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Controversial Genetic Screening: US Startup Pioneers Embryo IQ Tests for Affluent Couples
A U.S. startup is igniting a debate by offering wealthy couples the opportunity to screen their embryos for IQ and other desirable genetic traits, causing a stir in ethical discussions surrounding genetic engineering.
Heliospect Genomics, the company at the forefront of this development, charges up to $50,000 for testing 100 embryos. They assert that their technology can assist couples undergoing IVF in selecting children with IQ scores significantly higher than those of naturally conceived babies. Reportedly, their methods could yield children with intelligence quotients exceeding those of their peers by as much as six points, according to recent findings from The Guardian.
Having already assisted over a dozen couples, Heliospect’s initiatives raise crucial ethical questions. Undercover video footage analyzed by news outlets reveals insights into their processes.
Inside the Technology
During a video briefing in November 2023, CEO Michael Christensen expressed a vision of a future where parents could have multiples of children that are not only disease-free but also exceptionally smart and healthy. This communication was captured during a recording by an undercover researcher from Hope Not Hate, an organization dedicated to countering far-right extremism.
On these calls, employees of Heliospect reportedly guided prospective parents through their experimental genetic selection techniques. One such technique involves using polygenic scoring, which ranks up to 100 embryos based on traits like IQ, sex, height, and even susceptibility to obesity and mental illness.
The Ethical Dilemma
Heliospect claims that their predictive algorithms leverage data from UK Biobank, a genetic repository with extensive volunteer data. While embryo selection based on IQ is prohibited in the UK, the practice remains permissible in the U.S., although the technology has not yet reached the commercial market.
Many experts in genetics and bioethics caution against the implications of selecting embryos based on favorable traits, highlighting the potential to reinforce notions of
