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Could be that dad is not real father, report shows (Is that kid really yours?)
reuters via Yahoo News ^ | Aug 11, 2005 | SOURCE: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, August 2005.

Posted on 08/11/2005 12:40:55 PM PDT by summer

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Perhaps one out of every 25 dads could unknowingly be raising another man's child, a finding that has huge health and social implications, according to report released Wednesday.

Exposing so-called paternal discrepancy -- when a child is identified as being biologically fathered by someone other than the man who believes he is the father -- could lead to family violence and the breakup of many families. On the other hand, leaving paternal discrepancy hidden means having the wrong genetic information, which could have health consequences.

A UK-based research team reviewed scientific research dealing with paternity published between 1950 and 2004 and reports that rates of paternal discrepancy range from less than 1 percent to as much as 30 percent.

The investigation also showed that becoming pregnant at a younger age, low socioeconomic status, and being in a long-term relationship rather than being married seem to be linked to greater likelihood of paternal discrepancy.

It is generally believed that rates of paternal discrepancy are less than 10 percent. A paternal discrepancy rate of 4 percent means that one in 25 families could be affected.

However, soaring rates of paternity testing in North America and Europe means more cases of paternal discrepancy will be identified in the years ahead, Professor Mark A. Bellis, from the Center for Public Health at the Liverpool John Moores University, and colleagues point out in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

In the United States, for example, rates of paternity testing more than doubled between 1991 and 2001. The increasing use of genetic testing for diagnosis and treatment of disease as well as in judicial procedures will also yield more opportunities to uncover cases where a father, unbeknownst to him, is not the biological parent.

"Modern genetic techniques continue to open a Pandora's box on hitherto hidden aspects of human sexual behavior," the investigators write.

Exposing such situations will inevitably affect not only deceived dads but also their family and potentially the biological father. Leaving paternal discrepancy undiagnosed, on the other hand, leaves those affected with incorrect genetic information that could prove harmful.

What's urgently needed, the authors say, is guidance on how and when paternal discrepancy should be exposed.

At present, most cases that are inadvertently identified are ignored by whoever uncovers the situation.

"However, in a society where services and life decisions are increasingly influenced by genetics, our approach to paternal discrepancy cannot be simply to ignore this difficult issue but must be informed by what best protects the health of those affected," Bellis and colleagues argue.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: dads; families; genes; kids; oops; paternity
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To: ClearBlueSky

Bill Cosby made some not-so-funny remarks about inner city people needing DNA cards to make sure they're not screwing with their siblings.


41 posted on 08/11/2005 12:56:31 PM PDT by A Ruckus of Dogs
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To: najida
And it was for situations just like this...bring baby home, test DNA, proceed from there.

No, just make it another of the tests that is done in the hospital by law, and have the information appear on the birth certificate.

Don't hide it, or make it a private matter, that's part of the problem.

Put it out there in the open for all to see and remove another refuge for the unfaithfull wife.

42 posted on 08/11/2005 12:56:38 PM PDT by konaice
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To: devane617

Blood tests before marriage could become popular again, but not for STD's - for family trees. I know my oldest brother is adopted and he insisted for this very reason.


43 posted on 08/11/2005 12:56:56 PM PDT by timsbella (Mark Steyn for Prime Minister of Canada!)
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To: summer

Real father is man who rasies the children regardless of the genetics.


44 posted on 08/11/2005 12:57:08 PM PDT by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
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To: jasoncann
Without alteration in current behavior the problem will eventually take care of it's self. As sad as that will be to watch.
45 posted on 08/11/2005 12:57:59 PM PDT by devane617
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To: summer

I grew up with a kid that looked like the postman, and his brother just like the milkman ...


46 posted on 08/11/2005 12:58:27 PM PDT by 11th_VA (http://www.worldmag.com/displayarticle.cfm?id=10481)
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To: jasoncann
Actually it would just make sure that women get child support from two men instead of just one.

Gives new meaning to spreading the risk...

