Sperm donor with cancer-causing gene fathers nearly 200 children

2011Original

Comments

Comment by jfil 5 hours ago

This reminds me of the single conquistador with a cancer-prone gene, who's responsible for 1 in 300 Brazilians carrying that gene (https://aacrjournals.org/cebp/article-abstract/doi/10.1158/1...)

Comment by nanfinitum 2 days ago

Given how high risk this whole donor thing is, I’m surprised there is very little regulation around this process.

For one, It’s truly bizzare that they don’t regulate the number of kids from a single donor. I also assumed they would have some rigorous screening of genetic disorders such as this one before freely distributing sperm for insemination.

Comment by mikestew 2 days ago

For one, It’s truly bizzare that they don’t regulate the number of kids from a single donor.

The donor in TFA is Danish, and Denmark has a 12 child limit on donations, but apparently exports don’t count.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sperm_donation_laws_by_country...

Comment by 2 days ago

Comment by extraduder_ire 2 days ago

It was not detected in the genetic screening they did.

It was also 2005.

Comment by ashishgupta2209 2 days ago

It should be regulated how many children can be born by a single donor.

Comment by nozzlegear 2 days ago

Why?

Comment by ls612 2 days ago

Because it can lead to accidental incest between biological half-siblings.

Comment by nozzlegear 1 day ago

That would only be an issue if they're all geographically concentrated in a small area where the children have a higher likelihood to meet. If the donor were to donate 200 samples to 200 clinics spread across a region, it shouldn't be a problem, no?

Comment by hulitu 22 hours ago

>That would only be an issue if they're all geographically concentrated in a small area where the children have a higher likelihood to meet.

like monarchs of Europe

Comment by ChrisArchitect 2 days ago

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgmy90z991o (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46215637)

Comment by burnt-resistor 2 days ago

Some people are selfish and vain, not just billionaires. What else is new?

One can only hope some CRISP gene therapy would be developed to possibly help them.