Nucleus Genomics says its polygenic risk predictions bring “genetic optimization” to IVF, despite scientific critiques of the accuracy of such techniques and ethical concerns about the eugenic implications of genetic selection.
Researchers and companies are designing and testing AI algorithms that they hope will predict near-future breast cancer risk by identifying subtle changes in mammogram images. Some raise concerns that the models won’t be as effective in diverse populations. www.wsj.com/health/a...
Find videos from the convening – featuring CGS’ Katie Hasson and Emily Galpern, CGS Advisory Board Members Dorothy Roberts and Lisa Ikemoto, and numerous CGS colleagues – on YouTube at this link:
At the March 2025 Reproductive Justice Futurisms Think Tank Convening at Smith College, presenters discussed how reproductive justice frameworks can respond to new eugenic applications of reproductive and genetic technologies and explored alternative reproductive futures. 1/2
U.S. startups are scaling up embryo selection offerings by convincing prospective parents that polygenic risk scores and proprietary algorithms can identify their “best” IVF embryos. 1/2
The 23andMe bankruptcy saga made it clear that current laws fail to adequately protect consumers from the sale and misuse of their genetic data. Lawmakers’ proposals for reform do not do enough to strengthen genetic privacy.
It may be impossible to please all the pronatalists in the Trump base at once. Silicon Valley types embrace IVF and polygenic risk scores, while Christian conservatives reject IVF altogether in favor of “restorative reproductive medicine.” 1/2
New Jersey’s Department of Health is considering new regulations for egg and embryo storage facilities. The rules would require biobanks to be licensed and to comply with standards for recordkeeping, adverse event reporting, and quality management.
But by pitching IVF, genetic testing, and embryo selection as good investments for families and the nation, they carry forward early eugenicists’ assertions that “better babies” are a civic responsibility. www.geneticsandsocie...
Genomics companies selling polygenic prediction of children’s futures would almost certainly disavow eugenic commitments to “race betterment” and racial hierarchies. 1/2
Monash IVF has suspended treatment for patients using donor gametes in New South Wales after receiving clarification that donor sperm or eggs can be used by a maximum of five families globally rather than in the state. 1/2
Trump’s obsession with eugenics and his history of ableist statements set the tone for his press conference on autism. Trump, RFK Jr., and their allies framed autism as something to eliminate, rejected autistic self-advocacy, and excluded the voices of autistic people.
Surrogacy is growing in popularity in Silicon Valley (and elsewhere), but remains largely unregulated. A recent viral story shows how the lack of regulation of surrogacy arrangements can leave surrogates vulnerable when complications arise.
CBP agents took DNA samples from about 2,000 US citizens and shared them with the FBI for storage in a database used for criminal investigations, according to a new report from Georgetown. The report calls the practice a “flagrant abuse of power” with no legal justification.
To allow patients to access these therapies, some researchers and companies want the FDA to adopt a more flexible approach that involves conditional approval for rare-disease gene therapies.
Drug companies often discard gene therapies for rare diseases even after successful clinical trials because of the high costs of developing treatments and getting regulatory approval. 1/2
From He Jiankui’s recently announced return to gene editing to Julian Savulescu’s vocal support for “polygenic editing,” some researchers and philosophers seem intent on trying to push heritable genome editing forward despite global consensus against it.
Surrogacy is growing in popularity in Silicon Valley (and elsewhere), but remains largely unregulated. A recent viral story shows how the lack of regulation of surrogacy arrangements can leave surrogates vulnerable when complications arise.
From He Jiankui’s recently announced return to gene editing to Julian Savulescu’s vocal support for “polygenic editing,” some researchers and philosophers seem intent on trying to push heritable genome editing forward despite global consensus against it.
To allow patients to access these therapies, some researchers and companies want the FDA to adopt a more flexible approach that involves conditional approval for rare-disease gene therapies.
Drug companies often discard gene therapies for rare diseases even after successful clinical trials because of the high costs of developing treatments and getting regulatory approval. 1/2
In a proposed update to its guidelines, the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence retains its recommendation of three NHS-funded IVF cycles for those eligible under 40 and critiques unproven IVF add-ons. The draft is open for consultation until October 21.
