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DNA and Online Search Finds Birth Parent

stuyman writes "NewScientist is reporting that anonymous sperm donation is not so anonymous anymore. An enterprising 15 year old tracked down his biological father, an anonymous sperm donor, using an online genealogy service and an online information service."

4 of 198 comments (clear)

  1. Re:He didn't need DNA to narrow the search down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    WTF is with people tracking down their birth parents. Genetics mean squat.

    There are many diseases with a genetic component. Knowing your genetic history can be very useful.

  2. Except it actually happened... by Cyno01 · · Score: 2, Informative

    A quick google search of the guys name after a google news search of the terms "sperm" "oral" and "child support"

    --
    "Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
  3. Re:Could lead to trouble by Surt · · Score: 2, Informative

    Child support is the child's right to receive support from his/her parents. So unless the child is of legal age to sign away their rights to support (unlikely at birth), any such contract can't really legally protect you.

    A more likely contract, offered at at least a few places i've worked with, works more like insurance: if a claim for child support is made against you (the sperm donor) then the clinic will pay it off for you. The clinic then has contracts to further pass this risk on to their insurance carrier.

    --
    "Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
  4. Re:A potentially ugly situation by Cramer · · Score: 2, Informative

    Human sperm can "survive" for about 48 hours at body temp. -- where "survive" means they're still swimmers. Beyond that, they are viable (for lab impregnation) as long as they stay hydrated and uncontaminated (i.e. free of bacteria, mold, chemicals, etc.) [It's worth noting, your sperm is very likely contaminated by the time it gets out of you.] The actual genetic material will be (forensically) intact for years -- I'm not saying you could make a baby from it.

    As for "stealing" sperm... she'd have to get the "sample" within a few hours for them to still be able to perform naturally. Using sperm from a used condom simply won't work... pretty much all condoms made these days contain spermacides.