Multiple siblings

This whole thing has worried me for years. There are all sorts of possibilities of unaware siblings meeting and having children. On the other hand, is it any more likely now than in the past when men simply sewed their oats locally and secrets were kept? Or the gene pool being limited because of location and limited opportunity? Is the difference just that now we know it’s possible where before we pretended everyone behaved themselves?

Perhaps the answer is that couples should have their DNA tested for connections before embarking on making babies? But then you raise other questions such as genetic screening, designer babies etc. because while you are testing the DNA for one thing why not slip in this test, or that one...

I think, that because most clinics screen donors very well, all those children would have pretty good genes from their fathers, and therefore be more healthy than the average population.
So I'm not worried

It is a very emotive issue and as already said, it could have adverse outcomes. In theory it is an ideal solution to many women who have been so unlucky in love, but desperately desire a child.

It’s not just about women being unlucky in love, there’s also the issue of men who, for one reason or another, are unable to father children. Whatever the reason, I approve of sperm doners, but I do think there should be a limit on the number of children one man can father.

I think I saw this or a similar report some time ago. It was fascinating from the Nature vs Nurture point of view, because they had so much in common right down to flicking their hair aside, if I remember rightly.
I believe there are more controls since this man spread his seed so generously. Yes - it is very worrying, especially because people fall in love with similar others. One of my psychology lecturer's said that twins, male and female, so not identical but still very similar, separated at birth, almost instantly have an overwhelming sexual attraction for each other on meeting! Yes... it's worrying.

Sorry about the unnecessary apostrophe in wrong place after lecturer! I hate these wrong apostrophes, but I was going to write "lecturer's favourite quotes".

On of the reasons why marriage between close relatives (which can produce genetic deficiencies) is taboo is because there is a high degree of attraction between these same relatives. Brothers and sisters reared apart and, unknowingly, brought together later, often results in incest as does a similar situation between parent and child. It has been well documented. Makes you think.

As for donor children, if they are not geographically well scattered, the same could easily arise.

I certainly agree with DNA tests, so I can throw them back if I get another one with no Viking in him..........I have married a succession of wimps lord only knows what their DNA was.

The thought of half siblings having children together is worrying, even if the risk is remote. It would be sensible for parents to be honest with their children, and where they were conceived by sperm donation, to tell them and suggest a DNA check before they conceive themselves.

Quite apart from anything else, this is incest and against the law in most countries!

I wonder if it would be a good idea for there to be a register of donors and their offspring for use only in specific situations like genetic disorders which come to light only later. Maybe keep it anonymous but allow those who don't know their genetic father to ask questions. Could also be used prior to making babies.

Can you just imagine a person meeting someone they find attractive and asking "Do you know who your genetic father is?" before agreeing to sex?

Not much of a chat up line is it!

I think seen from the child’s point of view it should be their right to know who their donor father was. This might overrule the donor’s desire to be anonymous but I think the child’s right overrules that. If a donor isn’t prepared to give that information it should rule him out. He could waive all his social and financial rights and responsibilities over the child but not his genetic inheritance. Rules should be changed.

I am just as worried that a child born of a sperm donor may grow up feeling they are missing part of their identity. Don't most of us feel a bit short changed if we discover in later life we have a half-sibling or grandchild somewhere we've never met? This must be several times over down many generations of unknown siblings, nephews and neices for a person who is half anonymous sperm.

rocknroll I believe it is the case now that all donors must agree to be traceable by the children resulting from their donation - either sperm or egg donation. This is in line with adoption laws. Back when anonymity was assured, sperm donation was a nice little earner for students supplementing their income, but when the law changed, sperm donors became very thin on the ground.

As gran to a child born from donor sperm I can tell you that if the sperm is obtained through a clinic a successful birth is recorded and there is a limit on the number of families ant one donor can help. Also the child is able to find contact at 18 his or her donor father.

Nandalot how do the clinics ensure the donor is not donating at other clinics? Is there a register which covers them all?

I really hope that in time to come, ways to conceive a child will be researched than enables the two people who want to care for that child to be the genetic parents, regardless of their sex or gender. Creating fertile DNA from skin tissue or whatever.

I suggest putting the information on birth certificates. An indicator that the child resulted from a donor.
Not his details, they could be looked up should there be a need.
Otherwise the child is deceived for a lifetime as to his or her own heritage.

Bluebelle I don't imagine this situation would only effect those born through the process of a doner. Bad outcomes could affect any one of us. Am I being ott in suggesting that a persons DNA be disclosed in their medical history.? Should a couple reach the point where they want to start a family then tests would determine any risks to the children. Who would knowingly want to take that risk?

This girl was in America and the regulations state that there is a limit, around 12 families that they can donate to, however, in this particular case the company he was registered with was bought out by another company and he was allowed to donate again through a loophole. Have no idea what the regulations are here.

Have just read this and realised I should that put 'because of a loophole in the regulations he was allowed to donate again'.

'Donate through a loophole' What was I thinking of.

My sons father sperm donor had so many children to so many different unfortunate women that we eventually lost count. I do know for certain that my son was the first but how many came after? I can only hazard a guess. At his (high profile) funeral his widow told me that she was under no illusion that she would have been the last in line and that his (untimely) death had probably saved even more heartache for more children.

My son has met at least 5 of his half siblings and they all look very alike.

I've been interested in family research for a few years and recently did a couple of DNA tests: Ancestry and 23andme.
I'm still scratching my head with the results, how did a girl from Essex end up 1% polynesian., but may be that's a post on the genealogy thread. It's very surprising to read on the 23andme just how many people are finding out their father's are not actually their biological fathers and quite a few people know or learn they were the result of sperm donors. In the US, particularly in the 60's many medical students donated for science or money to fund their medical tuition.

I don't know whether Sweden has a register for sperm doners, but they were talking about the necessity of it in the 1990s as they were worried about the large number of children conceived in this way and the possibility that half-siblings would marry (or not) and have children believing themselves in all good faith to be unrelated.

My adopted sister always felt something was missing because she had no idea who her biological parents were and I can't imagine the child conceived through a sperm donation would feel any different, but I don't know.