Bigger dilemma

[togashi]

Short history lesson on me:
Since I was about 12, the man I've called Dad is actually my stepfather. He earned the title by being a father to me. My biological father (whom I will refer to as Defective Gene Pool or DGP) skipped town in 1990 to duck a contempt of court charge for not paying child support. I've had no contact with DGP ever since, and because he was my link to the paternal side of my genetics, I have no idea what my family history is, or what genetic skeletons are lurking in the closet. I was willing to let this slide until recently, what with my wife being close to term (29 weeks). I have the ability to find DGP and ask him about these things, but how should I approach this? I was thinking an email that basically says, "having a baby, need to know family/medical history. Please reply." What do you think?

[Breandan]

to be honest, any hereditary illnesses and such can be found via testing your own genes. Anything he would have passed down, be it active or latent, will show in most genetic testing these days. We're not quite to the level of GATACA when it comes to the ability to instantly identify defects, but pretty damn close. Get yourself tested and that will help give you an idea.

[Daiv]

Its not about your family history, its about the futur you have for yourself now.

I've got a fairly awkward family history, and want no part of it.

Also, do what an associate of mine did. Became a decent boxer, found his dad, knocked him out. :D

You didn't hear that from me ;)

[Breandan]

Its not about your family history, its about the futur you have for yourself now.err... Togashi was referring to medical history, to know if the baby will have any risk of health problems down the road :-)

[Daiv]

Yeah i realised that, I missread hehe (sorry).

Then couldn't find the 'Edit' button. Didn't want to spam a post, but since you mentioned it, all i can say is;

YOU ASKED FOR IT SUNSHINE!! :D

[Gavin Darkhart]

genetically anythign past grandparents is meaningless anyway. at that point you have mixed genes with another pool 2 times already so in most cases any defects have been overwritten.

if the grandfather is still alive assume no major genetic health risks from the grandfather.