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."

Comments

He didn't need DNA to narrow the search down

[old7]

Though his donor had been anonymous, his mother had been told the man's date and place of birth and his college degree. Using another online service, Omnitrace.com, he purchased the names of everyone that had been born in the same place on the same day. Only one man had the surname he was looking for, and within 10 days he had made contact.

Knowing the place and date of birth of the father would narrow the search considerably. Even in a large city it could narrow the search to a few dozen. -Old7

Re:People deserve all they get

[Mornelithe]

Uh...

What exactly is wrong with donating to a sperm bank? It allows people to have kids that might otherwise not be able to.

And what exactly is wrong with using the money for beer? Beer is good.

And how exactly could the child become emotionally scarred? By finding out at least one of his genetic parents is not part of his family? Why exactly does that matter? He has (presumably) two parents who love him and wanted him enough to go to extraordinary measures to have him. Isn't that good enough?

And if he didn't know that he was a sperm bank baby, and it does scar him, isn't it the fault of his parents that actually take care of him, for not telling him before he found it out on the internet?

Could you please expound on what, exactly, is wrong with this situation in your view? I can't figure it out beyond the possibility that you want to whine about 'them damn college students!'