Sperm donor with rare cancer-causing gene fathered nearly 200 kids

[Starmix]

According to the report, a sperm donor carrying a rare genetic mutation that increases cancer risk fathered at least 197 children across Europe, and some of them have already died from the disease, according to a new investigation.

The report also stated that the donor, who was unaware he carried a rare TP53 mutation linked to Li-Fraumeni syndrome, remained healthy himself despite the disorder’s high cancer risk.

The report also said that the donor gave samples to Denmark’s European Sperm Bank (ESB), but his sperm was ultimately used by 67 clinics in 14 countries, and the number of affected children may be higher, as not all countries have provided data, the BBC reported on Wednesday. ESB acknowledged that the donor’s sperm was overused and expressed its “deepest sympathy” to the families affected.

The report added that the investigation found that children conceived with the donor’s sperm were born in Denmark, Belgium, Spain, Greece, and Germany, while the samples were also sent to Ireland, Poland, Albania, and Kosovo, and used in fertility treatments for women from Sweden.

In addition to the report, while only up to 20 percent of the donor’s sperm carry the harmful TP53 mutation, absent from most of his body, any child conceived from those affected sperm inherits the mutation in every cell, and only a minority who inherit the mutation will escape cancer in their lifetimes. Li-Fraumeni syndrome carries up to a 90 percent lifetime risk of developing cancer, including childhood cancers and breast cancer later in life.

Source: PNA/ Anadolu

 

[eLdavis]

There are some people who are carriers. They might not fall sick or even show signs but they carry these diseases or viruses and can spread them.

 

[Starmix]

The sperm donor was not well aware of the seriousness of his sickness. The doctors were also unaware; if they had only experimented on the result, those babies may not have died before reaching months old.