these conversations, Delores was able to meet her biological father. While she was only able to have a short relationship with her biological father before he passed away, Delores valued their time together.
Knowing your ancestry, or “where you came from,” is usually important to everyone, adopted or not adopted. It is imperative for most people to know their ancestral background to give them a foundation in why they certain traits, what factors contribute to their personality and what influences will affect them later in their life. These DNA sites are a growing trend, one that will not go away anywhere in the future.
