Silicon Valley Startups Advance Embryo Screening for Genetic Traits and Intelligence, Sparking Ethical Debate
Silicon Valley startups, including Nucleus, Orchid, and Herasight, are rapidly advancing embryo screening technologies that claim to detect genetic diseases, physical traits like height and eye color, and even estimate intelligence (IQ). These companies are promoting polygenic screening (PGT-P), which evaluates embryos based on multiple genes, extending beyond traditional screenings for single-gene disorders or chromosomal abnormalities. Herasight, for instance, offers services that can cost up to $50,000, providing risk assessments for various conditions and predictions for IQ and stature. Nucleus has even advertised its services in the New York subway, aiming for a mass market. This burgeoning industry seeks to fundamentally alter how human beings are conceived and developed, driven by significant venture capital investment in fertility research, which nearly doubled between 2019 and 2022 in the U.S., from $254 million to $496 million, according to PitchBook. 
