Reproduction is not genetically simple. For every set of biological parents, trillions of possible genetic combinations are possible in each offspring. We live in an era of dramatically increasing knowledge about the human genome. The possibility of a "$1,000 genome" - full genetic sequencing for any individual who seeks it - is held out as a possibility in the near future. How does our heightened expectation to know more about our genetic makeup affect third party reproduc-tion, where a gamete donor - an egg or sperm donor -accounts for half of a child's genetic makeup? Since long before this age of genomics, prospective egg and sperm donors have been subjected to a barrage of questions about their backgrounds. Recipients can often choose the donor who has the background, educa-tion, talents, or looks they most desire. Some recipients try to have a child who most closely resembles them; for example, if sperm donation is needed and the recipient father is Italian, tall, and artistic, the parents may look for a sperm donor with at least some of those characteristics. We've all heard about the occasional advertisement for young superstar egg donors - say an Ivy League graduate with blond hair and athletic talent.
展开▼
