One in 25 fathers could unknowingly be raising another man's child, researchers have revealed. New genetic techniques have opened a "Pandora's box" of hidden aspects of sexual behaviour, a team from Liverpool John Moores University said.

They said that the implications of so-called paternal discrepancy are huge, and more research is needed to determine how widespread the problem is. Increased use of DNA profiling and genetic testing has been seen in recent years and is relied on in areas such as organ donation and criminal investigations.

The researchers, led by Professor Mark Bellis, examined a wide range of international studies looking at estimates of paternal discrepancy between 1950 and 2004.

They found that rates of cases where a father was not the biological father of his child ranged from 1% in some studies to as much as 30%.

Experts have generally agreed that the rate is below 10%, with a 4% rate meaning that about one in 25 families could be affected, the study said.

But the researchers, writing in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, said that increased use of genetic testing for diagnosis, treatment and identification was likely to boost rates of paternal discrepancy.

This made the need to understand the true prevalence of the problem even more pressing.

The researchers said: "For any father, identifying that the child they are raising as their biological progeny is actually sired by another man can have substantial health consequences.

"Such knowledge can also destroy families, affecting the health of the child and mother as well as that of any man who is ultimately identified as the biological parent."

People who conceive at a younger age, live in deprived areas and are in long-term relationships rather than marriages are at higher risk of paternal discrepancy.



so, statistically 4% of you don't know your real daddy, or maybe you're raising someone else's kid

I read that in the newspaper

luv4u said:

http://www.ajc.com/health...27353.html

http://www.hindustantimes...430005.htm

http://www.dailymail.co.u...main.html?

http://www.bloomberg.com/...s&refer=uk

http://www.foxnews.com/st...56,00.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/h...137506.stm


"I'm going to be very busy!"

Just to clear things up, i'm the father of the 1 in 25 who don't know.

and more likely to appear on the Maury Povich show.

KebabKing said:

[Edited 8/11/05 11:26am]

sinisterpentatonic said:

dirty skank

KebabKing said:

You should address me as dad from now on.

:crossesfingers:


please tell me my biological father really isnt mine

sinisterpentatonic said:

mom

KebabKing said:

And what does my little bastard want?

sinisterpentatonic said:

milk

KebabKing said:

whole or skim

ella731 said:

all depends on what mom had to eat

I know who my daddy is...unfortunately

I wish I had another daddy, preferably a sugar daddy

KebabKing said:

well, goats don't milk themselves you now. i suggest you get crackin'.

sinisterpentatonic said:

KebabKing said:

i suppose i should tell you this now, your dad's a gorilla.

sinisterpentatonic said:

i still can't believe you let him mount you, how long did you smell of bananas?

KebabKing said:

but, if i didn't let him mount me your monkey ass wouldn't be here now.
And it wasn't like i let him! He forced himself on me.

Though, he's still doing time for that.

sinisterpentatonic said:

we need a family reunion

KebabKing said:

No we don't.

sinisterpentatonic said:

you used to love me