Our DNA dilemma: Unraveling the sibling mystery
They fell in love – then had to check they weren’t brother and sister
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Courtesy of Audrey and Arthur Kermalvezen
Audrey and Arthur Kermalvezen, both children of sperm donors, met at a gathering of donor-conceived activists. Arthur, frustrated by the omnipresence of potential fathers in his life, imagined them everywhere. "I was very angry because it’s impossible to live like this."
As adults, their love blossomed, but a pressing question remained: were they related? With two sperm banks in Paris and multiple donations, the chance of them being half-siblings was real.
Navigating French Genetic Testing Laws
In France, genetic testing is heavily regulated due to donor anonymity laws. Only researchers, doctors, or judges can order tests, and possessing a home testing kit is a criminal offense punishable by over €3,500. Companies like 23andMe and Ancestry don’t operate there due to these restrictions.
Supporters of the 1994 law argue it protects sensitive genetic data from commercial use and prevents family conflicts. However, Arthur points out that France is unique in this stricture among European countries.
A Legal Expert Meets Her Donor-Conceived Match
Audrey, a lawyer specializing in bioethics, understood the French law regarding donor anonymity, having been conceived before its implementation. While researching pre-1994 donors, she discovered Arthur and his book detailing his search for biological origins.
Their meeting was immediate and intense. Both felt a profound connection but faced the same challenge: how to uncover their true relationships without breaking the law.
