Breeding a fantasy

It is reported today that Mark Lester, the one time child star, most famous for his role in the 1968 musical Oliver! is claiming paternity of the late Michael Jackson's daughter Paris. Lester, a long time friend of pop star, claims that he donated sperm at Jackson's request, and is willing to take a paternity test to prove that he is Paris's father.

If Lester's story is true, the ramifications are really quite chilling.

We often read fictional stories of sperm banks offering the sperm of geniuses and famous athletes to people who are seeking talented and brilliant offspring, so the concept is nothing new. However, this is an entirely different, and rather more uncomfortable scenario

To wish to produce a child with the best of potential abilities and prospects, is perhaps understandable, however, to actively seek to breed a child with the genes of someone, who's main claim to success was that he was extraordinarily cute when he was nine, is something else altogether.