47 posted on 08/11/2005 1:00:03 PM PDT by frithguild (If I made one mistake, it was that I was too cooperative and waited too long to go on the offensive.)
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To: devane617
Considering less that 22% of people ever leave thier hometowns, this could be a significant issue in the next few years.

Where did that statistic come from?

Not leaving your home town does not make accidental incest more likely. It actually makes it less likely, because you know your own town, (if its small).

Most people know who their relatives are, but not these "mis-fatherd" children.

48 posted on 08/11/2005 1:00:22 PM PDT by konaice
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To: devane617
Anyone know the "out of wedlock" birth rate in the Afircan-American community?

Last statistics available put it at 70%.

49 posted on 08/11/2005 1:00:31 PM PDT by Phantom Lord (Fall on to your knees for the Phantom Lord)
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To: tallhappy

"Real father is man who rasies the children regardless of the genetics."

Amen. Dr. Seuss said it best in "Horton Hatches the Egg"

To quote him "and it should be like that, because Horton was faithful he sat and he sat..."

John Singleton illustrated it poignantly in "Boys in the Hood" - absent a father, a man has little direction.


50 posted on 08/11/2005 1:00:49 PM PDT by timsbella (Mark Steyn for Prime Minister of Canada!)
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To: tallhappy
Real father is man who rasies the children regardless of the genetics.

Agree. And any guy cuckolded should divorce his wife on grounds of adultery and get custody of the child.

51 posted on 08/11/2005 1:01:03 PM PDT by A Ruckus of Dogs
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To: Brilliant
Eventually, someone is going to come up with an inexpensive genetic test, and our whole society is going to fall apart at the seams.

Only becasue it already has.

The father is the mother's husband. That has been the law for centuries and still is and should be.

That society has fallen apart (all sorts of unwed mothers) and refusal to take responsibility on the part of men (impregnating women who are not their wives or whom they do not marry) would cause the problem.

If you are married to a woman, her children are yours no matter if the biological progenitor is another man.

But we no longer believe in marriage or responsibilty for male heads of houselds.

52 posted on 08/11/2005 1:01:17 PM PDT by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
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To: 11th_VA

And your point is their dad held two jobs?


53 posted on 08/11/2005 1:01:50 PM PDT by timsbella (Mark Steyn for Prime Minister of Canada!)
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To: Terabitten
Takes two to tango, me bucko.

Short of rape, takes one to allow sexual access. The girls need raise their standards. Some suggestions might be:

Would her make a good father?
Can he support me?
Will he marry me first?

Problem solved.
54 posted on 08/11/2005 1:02:54 PM PDT by Jaysun (Democrats: We must become more effective at fooling people.)
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To: PJ-Comix
He has accepted what happened but I can tell he does have something of a grudge against his son.

I would say his grudge is misplaced.

55 posted on 08/11/2005 1:03:48 PM PDT by konaice
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To: summer
However, I am finding it hard to believe this is actually a "new" problem

It's not. Our civilization, which the liberals have set out to destroy, worked well in that a male had responsibility for his family and his children were those given birth to by his wife -- period.

Liberal racism and belief in genetic destiny over spiritual committment and relations, seen in all the liberal racism around, has made these things issues.

56 posted on 08/11/2005 1:03:58 PM PDT by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
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To: Jaysun

Momma's baby, Poppa's maybe....


57 posted on 08/11/2005 1:04:29 PM PDT by oldfarmer (Mark 16:17-18)
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To: timsbella

I fear even on a "conservative web site" we are only voices in a wilderness.


58 posted on 08/11/2005 1:04:57 PM PDT by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
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To: devane617
So what will prevent brother/sisters/fathers/daughters etc from having childern? Considering less that 22% of people ever leave thier hometowns, this could be a significant issue in the next few years.

Hey, where are we going and why are we in this basket?
59 posted on 08/11/2005 1:04:59 PM PDT by Jaysun (Democrats: We must become more effective at fooling people.)
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To: Jaysun

You forgot one the precursor - is he good enough to bring home to my parents?


60 posted on 08/11/2005 1:05:11 PM PDT by timsbella (Mark Steyn for Prime Minister of Canada!)
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