They are brothers, but 18 months ago, Michael Waud and Peter Chapman didn't know each other existed.

They only met last year thanks to the growing craze of family ancestry DNA testing. Both had known they'd been adopted at birth, in 1959 and 1960, and both had decided to send off samples to learn their genetic history.

Mr Chapman feels strongly that they crossed paths before. ‘‘I always knew I wasn’t by myself. I always had that in my heart.’’

Both like true crime books and hate beer: brothers Peter Chapman, left, and Michael Waud, are close friends, a year after meeting for the first time through DNA testing. Credit:Chris Hopkins

Mr Waud marvels that as a young man he may have danced at city nightclub where his brother Peter Chapman worked as a bouncer.