How can I find out who my parents are/were with DNA testing?  I was
adopted.  I don't know where to even start.

---

Request for Question Clarification by livioflores-ga on 03 Oct 2002 12:18 PDT

Hi!!
tehuti´s comment is right. 
May be if you tell us your location and/or more related data we will
be able to give you certain directors respect to which places you must
visit and wich steps you must follow to initiate your search.
And if some researcher can give you this information: Do you accept
this as an answer?

Regards
livioflores-ga

---

Request for Question Clarification by aceresearcher-ga on 22 Oct 2002 21:32 PDT

redmarie,

Were you able to develop a plan for seeking your birthparents using
this information? If you would like further assistance, please post a
Request for Clarification, and I will be glad to see what I can do to
help you out!

aceresearcher

---

Clarification of Question by redmarie-ga on 23 Oct 2002 13:20 PDT

Yes, I have gotten some resolution & am still working on it. The
resources you gave me are very good.  Thanks.

---

Request for Question Clarification by aceresearcher-ga on 27 Oct 2002 04:55 PST

redmarie,

I am glad to hear you are making some progress!

Would you be willing to let me post my Comment as an Answer?

Thanks,

aceresearcher

Hello redmaries,

I'm sorry to disappoint you, but DNA testing would require a sample of
your DNA to be matched against that of your putative parents.  If you
have no idea who they might be, there is no way this can be done. 
Depending which agency arranged your adoption and where, you may find
that there is some provision made for adopted people to trace their
biological parents.  I suggest you try asking your local social
services for advice.

I was born in Glendale, CA in October 1948.  My biological mother's
name on the adoption papers was Helen Roach but no fathers name.  It
was a private adoption through an attorney.  This woman also gave up
two other children before me.

Actually you do NOT definitely need the DNA of both putative parents -
a few other options are available. But, keep in mind - DNA testing is
usually used to determine paternity (father) not both parents. 
However - there are other individuals who can be tested. Not sure if
you'll be able to find these individuals, but wanted to throw the
options out there for you:

1. Ideally, the testing would require the child (you), your mother,
and alleged father.

2. If the father is not available, the mother, both paternal
grandparents, and child would be required.

3. Full siblings - perhaps you find one of the other children your
mother gave up were by your same father.   Either 2 full siblings or 1
full sibling and a grandparent would be required.

4. If neither the father nor paternal grandparents are available (ie.
deceased) - testing can be done with the original child's mother, the
child, the father's children from another woman, and their mother.

Testing can be done with more distant relatives, but the results are
harder to read.
THese are more possibilities for you - but keep in mind, you would
still need to find at least one parent (or suspected parent) and other
family members.
Your best bet, in my opinion - would be to hunt for your mother using
her name and any other information (I can try to help you with that) -
and then go ahead from there, using DNA etc to confirm it.

My source:  I used to work at a DNA lab.

Hope this was of help - best of luck in your search,

-Rebekah

Though it won't help you find your parents, DNAPrint now claims to
have a tool for determining your ancestry, as in what percentages of
certain ethnic groups you might be. This test costs $290, but is on
sale for $160 during the special trial period. For more information,
you can see the Ancestry By DNA product website at
http://www.ancestrybydna.com

You can search for and place yourself in the California Mutual Consent
Registry, where birthparents and adoptees who are looking for each
other can connect:
http://www.100megsfree3.com/levgen/cmcr.html

Likewise for the International Soundex Reunion Registry:
http://www.plumsite.com/isrr/

And the Adoption Search registry:
http://www.skylace.net/adoption/index.html

There is good information at NAIC - National Adoption Information
Clearinghouse
http://www.calib.com/naic/pubs/as_ca.htm

"Bast**d Nation" Adoptee Rights Organization appears to have some
excellent resources and advice for adoptees who are searching for
their birthparents:
http://www.bastards.org/search/

Information about obtaining copies of vital records in California:
http://www.genealogy.com/00000179.html

Ancestry.com shows 80+ citations for Helen Roach (you have to register
(free) to see the citations, and pay to see the details)
http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?sourceid=00398260236574012331&bfinfo=sponsor.15&gl=allgs&prox=1&gsfn=Helen&gsln=Roach&gskw=&gst=-5&gspl=7,California&submit=Search

MyTrees.com shows citations for 193 birth/death/marriage records for
Helen, Helena, or Helene Roach (you have to buy a membership to get
the details)
http://63.169.143.3/cgi-bin/genealogy/new/nextpedsf?392873+000000+English+0-0+0+1

Genealogy.com works basically the same way:
http://www.genealogy.com/index_n.html?Welcome=1034330273

Best wishes and good luck!