Family Secrets: An Adopted Man's 26-Year Quest for His Father - WSJ 5/2/09

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Family Secrets: An Adopted Man's 26-Year Quest for His Father
Richard Hill Uses Latest DNA Techniques And Lots of Shoe Leather to Solve a Riddle

By GAUTAM NAIK
Richard Hill's father, on his deathbed, revealed a secret to his 32-year-old son: Richard was an adopted child.

"The younger Mr. Hill was quickly able to learn who his biological mother was. But cracking the identity of his birth father -- shrouded in coverups, lies and false trails -- took 26 years. In the end, Mr. Hill solved the mystery with the help of sophisticated DNA-based genealogy tests.

For most people who practice it, genetic genealogy is a hobby. But as the tests grow more powerful, people are starting to unearth family secrets. Many offspring of sperm-donor fathers are using Internet-based DNA searches to locate their so-called biodads. Others hope to identify unknown family members by connecting DNA profiles with last names."

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