Solène Leroux 06:09, May 30, 2022

On the occasion of the world day for the right to origins, Europe 1 looks at the journey of the fight of people born under X to retrace their history.

In recent years, DNA testing has revolutionized research.

If they are illegal in France, many no longer hesitate to use them.

This Monday marks the world day for the right to origins, it has existed since 2014. A day created by associations of people born under X, this concerns in France each year 600 to 700 children.

On this occasion, Europe 1 returns to the obstacle course of these people born to retrace their history.

With the development of DNA tests in France, their research is now facilitated.

How are DNA tests revolutionizing the search for children born anonymously?

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"You can be born under X, but you don't stay there anymore. Now it's over."

Maria-Pia is adamant: DNA testing has made anonymous birth obsolete in France.

"All my friends who have been looking for a very, very, very long time. For 20 years, 30 years or even more: all have found", assures the president of the association for the right to the origins of people born under X. "Now, we found in less than two years."

One of her friends even traced her origins in three months.

A way forward

Sylvain took a test at the beginning of May.

Born under X in Essonne 35 years ago, he let himself be tempted, when "at the start, I didn't necessarily want to do that".

After a call on social networks to find his parents, many people recommend that he take a test.

"It's true that it can be interesting to see geographically where my ancestors may have been," concedes the man who began his research when his daughter was born.

"I have parts of me that are necessarily in a form of haste. But that's not what feeds me the most. It's really just to move forward, quite simply."

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Tests between 60 and 100 euros

For Sylvian, 49, that was key.

After the birth of his first daughter, he wanted to trace his origins.

In 2020, he reconnected with part of his family "clearly thanks to the DNA test".

The analyzes, but also thanks to a "detective, because it's not done like that either": "It's painstaking work, research in the administrations, the town halls."

For him, no doubt: "It's a revolution anyway DNA tests." 

These examinations, illegal in France, cost between 60 and 100 euros.

According to the DNA PASS association, between 100,000 and 200,000 French people use it each year.