Glossary

AIDArtificial Insemination via DonorPrior to the 1990’s donor conception was widely known as AID
Bioessentialist The philosophy that biology plays a larger role in determining human psychology or development than social, economic, or environmental factors.
Biological Mother/Father/Parent Genetic parents that share DNA with the DCP
BIPOC BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and people of colour.
BMABritish Medical AssociationThe British Medical Association (BMA) is the trade union and professional body for doctors and medical students in the UK.
CIOCharitable Incorporated Organisation 
Commercial DNA testing Examples common in the UK are Ancestry, 23andMe, MyHeritage, LivingDNA
ConnecteDNA The ConnecteDNA project was awarded funding by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in order to explore how people involved in donor conception both use and are impacted by the rise in commercial DNA testing. Both Laura Bridgens and Roy Davis, Co-Chairs of the DCR Registrants Panel, sit on its advisory board. At the time of writing the project is still ongoing but it is expected to recommend that there needs to be ongoing information published about the broad implications of donor conception practices, follow up support and care for those impacted by unexpected DNA Test results and recognition for the impact on the relatives of those directly impacted as they are often felt they are not considered.
DCDonor Conceived 
DC PracticesDonor Conceived Practices 
DCPDonor Conceived People/ Person 
DCRDonor Conceived Register. Formerly known as UK DonorLink (UKDL) 
DCR Registrants Panel Community A name given to the community that has grown around the DCR, that is to be renamed DCUK.
DCRRPDonor Conceived Register Registrants PanelThe official group meeting held twice a year for the DCR Community. These meetings are chaired and minuted.
Digital DC research project The Digital DC (short for Digital Donor Conception) project is a four year, Wellcome Trust-funded research study which explores the practice of informal donor conception (IDC) in the digital age. Laura Bridgens, Co-Chair of the DCR Registrants Panel, sits on its advisory board. It aims to develop knowledge about this growing method of having a family, understand the factors which shape people’s views and experiences of it and ultimately improve support and outcomes for those who use IDC and their families
Direct to Consumer DNA testingSame as Commercial DNA Testing 
Donor Conception A life-long intergenerational process that has far reaching social implications.
Donor Conception Awareness Day A day to raise the profile of Donor Conceived People on 27th April every year. https://donorconceptionawarenessday.com/
DCNDonor Conception NetworkA supportive charity network of over 2,200, mainly UK-based, families with children conceived with donated sperm, eggs or embryos, those thinking about or undergoing donor conception procedures and donor conceived people.’
Donors Those who ‘donate’ (or sometimes sell) their gametes (sperm, eggs or embryos)
Donor’s raised children The Donors children that they have raised.
DSLDonor Sibling LinkIn the UK Donor Sibling Link allows people who share the same donor (donor-conceived siblings) to exchange contact details with one another. It is run by the HFEA.
EM A child (who could not be named because of her age) who was part of the court case with Dr Joanna Rose who claimed that their human rights as DCP were being breached by being denied access to information about their Donor.
Equality Act 2009 Allowed greater access to fertility treatment for single people and same sex couples.
Gametes Reproductive tissue: Sperm, Egg or Embryos
Hetronormative Denoting or relating to a world view that promotes heterosexuality as the normal or preferred sexual orientation.
Hewitt Fertility Clinic Sub-contracted by LWHT to house the DCR
HFEAHuman Fertility and Embryo AuthorityThe UK’s independent regulator of fertility treatment and research using human embryos.
Human Fertility and Embryology Act (HFE Act) 1990 Act that created the UK fertility regular, HFEA
Intended Parent Intends to receive
Intersectional DCP groupsLGBTQ+, infertile DCP, Black or BIPOC DCP 
Dr. Joanna Rose Was part of the court case with EM (a child who could not be named because of her age)  who claimed that their human rights as DCP were being breached by being denied access to information about their Donor.
Joint Committee on Human Rights The Joint Committee on Human Rights consists of twelve members, appointed from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, to examine matters relating to human rights within the United Kingdom, as well as scrutinising every Government Bill for its compatibility with human rights.
King’s College London The current register service uses this laboratory to analyse DNA test results
LWHTLiverpool Women’s Hospital NHS Foundation TrustService provider of the Donor Conceived Register since 2019
Narelle’s Law in Victoria, Australia Victoria’s world first legislation the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Bill 2016 which gave all donor conceived adults the equal right to identifying information regarding their genetic parents.
National Gamete Donation Trust The National Gamete Donation Service, now known as the SEED Trust, raises awareness of the national shortage of sperm, egg and embryo donors in the UK. NGDT was the previous service provider of the DCR.
National Infertility Awareness week A week in April to highlight the challenges some parents face when trying to have children.
NPENot Parent ExpectedWhen the presumed to be parent has been proven, through DNA testing, not to be the true biological parent.
‘Open ID’ cohort A name given to the group of donor conceived people eligible to apply to the HFEA for identifying information about their parents donor once their turn 18.
OTROpening The RegisterThis process of accessing identifying information about donors is known as ‘Opening the Register’.
Patient Organisation Stakeholder GroupPOSGLed by HFEA it is made up of individuals who represent an established patient group, community, or charity.
Raising, Social, Legal Parents Recipient Parents who raised the DCP
RPRecipient ParentThe intended parents who received the donated gametes
Right to Know A US charity advancing the fundamental human right to know our genetic identity through education, mental health initiatives and advocacy.
Talking Therapies Counselling, psychotherapy etc..
Wellcome Trust The Wellcome Trust is a charitable foundation focused on health research based in London, in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1936 with legacies from the pharmaceutical magnate Henry Wellcome to fund research to improve human and animal health