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”.
We cannot ignore the fact that once the capacity for choice is introduced something essential is changed. I don’t think there is an easy place to draw the line, I expect it is only degrees of gray past a certain point with preventing poor quality of life/debilitating disabilities but on the other hand it is very clear to me that there are very very very BAD places to draw the line and I absolutely do not trust the structures of society nor the choices of individuals not to violate basic human decency here. I am not an extremist on this, what I am is very worried about how I see a desire in people to choose their children in a way that would never be healthy even if they could.
What really gets ugly is that I could see this becoming a genetic arms race among nations. Sure, some nations can choose not to do it, but others will choose to proceed. This is why, as many downsides as AI has and despite all the groaning, we (as a society) can’t really just opt out and halt development because our adversaries won’t.
The fact that something can be done means that someone will do it if it conveys a competitive advantage.
This is a dark road to head down.