Sperm Donor in Europe Found to Pass Rare Cancer-Causing Mutation to 67 Children

europe - A sperm donor who helped conceive 67 children across Europe is discovered to carry a rare cancer-causing mutation, with 10 of the offspring already diagnosed with cancer.

Sperm Donor Passes Cancer-Causing Mutation to 67 Children

A sperm donor in Europe, responsible for 67 offspring, has been found to carry a rare cancer-causing mutation. 10 children have already been diagnosed with cancer due to this genetic variant.

Discovery of the Mutation

The issue came to light when two families independently contacted their fertility clinic after their children were diagnosed with a rare hereditary form of cancer. The European Sperm Bank confirmed the presence of the TP53 gene variant in part of the donor's sperm.

Genetic Condition and Testing

The donor's biological children, conceived between 2008 and 2015, were tested in eight European countries. 23 were carriers of the mutation, with 10 already diagnosed with cancer, including leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Ethical Concerns and Recommendations

The case raises questions about the need for limits on the number of offspring from a single donor to prevent medical risks and psychological implications. Calls for European regulations on donor birth limits and genetic testing have emerged to address the spread of genetic diseases.