DNA kits
Artwork by: Taylor
About Commercial Autosomal DNA Kits.
Per the National Human Genome Research Institute, “Deoxyribonucleic acid (abbreviated DNA) is the molecule that carries genetic information for the development and functioning of an organism.” Using a DNA testing kit anyone has the potential to connect with biological relatives who have also taken the same test or have registered their DNA on a larger DNA database.
23andMe
23andMe is one of the most popular autosomal DNA test kits for the international adoptee community because of its broad reach outside of North America. In addition, 23andMe offers a health option when purchasing a kit that can provide a little insight into inherited health or traits and adoptees would not have otherwise.
Link to site: 23andMe
GedMatch
GedMatch is a third party website that connects people around the world who have done an autosomal DNA test. This increases the chance to connect with biological relatives who have taken other DNA tests.
Link to site: GedMatch
How to upload your 23andMe results to GedMatch.
Please click here to see a YouTube video on how to get started with GedMatch.
Organizations and/or searching communities available.
There are many existing organizations and/or searching communities already working towards helping Chinese adoptees find their biological relatives. Here are a few.
For Adoptive Parents.
The decision to search for biological relatives needs to be made by an adoptee. As APs your role is to provide unconditional love and support. If an adoptee is too young to initiate a search on their own or has not yet to bring up the topic of finding biological relatives it is important not to push them in one direction or the other. Simply let an adoptee know that if they choose to search you will support them. NEVER initiate a search on behalf of an adoptee without their knowledge and consent.
Birth Search Coordinators. (2022-2023)
Birth Search Coordinator
Hi everyone, my name is Myah. I was adopted from ZhuZhou, Hunan Province at 9 months old and grew up in San Francisco, California.
As a birth search coordinator, my goal is to educate the community on how to conduct a birth search and provide resources that can guide one’s search.
Contact Information: Instagram: myah_anne
Birth Search Illustrator
Hey everyone, my name is Taylor. I was adopted from Shaoyang, Hunan in 1997. I was raised in the midwest of the United States.
Art for me is a way to express what my words cannot. A healing part of my birth search was drawing what could have been.
Contact Information: Instagram: jedipanda22