this post was submitted on 06 Dec 2025
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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”.

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[–] masterspace@lemmy.ca 4 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago) (1 children)

Yes, congratulations. Can you name a benefit of having the BRCA mutation?

If you had it, and you gave it to your daughter, how would you tell them that they have cancer because you thought the idea of using IVF to select against it was icky?

[–] Cephalotrocity@biglemmowski.win -2 points 19 hours ago (1 children)
[–] masterspace@lemmy.ca 3 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

That is what the gene does, the mutation does the opposite and causes massively increased rates of breast and ovarian cancer.

[–] Cephalotrocity@biglemmowski.win -5 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago) (3 children)

The fact it is so prevalent in the gene pool suggests there may be some benefit we are unaware of. Further study is needed.

Edit: and it doesn't 'cause', it puts you 'at risk for'.

[–] arrow74@lemmy.zip 4 points 17 hours ago

Evolution doesn't create perfect.

Evolution favors whatever traits are passed on. If you live long enough to reproduce then mission accomplished. Your quality of life leading up to that doesn't matter as long as you survive long enough to do the deed

[–] masterspace@lemmy.ca 3 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago)

The fact it is so prevalent in the gene pool suggests there may be some benefit we are unaware of. Further study is needed.

No it doesn't. That's not how evolution works. It is not perfect, it does not march towards good, it rolls random die and sees if that leads to having kids or not. If you get old enough to have kids and have them procreate it very much stops caring.

Edit: and it doesn't 'cause', it puts you 'at risk for'.

And I said that the mutation causes massive increases in the rate of breast cancer. Which it does. Read more carefully if you're going to try to be pedantic.

[–] Artisian@lemmy.world 3 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago) (1 children)

Note that this is also the argument in favor of giving all the kids malaria. Everyone gets it without intervention, so it must be useful. Sure some people have a really really bad time, but....

[–] Cephalotrocity@biglemmowski.win -2 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

No. No it isn't, and I hope you actually understand that.

[–] Artisian@lemmy.world 1 points 13 hours ago

I welcome learning where the 2 arguments separate. The more I think on it, the less I suspect there's a good one.