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In the Name of the/a Father

What is revealed with new and widespread access to more granular data?

Guardian article about twins separated at birth, put up for adoption, who meet later in life unaware of their biological origins and marry. The money quote from Dr Allan Pacey, secretary of the British Fertility Society at the University of Sheffield "about 3.5% of children are not their father's children, with the number rising to as much as 20% in socio-economically deprived areas."

With a rise in DNA testing - the increased likelihood that the paternally misled will discover their biological origins. The extent that increased awareness challenges/re-enforces social norms such as monogamy, marriage. The extent that the increased awareness affects males (who have taken it for granted they are the paternal father) vs females (who have an inkling that it might be otherwise). Extrapolate a generation's access to this data. Start backdating.

Writing from London | January 12, 2008 | Permalink