Gene testing has become a common occurrence in child support cases, in which the parentage of the child is in doubt. In many states, in order to determine paternity, gene testing must show at least a 99% probability that a man is the father.
In order to do this type of genetic testing, saliva samples from the mother, child, and alleged father are required. These tests are sent off to a DNA lab contracted by the state for analysis.
However, if you are an adult child who has doubts about their parentage, you can also have gene testing done. Many people have found that the man they grew up with was not their father. In fact, it’s more common than you might suspect. While this can be upsetting and confusing, it can also help to settle any doubts.
Uncovering family secrets, such as your mother’s affair, takes courage. An individual’s test results can ripple throughout the entire family, changing the dynamic forever. While parents sometimes try to keep the truth about a child’s conception secret, readily available home DNA tests can make that impossible.
Fortunately, while it can cause division, revealing secrets can also bring people closer. As the saying goes, the truth shall set you free.
There is the chance for adult children to answer lingering questions about who they are. They can explain the traits that are not present in the parents who raised them.
