How important is it that we know our family history? How important is it to know where we come from, biologically speaking? How crucial is it to know if your paternal grandfather had diabetes, or if your aunt has high blood pressure? How much of an influence do our genes have on us?

I came across a quiz on the internet that can give you an approximate life expectancy based on your answers to certain questions about your lifestyle and family history. The link can be found here. I was surprised to find that an answer of "Adopted/ Don't know" was given as an option to some questions with regard to family medical history - and I was pleased to see that listed. I often wondered about adoptees filling out such forms, be it one of these things on the internet, or a medical history form at the doctor's office. Is there a box to check for "adopted?" Do adoptees write "unknown" for everything? And how do they feel as they write those words - do they feel nothing, the way I do when I write my name and date at the top of the same form... or do they feel something more? Frustration? Sorrow? Sadness?

As an adoptive parent, I answer these questions now for my daughter when I take her for an exam. When she was having allergic reactions to certain foods, they asked about medical background. When she was getting ear infection after ear infection, the specialist asked about family history. When we talk about her persistent bathroom accidents, we - the doctor and I - commiserate that it might be easier to work through this if we knew about any family history in the same issue. For me, right now, it's an issue of slight frustration. For Anna, she doesn't even understand it's an issue at all.

And how much will the lack of information affect her? Out of curiosity, I filled out the form on the web - twice - using identical answers on each. Except when it came to family background. On one form, I supplied my real answers, and on the other form I selected "Adopted/ Don't know." With my actual answers, the study predicts I'll live to 83. With the "adopted" answers, I'll live to 84. Go figure.