A 15-Year-Old Boy Discovers His Biological Father Using Online DNA Testing
A 15-year-old boy, born from the sperm of an anonymous donor, has utilized online DNA testing services to uncover the identity of his biological father—a remarkable feat that highlights the potential futility of anonymity for sperm donors.
The boy, who has chosen to remain nameless, initiated his search for his biological father by swabbing the inside of his cheek, placing the sample in a vial, and sending it to an American online DNA testing service at a cost of $289.
This service, designed to help individuals locate their family members, compared the boy’s Y chromosome—which is inherited only from father to son and remains relatively unchanged—with a database of Y chromosomes from other men.
After nine months, the boy was contacted by two men whose Y chromosomes closely matched his own. Although these two men did not know each other, the similarities suggested there was a 50% chance they were half-brothers or cousins. Additionally, both men had the same last name, albeit with slightly different spellings.
Armed with this evidence, the boy began his online search. While the sperm donor’s identity was concealed, the boy’s mother had access to the donor’s birth date and location, as well as his college degree information.
Using another online service, the boy searched for names of all individuals born at that location on that date. “There was only one man with the same last name the boy was looking for, and within 10 days, he met his father.”
This news raises concerns for any man who has donated sperm in the age of the Internet and before the full implications of genetic data were understood, as noted by New Scientist. “With the explosion of information about inherited genes, any man who has ever donated sperm may eventually be found by his offspring.”
In some countries, sperm donors are required to allow their children the right to know their father’s name once they reach a certain age. However, in other countries, including the United States, most donors remain anonymous.
T. An (according to Physorg)
