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Watershed DNA
Watershed DNA
About
Books
Blog
Schedule
FAQs
About
Books
Blog
Schedule
FAQs

Welcome to Watershed DNA

 
Search Topics
  • DNA Surprise 40
  • NPE 38
  • DNA 33
  • DNA Discovery 32
  • Direct to Consumer DNA 23
  • Adoption 21
  • Adoptees 18
  • Ancestry Testing 17
  • Misattributed Parentage 17
  • Family Search 16
  • Home DNA Test 14
  • Medical Genetics 14
  • Donor Conception 13
  • 23andMe 12
  • Genetic Counselor 12
  • Podcast 12
  • Genetic Genealogy 11
  • Biological Family 10
  • Genetics 10
  • DNA Test 9
  • At Home Testing 8
  • Biological Father 8
  • DNA Shocks 8
  • Family History 8
  • Sperm Donation 8
  • DNA Support 7
  • DTC Genetics 7
  • Genetic Counseling 7
  • Raw Data 7
  • Donor Conceived 6
  • Promethease 6
  • ROH 6
  • Alzheimer 5
  • DNA Guide for Adoptees 5
  • DNA Podcast 5
  • Family 5
  • Forensic Genealogy 5
  • Genetic Testing 5
  • Paternity 5
  • Resources 5
  • Stem Cell Transplant 5
  • Birth Parents 4
  • Egg Donation 4
  • Family Health History 4
  • Family Secrets 4
  • GEDMatch 4
  • Non-Paternity 4
  • Support 4
  • Support Group 4
  • Cousin Couples 3
Draft Language for Reaching Out to a DNA Match
DNA Surprise, Genetic Genealogy, Ancestry Testing, Communication Brianne K. Williams 2/16/20 DNA Surprise, Genetic Genealogy, Ancestry Testing, Communication Brianne K. Williams 2/16/20

Draft Language for Reaching Out to a DNA Match

I've gotten some questions about how to approach an unexpected DNA match and try to open up the lines for communication. I've posted some draft language here for you to get a sense of what I've written or advised other people to write in the past.

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“I Believe My Mom Made the Best Decision She Thought She Could at the Time”: An NPE Discovery
NPE, DNA Test, DNA Shocks, Biological Family Brianne K. Williams 2/7/20 NPE, DNA Test, DNA Shocks, Biological Family Brianne K. Williams 2/7/20

“I Believe My Mom Made the Best Decision She Thought She Could at the Time”: An NPE Discovery

Janna shares her experience and how she has coped with the decision made decades ago by her teenage mother after a high school party and an unplanned pregnancy.

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Your Unexpected DNA Match Is Not a Fake DNA Account Created by Someone Trying to Scam You
DNA Shocks, DNA Test, Family History Brianne K. Williams 1/28/20 DNA Shocks, DNA Test, Family History Brianne K. Williams 1/28/20

Your Unexpected DNA Match Is Not a Fake DNA Account Created by Someone Trying to Scam You

The shock of an unexpected DNA family member can cause people to react in different ways.

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Could the DNA test be wrong
DNA Surprise, Home DNA Test, DNA Shocks Brianne K. Williams 1/25/20 DNA Surprise, Home DNA Test, DNA Shocks Brianne K. Williams 1/25/20

Could the DNA test be wrong

The purpose of this quick guide is to answer the single most common question I hear from people who have recently received a DNA test result that does not match expectations.

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“How Do I Reach Out to Biological Siblings Who Don’t Know About Me?”
Adoption, Adoptees, Birth Family Brianne K. Williams 1/13/20 Adoption, Adoptees, Birth Family Brianne K. Williams 1/13/20

“How Do I Reach Out to Biological Siblings Who Don’t Know About Me?”

I’m adopted and know the identities of my birth mother and father, but the biological siblings on my paternal side don’t know about me yet. My children are encouraging me to reach out. What should I do?

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Is It Wrong to Help in an Egg or Sperm Donor Search?
Donor Conception, Sperm Donation, Genetic Genealogy, Family Search, DNA Brianne K. Williams 1/6/20 Donor Conception, Sperm Donation, Genetic Genealogy, Family Search, DNA Brianne K. Williams 1/6/20

Is It Wrong to Help in an Egg or Sperm Donor Search?

Should I help someone who wants to search for her egg donor? Is it any different from a search for a biological parent in an adoption search?

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Pharmacogenomics: Searching for DNA Test Results That Give Insight Into Medications
Pharmacogenomics, Medical Genetics, Medication Brianne K. Williams 12/30/19 Pharmacogenomics, Medical Genetics, Medication Brianne K. Williams 12/30/19

Pharmacogenomics: Searching for DNA Test Results That Give Insight Into Medications

Pharmacogenomics compares differences in peoples’ DNA and the impact that certain medications might have, the dosage a doctor might prescribe, response to medications, and potential side effects.

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 Case of a Bone Marrow Recipient With Altered DNA Results
DNA, Stem Cell Transplant, Bone Marrow Transplant Brianne K. Williams 12/9/19 DNA, Stem Cell Transplant, Bone Marrow Transplant Brianne K. Williams 12/9/19

Case of a Bone Marrow Recipient With Altered DNA Results

In the New York Times this week, coverage on an unusual case. NYT reporter Heather Murphy wrote about the story of a man whom researchers are studying because he had received a stem cell transplant, and subsequent DNA testing revealed unusual results.

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“If My Dad’s Not My Biological Father, Then Who Is?”
NPE, Family Search, DNA Surprise Brianne K. Williams 12/3/19 NPE, Family Search, DNA Surprise Brianne K. Williams 12/3/19

“If My Dad’s Not My Biological Father, Then Who Is?”

More people every day are discovering unexpected news about their parentage as a result of consumer DNA tests. As a licensed and certified genetic counselor specializing in ancestry testing, I have more and more people reach out to me wondering could it be true my dad’s not my dad? If so, then who IS?

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What DNA Testing Can’t Tell You
DNA, Genetic Testing, Genetic Genealogy Brianne K. Williams 11/18/19 DNA, Genetic Testing, Genetic Genealogy Brianne K. Williams 11/18/19

What DNA Testing Can’t Tell You

You will find many articles online and shows on TV telling you all you can learn from DNA testing. You won’t find much about what DNA can’t tell you, so I’ll review a few of the common test types and talk about the details not often mentioned.

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