Scientists warn ‘one in 100 dads’ aren’t really associated to their youngsters

Scientists have surveyed data about parentage, and some suggest that around one in one hundred fathers are not actually biologically linked to their own children

A shocking one in 100 men are not biologically related to their own children, according to experts who say it’s becoming ‘increasingly common’.

While there is no doubt whether the mother is biologically linked to her child, the same cannot be said for the father. The only way to know for certain is through a DNA test. Without it, there can be a rise to misattributed paternity, where a man unknowingly raises a child that isn’t genetically related to him or, if he’s tricked into this situation, paternity fraud.

However, in recent years there has been a rise in at-home DNA testing, known as consumer genetic testing. These can be used to track ancestors or a family history – but it has also led to father’s discovering they are not related to their own children.

These accidental reveals have been rising along with the tests. Data from paternity testing companies released in the US in 2004 found that around 28% of fathers were biologically unrelated to their children. This is shockingly around one in 100 men.

Despite this, scientists say the data may be skewed due to bias. The people seeking out a test might already suspect the negative results. Prof Michael Gilding argued at the time it only involves men who are questioning their paternity.

Based on more data derived from genetic and medical research, Gilding argued a more realistic figure was around 3%.

More recently, a US survey published in 2022 involved over 23,000 users of FamilyTreeDNA.com. They found that 7% discovered they had a different biological father than they thought.

A similar study was carried out in the Netherlands, with much lower findings. They only found this was the case for under 1% of fathers.

Again in Sweden, a study of over two million families put the figure at 1.7% and found it was decreasing.

When observing the figures, scientists have concluded that the one in 100 men figure has decreased overall, but the issue that many men are not biologically related to their own children affects many fathers even today, in a “significant” number.

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