Sperm donors and not knowing your genetic heritage: what do you think?

[WideWebWitch]

Following on from the discussion on the gay mums thread I thought I'd start this for anyone who wants to talk about it. Am interested and will contribute tomorrow if anyone else is too. One of my questions was what happened to all the children born of sperm donated by students years ago who jacked off for a tenner? Did the students sign forms saying they would never be contacted? Can they be? I don't think I have anything against sperm donation but haven't considered the subject a great deal other than above (shallow, me!) so would like to talk and think about this some more I think.

hear, hear maryz

I believe nurture dominates nature, although the 2 interact. The counter argument to Pinker is that the human genome project showed how incredibly genetically identical humans are; extremely little genetic variation from one person to the next, compared to other mammals. Lots of genes are expressed randomly (eg., left or right handedness), or depending on environmental factors (susceptibility to asthma might be an example). Which is why it's so difficult to separate nurture from nature.

The great hunt for obestity genes drives me batty; because obesity is overwhelmingly a lifestyle (ie, environment) induced condition.

Tangential random thing to say: one of my aunts gave up a child for adoption. Broke her heart. They got back in touch about 5 years ago; very very emotional situation. Very weird to have "instant full grown cousin". She looks just like her half-sisters, too. I suppose many potential sperm donors don't even want to go near those issues.

Pamina - it's not you, it's the board software (it doesn't seem to like having commas embedded in the URL).

Yes Maryz, I can't tell you how great it is to thank my lucky stars that I wasn't an abortion!!!! Using the 'you wouldn't exist at all' argument is in my book worse than cruel. It makes you feel guilty for being alive.

I donated my eggs and I choice to make the not on public record. Which means no they cannot come find me. I believe this is the same for sperm.

For all intent and purpose my biological father may as well have been a SD. I grew up having never met him, had one grainy black and white photograph and apparently I have 2 half sisters that I've never met.
In all honesty I had a strong curiosity whilst growing up, but as an adult I don't feel I've robbed of anything. So long as the family life you do have is loving and understanding.

*Crikey this is an OLD thread