Sperm from a donor who unknowingly carried a dangerous gene mutation linked to cancer was used to conceive nearly 200 children across Europe.

The sperm was not supplied to UK fertility clinics, but some families from the UK used the donor while undergoing treatment in Denmark.

SOME CHILDREN DEVELOPED CANCER

The donor carried a mutation in the TP53 gene, which normally protects the body from cancer by preventing cells from turning abnormal.

Because part of the gene was damaged, around 20% of his sperm carried this mutation.

Children conceived using these affected sperm cells have the mutation in every cell of their body. This causes Li-Fraumeni syndrome, a rare but serious genetic condition that increases the risk of developing cancer by up to 90% before age 60.

This syndrome is linke

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