A 15-year-old boy whose mother used an anonymous sperm donor found his biological father using genetic technology and the Internet.
The boy submitted a DNA sample to a commercial genetic database service designed to help people draw their family tree -- and found a crucial clue that quickly enabled him to track down his long-sought parent, The Washington Post reported.
While welcomed by advocates of children trying to locate anonymous donors, the case has raised alarm among sperm banks and some medical ethicists who are concerned it might start a trend that could violate the privacy of thousands of sperm donors -- and discourage future ones.
The database involved in the sperm donor case was set up by Family Tree DNA of Houston, a private company that has accumulated more than 45,000 DNA samples. For a fee, clients hoping to learn more about their heritage can have their DNA tested to see if it matches anyone in the database.
"We provide services for genealogists. That's what we do," company spokesman Max Blankfeld told the newspaper. "We really didn't have anything like this in mind."
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
