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Newsweek
20-06-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
New IVF Tool Allows Parents To Screen Genetics of Embryos: Is It Ethical?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new tool allows parents undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) to screen their embryos for health issues, but is it ethical? Genetic disease is believed to be linked to 41 percent of U.S. infants' deaths, while more than 2 million children in the country have a genetic condition. U.S.-based company Nucleus is offering people having IVF the chance to select their embryos by using software that highlights various genetic markers linked to health. Technology that tries to prevent genetic diseases like sickle cell disease, where patients have unusually shaped red blood cells, is already in use. Newsweek/Getty Images/Newsweek/Getty Images "This type of selection of specific embryos as a result of IVF is already occurring in sickle cell care," Dr. Crawford Strunk, vice chief medical officer of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, told Newsweek. Parents are able to choose an embryo which tests negative for sickle cell disease, he said, and from which stem cells can also be taken for transplant to help cure children with the condition. However, two experts raised concern over embryo selection, with one telling Newsweek that there are "deeply troubling ethical aspects" of IVF. Preventing Genetic Disease and Improving Embryo Health Nucleus Embryo is described as "the first genetic optimization software that helps parents pursuing IVF see and understand the complete genetic profile of each of their embryos." With the tool, users can check for more than 1,000 traits and conditions, from single gene disorders like cystic fibrosis to complex conditions like heart disease and cancer risks, and mental health conditions like anxiety and ADHD, the company's CEO Kian Sadeghi told Newsweek. The technology is able to do this by not only detecting specific genetic markers for certain diseases but by also calculating polygenic scores, which combine up to a million genetic markers into a single number to determine someone's genetic predisposition for a condition or trait. This includes coronary artery disease, breast cancer, type 2 diabetes and more. "These integrated models further enable Nucleus to identify risk in embryos and adults as accurately as possible," Jerry Lanchbury, a member of Nucleus' scientific advisory board, told Newsweek. According to a 2023 study by Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, the deaths of five out of seven infants from genetic disease could have been prevented had "rapid, diagnostic [whole genome sequencing] been performed at the time of symptom onset or intensive care unit admission." In the U.K., whole genome sequencing has been brought in as a routine part of medical care, in order to increase "early detection and treatment of high-risk conditions." "The power of genetic prediction also goes beyond rare diseases. Genetic testing can lead to lifesaving preventive care," Lanchbury said. He added that genetic instances of high cholesterol, breast cancer and colon cancer cause a substantial number of deaths in the U.S. every year, with more than 3 million cases contributing to over 750,000 deaths per year. "Each of these conditions are preventable," he said. Lanchbury also said that "the environment, parenting and chance play profound roles in how genetic predispositions manifest," so Nucleus ranks its predictions by strength so that parents can understand the range of likely outcomes for their embryos. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, U.S. representative for Florida, told Newsweek that IVF can be a "godsend" for those with a BRCA gene mutation—which can increase the risk of breast cancer in women by 80 percent, Lanchbury said. A breast cancer survivor herself, Wasserman Schultz added that IVF treatment "can help end generational genetic cycles of deadly disease in a family's future." Technology that can test for a BRCA gene mutation in embryos and determine which embryos should be implanted as a result is "one of many incredible, life-saving benefits of genetic research," she said. However, while Sadeghi told Newsweek that "people have the right to genetically optimize their children," various groups and experts say the technology raises a number of ethical questions. A photo of a Nucleus kit, used to screen embryos for genetic conditions. A photo of a Nucleus kit, used to screen embryos for genetic conditions. Uncredited/Nucleus Choosing Embryos Based on Characteristics While giving parents the opportunity to select their embryos based on a number of traits and conditions could help to reduce the prevalence of genetic disease, it could also allow them to make their choices based on other factors. "If we are talking about screening and selecting certain human embryos over others based on a host of characteristics and risks, then we are not talking about preventing harm to future human beings but making a choice as to which human lives are most worth living," Jason Thacker, assistant professor of philosophy and ethics at Southern Seminary and Boyce College, told Newsweek. He added that from the very moment of fertilization, "a unique human being is made which has inherent dignity, value and rights." "This is one of the deeply troubling ethical aspects of IVF in general, where children are often treated as mere commodities and not fully human in the embryonic stage," he said. He added that while modifying genes to prevent disease "may have some tangible benefits worth cautiously pursuing," it is also important to be aware of how those decisions will affect the child and subsequent generations. There has also been some concern raised about the implications of parents selecting embryos with a higher IQ screening. "Parents can select for an average difference of 2.5 IQ points," Sadeghi told Newsweek. However, intelligence has been found to be linked with schizophrenia, ADHD, OCD, Alzheimer's disease and autism, he added. "When you analyze genes for disease risk, you're also uncovering insights into traits, since both share a common genetic foundation," Sadeghi said. "What matters most to us is helping parents understand these genetic connections—so they can make informed choices based on what matters most to them." Thacker, however, warned that this technology was leading society into territory where "we will not always be able to accurately predict the downstream effects of our biomedical decisions, and we must be extremely cautious and seek wisdom as we go about techniques that affect real human lives—both in the embryonic stage, at birth and into future generations." A photo of a computer screen showing the results from an embryo assessment done by the company Nucleus. A photo of a computer screen showing the results from an embryo assessment done by the company Nucleus. Uncredited/Nucleus IVF Treatment and Unused Embryos Some concern, particularly from religious groups, has been raised over the fact that this technology could result in unused embryos being destroyed. According to calculations by the Catholic television network EWTN, more embryos are likely destroyed during IVF treatment than via abortion each year. Catholic belief determines a new human life begins at the point of conception or fertilization, meaning the loss of these embryos equates to a loss of human life, making IVF itself an ethical issue. "IVF is morally condemned because it replaces, rather than assists, the sexual act of the couple in conceiving children and creates human life in a lab where the embryos are easily mistreated and even killed," Joseph Meaney, a past president and current senior fellow of the National Catholic Bioethics Center, told Newsweek. Meaney said gene therapy for embryos could be ethical as long as it was done to "treat or cure a genetic or medical defect." However, "It is not ethically acceptable to make genetic modifications to normal human beings with the intention of enhancement—defined as trying to create better than healthy human capacity," Meaney said, pointing to those who may wish to select embryos based on higher intelligence for example. Aware of these concerns, Sadeghi told Newsweek that Nucleus intends to overcome the issues "openly, transparently, and always guided by individual choice." "Everything we do is guided on the principle of responsible use of modern genomic science, and reproductive freedom," he added. Sadeghi said that until now, this sort of technology "has been discussed only behind closed doors—not in public." This means that Americans now have the opportunity to "listen to each other, hear each other out, and use this information to establish their views to ensure the insight Nucleus Embryo can provide is put to good use."
