THIS summer, a young man who had been conceived by donor insemination was able to track down his 鈥渁nonymous鈥� genetic father. His genius was in using his own Y chromosome to home in on the man鈥檚 name, something possible thanks to the popularity of genetic genealogy (see 鈥淭racing dad online鈥�). In so doing, he has thrown open the doors to a new era in which donor anonymity can no longer be assured.
In the early days, assisted reproduction seemed so technologically tidy, with separate roles for parents, and egg and sperm donors. Nobody guessed that the children born from these techniques would be so driven to trace their genetic parents. A number of European countries have begun to acknowledge that yearning, by putting an end to anonymous donation (New 杏吧原创, 12 March, p 3). But now it is time to acknowledge that even when children have no easy access to their genetic parents they will continue to search 鈥� and many will succeed.
We owe it to donors to help them prepare for what is to come. In the past, many were young and not well-counselled about the implications. Many now have spouses and children who know nothing of their genetic relatives. Many have never contemplated what it would mean to have perhaps a dozen children wanting to meet them. It is time for the relevant authorities and charities to step in, perhaps even arrange meetings between donors and their offspring, in ways that minimise pain and disruption for all concerned.
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