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Sperm linked to Cancer conceive 200 children: The story of a sperm donor has created a sensation throughout Europe. About 200 children were born from this sperm donor in 14 countries, but there was a serious defect in the gene of this sperm donor due to which these children were sure to get cancer. Many of these children have died. The European Broadcasting Union has exposed this under investigative journalism.
Sperm linked to Cancer conceive 200 children: A sensational case has come to light in Europe. 200 women were inseminated from a sperm bank. Later investigation revealed that the sperm from which 200 of these women had conceived contained a bad cancer causing gene. Women from about 14 countries were inseminated with this sperm and it is estimated that 200 children have been born from it. Now this matter has reached a very worrying situation. It is so dangerous that many children have died due to this bad gene mutation. In such a situation, the biggest question is whether all the children born from this sperm will also get cancer. Let us know what the doctors of the world said on this.
Whose sperm was it, how did it go to such places?
According to BBC report, this sperm came from an anonymous person. He was given money for this while he was studying. It started from 2005. His sperm was used to conceive women for about 17 years. The person is healthy and had also passed the donor screening test. Sperm was taken from this man in a fertility clinic in Denmark, which was kept by the European Sperm Bank of Denmark and from here it was sold to many centres. After this this sperm has gone to many places. The person from whom this sperm was taken (the name of the person is kept confidential) fulfilled the dream of becoming parents to 197 parents in Europe, but he himself did not know that cancer-causing carriers were present in his genes. If the quality of sperm is good in the initial stage then it is given for conception. Genes are not usually tested. Due to this, this bad gene passed into the mother’s womb and children were also born from it. The sad thing is that some children born with this gene have also died. What is even more unfortunate is that among the children who have inherited this gene mutation, only a few will be lucky enough to survive cancer in their lives. However, the families in which these children live have been informed about this.
how to find out
The European Broadcasting Union, a group of journalists, has exposed about 200 children born from this sperm under Investigative Journalism. It includes 14 public service broadcasters in Europe, including the BBC.
What errors were there in the genes?
The person from whom the sperm was taken was healthy but even before his birth, a mutation had occurred in the DNA of some of his cells. This mutation damaged the TP53 gene. This is a very important gene that works to prevent body cells from becoming cancer. This dangerous TP53 mutation is not present in most parts of the donor’s body, but it was found in 20 percent of his sperm. However, children born to these affected sperm will have this mutation present in every cell of their body. This is called Li Fraumeni syndrome. The risk of cancer in this is up to 90 percent. The risk of cancer is high in childhood itself. If that person survives, the risk of developing breast cancer in future is very high.
Will anyone survive cancer?
Professor Claire Turnbull, a cancer geneticist at the Institute of Cancer Research in London, told the BBC that this is extremely frightening. It is very difficult for any family to suffer such a calamity. In this one has to live with the risk of cancer throughout life. This is really devastating. If a person is living with such a gene, he has to undergo MRI of the body and brain and ultrasound of the stomach every year. In women, the breast is removed earlier, which increases the chances of survival. However, 90 percent of people with such genes are at risk of cancer. But he will always have to go through a long process of investigation.
Where did this sperm reach?
Donor sperm was used in 67 fertility clinics in 14 countries. Doctors of the European Society of Genomic Disorders said that out of 67 children born through sperm donation, this dangerous mutation was found in 23. Of these, 10 children had already been diagnosed with cancer. After RTI and after talking to doctors and families, it was found that the total number of children is much more than this. It may be as low as 197 but this number may increase further as data is not yet available from many countries. It is also not clear how many of these children have actually inherited this dangerous TP53 mutation. It is believed that this sperm was passed on to women from about 14 countries.
