European donor fathers 197 children with cancer gene

A sperm donor with a cancer-causing gene mutation unknowingly fathered at least 197 children across Europe. Some children have already died, and most who inherited the mutation face a high lifetime cancer risk. The donor's sperm, used for about 17 years, contained a mutation damaging the TP53 gene, crucial for preventing cancer. Children born from affected sperm have Li Fraumeni syndrome, with up to a 90% chance of developing cancer. The European Sperm Bank expressed sympathy and acknowledged over-usage in some countries. While the donor passed screening, the mutation was not detectable preventatively. British families who used the donor's sperm in Denmark have been informed.