Autistic Kids Linked to Sperm Donor

Anonymity rules need to change, advocates say

(NEWSER) - A teenager inherited a "ticking time bomb in his chest" from a sperm donor father who failed to inform sperm banks that he had a rare and often fatal genetic heart defect as well as the inherited condition Marfan's syndrome. The man fathered at least 24 children through three sperm banks. Advocates say the case highlights the need for America to start regulating the fertility industry more tightly and create a national registry for donors and their offspring, ABC News reports. More»

But which environmental factors remain a mystery

(NEWSER) - Burgeoning cases of autism are strongly linked to the environment, researchers have discovered. A study of twins indicates that while genetics plays a role, the environment is a more significant factor. The study used results among both identical and fraternal twins, and a mathematical formula that determined that genetics accounts for a 38% risk of autism, while environment factors account for 62%, reports the San Francisco Chronicle . "We've known that genetics played a huge role. The surprise was that the environmental factors have been underestimated," said spokeswoman for a patient advocacy group that participated in the California study. More»

Some are altruistic, some just want sex—but all could cause problems later

(NEWSER) - Free sperm donors abound on the Internet, and they’re trying to help those who can’t have a baby the traditional way—or can’t afford the traditional sperm donation. They range from Trent, a 6’1” blond who says “a spirit of volunteering to the community” motivates him, to Ted, a 51-year-old protesting the commercialization of sperm donation. But Ted, and others like him, could also be “putting the public at risk,” one doctor tells DoubleX. More»

Calif. firm features donors who look like Ben Affleck, Seth Rogen

(NEWSER) - Having trouble narrowing down your choice of sperm donor? Perhaps it will help you to know—as it did one mom-to-be—that one option is a Freddie Prinze Jr lookalike. “For me, that clinched it right then and there,” she tells MSNBC. “I’ve always found him attractive!” Thanks to California Cryobank, you can now select a sperm donor who resembles Ben Affleck, Chan Ho Park, Seth Rogen, or even Jackass star Steve-O. More»

(NEWSER) - A new batch of studies offers strong evidence that genetics plays a role in autism, the BBC reports. The studies in the journal Nature show that most victims have a variation in their DNA in the area that controls how brain cells interact, notes the LA Times. The results raise the hope for better diagnosis and treatment, researchers say. More»