Investigation Reveals Sperm Donor with Cancer-Causing Gene Fathered Nearly 200 Children Across Europe

Dec 10, 2025 06:48 pm CST

An alarming investigation has uncovered that a single sperm donor carrying a rare cancer-causing genetic mutation has fathered at least 197 children across Europe. The mutation, which causes Li-Fraumeni syndrome, has already resulted in cancer diagnoses and deaths among affected children. The European Sperm Bank distributed the donor's sperm to 67 clinics in 14 countries, raising serious concerns about genetic screening protocols and international regulation of donor sperm.