The donor dads were shadowy figures, guaranteed anonymity by the clinics. That way there was no risk of the past -- and, conceivably, hundreds of offspring -- returning to haunt the donors, and clinics did not have the expense and hassle of records. Keep it secret, it's simpler, advised the doctors. But it is not proving that easy. Someone forgot that gurgling, happy babies grow up into adults with complex needs.

"DI robbed me of half my genetic history, and it robbed my children and grandchildren too."says Christine Whipp, she argued that she had the right to know her parentage.

Since 1991, details about donors -- name, place and date of birth, medical history, physical characteristics, religion, occupation and interests -- have had to be registered with the HFEA but offspring have no rights of access. They may only check with the HFEA that they are not related to someone they intend to marry or ask the HFEA -- presumably they have to be, firstly, suspicious -- if they were the product of donated gametes or embryos when they reach 18.

The HFEA says that it has yet to face a situation where it is asked to reveal the identity of a donor because a DI child has a genetic condition or a disease such as leukaemia where bone marrow from a biological father might be needed to save a child's life. "But the law is clear at the moment,' said a spokesman. "The identity of the donor cannot be revealed."

Joanna Rose, 28, DI-conceived, was recently granted leave by the High Court to begin an action under the Human Rights Act that would force authorities to give more 'non-identifying' information about donors to offspring born since 1991. Ms Rose, complains that she and her half-sibling Adam, 34, a conservation biologist, have suffered an identity crisis from knowing nothing about their biological father.

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