What if I don’t know my family history?
Many of us don't know our biological parents. For example:
- About five million Americans are adoptees.
- Tens of thousands of babies are created from donated sperm or eggs in the United States each year. Many of those donors are anonymous.
- Many more of us know who our parents are, but aren't in contact.
We all receive our DNA from our biological parents, including DNA related to our health. But if you don't know one or both of your parents – along with what health conditions they might have developed – that leaves you in the dark about your family health history and your own risks.
In the past, those of us who didn't know our family history had few places to turn for insights into inherited risks. But now, you can find those answers – by turning to genetic testing to learn about your own DNA.