anyone wanna help??

[buttaphlie]

I have some questions about DNA testing. Let me explain first what I need to do. I am trying to find out if my "alleged" father is my biological father. I have been told by my mother that he is my "true" father. Too many things just don't add up. I asked my brother if he would do a DNA test to show we had the same father, but he refuses to do it, afraid of what the outcome will be.
My "alleged" father passed away in 1984 and no records of any kind are to be found dealing with medical issues.
Where I am a female, it is different for DNA testing, correct? Well, if my brother won't do it, can a first cousin or other relative do it? Is there ANY way I can find out through DNA that he was my biological father?
This has been going on for years and I need to find out the truth.

[dennis]

Hi:
Even if your brother did the Y-chromosome DNA test, that alone would not tell you anything. You need DNA from someone else to compare with your brother.
If you have a a male relative with the same surname, (uncle or cousin) then that relative and your brother could both have the Y-DNA test. If they matched, then you have confidence that they have a common ancestor (probably your grandfather in this case). If you are not sure that you and your brother have the same biological father, this would not help you personally. It would only pertain to your brother. You and your brother could have a DNA test called "siblingship" to determine whether you are full or half siblings. If that test showed that you are full siblings, and you had the Y-DNA from your brother and a male relative, that may answer your questions.

Dennis West

[AngelaC]

Re: anyone wanna help??

Originally posted by buttaphlie
I have some questions about DNA testing. Let me explain first what I need to do. I am trying to find out if my "alleged" father is my biological father. I have been told by my mother that he is my "true" father. Too many things just don't add up. I asked my brother if he would do a DNA test to show we had the same father, but he refuses to do it, afraid of what the outcome will be.
My "alleged" father passed away in 1984 and no records of any kind are to be found dealing with medical issues.
Where I am a female, it is different for DNA testing, correct? Well, if my brother won't do it, can a first cousin or other relative do it? Is there ANY way I can find out through DNA that he was my biological father?
This has been going on for years and I need to find out the truth.

I assume you "alleged" father was the real father of your brother.

I'm afraid theres nothing you can do since your brother refuses to take a test. The best type of test would have been a sibling type test, as Dennis suggested (not the kind of test offered here).

The tests offered here wouldn't have helped - If you were male (which you're not) you could have had a Y-chromosome test with a male cousin (if that cousin was on the same paternal line as your "alleged" father). The mtDNA test won't help either, since we all get our mtDNA from our mothers.

So yes, a sibling test would have been your only option. I don't think that a similar test with a cousin would give you any conclusive answers (since there is greater "genetic dilution" with cousins). I don't know much about these paternity/sibling type tests, so it might pay to check with one of the companies that offer that type of testing whether comparing a niece or nephew of your alledged father with your DNA would help. My feeling is that it would be unlikely.

Genetree offers sibling testing, so it might help to ask them, but as I say, I'm not too optimistic that it will be of any help.
http://www.genetree.com/

I'm Sorry that the answer wasn't hopeful,
Angela.