British fertility clinics raise scientific and ethical objections over patients sending embryos’ genetic data abroad for analysis
Couples undergoing IVF in the UK are exploiting an apparent legal loophole to rank their embryos based on genetic predictions of IQ, height and health, the Guardian has learned.
The controversial screening technique, which scores embryos based on their DNA, is not permitted at UK fertility clinics and critics have raised scientific and ethical objections, saying the method is unproven. But under data protection laws, patients can – and in some cases have – demanded their embryos’ raw genetic data and sent it abroad for analysis in an effort to have smarter, healthier children.
Dr Cristina Hickman, a senior embryologist and founder of Avenues fertility clinic in London, said rapid advances in embryo screening techniques and the recent launch of several US companies offering so-called polygenic screening had left clinics facing “legal and ethical confusion”.
Yeah I’m far more on board with specific information being available to everyone and nothing more. Possibly also a “high risk, low occurrence” list of things like BRACA for people who have a family history of a high consequence disease causing mutation.
And I think disabled voices need prioritized in the discussion of what genes are included. As someone with genetic health issues, I don’t trust those without them to make such decisions, especially after seeing how hearing parents of deaf children behave.