ELI5- How do people find lost or unknown relatives through DNA if the lost relative has never taken a DNA test?

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I just read a story about a woman who was reunited with her family after the dad took a DNA test and it said he had a daughter, but she hadn’t taken a test. How can a DNA test ‘find’ relatives if only one of the people have taken a test?

link to mentioned story:

[https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/melissa-highsmith-missing-fort-worth-woman-reunited-with-family-51-years-later/287-d2e9542e-f699-40df-86df-8f1fb9b8c25c](https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/melissa-highsmith-missing-fort-worth-woman-reunited-with-family-51-years-later/287-d2e9542e-f699-40df-86df-8f1fb9b8c25c)

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4 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

The most likely explanation is degrees of separation. The daughter never took a test but one of her children probably did, which would also carry evidence of his DNA.

EDIT: also, just because she says she never took a DNA test doesnt mean her DNA has never been tested. DNA tests are not new, easy-access tests are.

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