She was born from a donated egg and sperm. As an adult, she found her ‘gene family’

September 30, 2026

image of an oocyte being fertilized with a needle

(WSKG/NPR) – There are no firm numbers, but there could be a million or more Americans conceived with a donated egg or sperm. Jacqui Comstock, an oceanographer on Cape Cod, is the product of both. From member station WBUR, reporter Martha Bebinger takes us on Comstock’s search for her genetic relatives.

MARTHA BEBINGER, BYLINE: This story starts in 1994, during the early years of egg donation. A woman named Pam McColl saw a newspaper ad requesting egg donors. Pam and her husband had two young sons. (Read More)