Adoptees Use DNA to Determine Surname

A DNA database is providing male adoptees with an unusual method for determining the likely last name of their biological fathers. Since the Y-chromosome is passed from father to son, there exists a significant link between genetic similarity and shared surname. Users can scan the database for men with whom they share certain genetic markers and receive a list of the matched surnames. While the system is not foolproof, it can give adoptees a small nugget of information about their lineage and provide them with a starting point should they choose to search for their birth parents.