Dear Prudence: The Selfish Gene

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Dear Prudence The Selfish Gene My father doesn't want to find his biological family—but I do. By Emily Yoffe Posted Thursday, Dec 01, 2011, at 12:05 PM ET Get Dear Prudence delivered to your inbox each week; click here to sign up. Please send your questions for publication to prudence@slate.com. (Questions may be edited.) Got a burning question for Prudie? She'll be online at Washingtonpost.com to chat with readers each Monday at 1 p.m. Submit your questions and comments here before or during the live discussion. Dear Prudie, My father was adopted as a baby in the 1950s. About all I know is that his birth parents eventually married and that he has full brothers and sisters. He does not want to know anything about his biological family, and I respect that, I really do. However, my husband and I want to have children in the near future and I feel it is important to have a more complete family medical history, though it's not that the presence of some horrible disease will likely sway our decision. (My niece does have a rare, genetic blood disorder which my mother points out could be from her side of the family.) I have asked my mother many times over the years how I can get this information, to no avail. I've thought about hiring someone to track down the biological family or having genetic testing done, but these things are simply too expensive. My mom supports my dad's decision to know nothing and feels that it is not my business to ask such questions. My dad doesn't have much adoptive family ... To continue reading, click here. Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum What did you think of this article? POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES Also In Slate Gingrich Is the Only Candidate Who Talks About How He'd Govern the Country. Good for Him. The Artist Is Slight but Enormously Likable and Destined To Win Awards Siri Gives Terrible Answers When You Ask About Abortion or Birth Control	Advertisement
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