Newsweek
19-06-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
CEO Says New Tool Allows Couples To 'Genetically Optimize Their Children'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The CEO of a U.S.-based biotech company that developed software to enable parents to select embryos used for in vitro fertilization (IVF) based on genetic markers, told Newsweek that this "genetic optimization" would help people "live longer and thrive." Kian Sadeghi created his DNA testing and analysis company Nucleus to "give parents direct insights into whatever matters most to them when they choose their embryo." Nucleus offers the world's first genetic optimization software that allows parents to have preferences over their child's genetics during the IVF process, with the aim of reducing preventable genetic disease. "There's no moment when parents need to know how genetics will impact them and their loved ones more than when they're preparing to start a family," Sadeghi said. Genetic disease impacts millions of children in the U.S., with Down syndrome, Thalassemia, cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs disease and sickle cell disease among the most common. As well as screening for these sorts of conditions, Nucleus also analyses embryos for chronic conditions like Alzheimer's disease and heart disease. In total, it checks for almost 1,000 traits and conditions, from cystic fibrosis to heart disease, cancer risks, and mental health conditions like anxiety and ADHD. Kian Sadeghi, CEO of biotech company Nucleus, told Newsweek that "genetic optimization" would help people "live longer and thrive." Kian Sadeghi, CEO of biotech company Nucleus, told Newsweek that "genetic optimization" would help people "live longer and thrive." Newsweek/Getty Images/Canva Sadeghi said that many families "have experienced death at the hands of these common conditions and seek to prevent similar suffering." He told Newsweek that his own experience of the loss and grief brought on by genetic disease was actually what guided him to set up his company. When he was 7 years old, his 15 year-old cousin suddenly died in her sleep from what he said was a "preventable genetic disease." "My parents were heartbroken and terrified that my siblings and I would have the same fate," he said. Being so young at the time, Sadeghi said "it didn't make sense to me why someone would drop dead at 15, when other 15-year-olds are fine." He said that the loss of his cousin was the the first time he "intuitively grasped this idea of generational health." "Seeing this genetic lottery, when someone wins and someone doesn't, really stuck with me," he said. As he grew up, he developed a keen interest in genetics in school and by the time he got to college he was determined to create software that "could prevent what happened to my family from happening to anyone else in the world." After dropping out of the University of Pennsylvania, he then set up Nucleus in 2020, and believes that his software will spare families from the grief he himself felt when he lost a loved one to a preventable genetic disease. Kian Sadeghi, CEO of Nucleus, a company that has developed software to help parents screen their embryos for genetic conditions. Kian Sadeghi, CEO of Nucleus, a company that has developed software to help parents screen their embryos for genetic conditions. Uncredited/Nucleus Sadeghi added that his company is "democratizing access to genetic information," as at the moment, he said genetic testing results can be hard to decipher without a clear explanation from a doctor. "We're putting comprehensive, actionable data directly in parents' hands with tools that let them actually understand and compare their options," Sadeghi said. However, given that the software allows parents to genetically "optimize" their children, it raises various ethical questions, ones which members of the public have taken to social media to ask. Some social media users on X, formerly known as Twitter, voiced their concern that genetic screening could have unknown, secondary impacts, while others criticized Nucleus for oversimplifying the issue, saying "we can't predict longevity even for adults, so how can we possibly do this for embryos." Discussing ethical issues raised by the public, Sadeghi said, "until now, how this science would impact how we have children and how we would deploy it has been discussed only behind closed doors—not in public." He said now that Nucleus has announced the availability of the technology, the public has the opportunity to "listen to each other, hear each other out, and use this information to establish their views to ensure the insight Nucleus Embryo can provide is put to good use." Sadeghi added that the best way to have the public understand the technology was "to have them use it," and that it was important to make it accessible to as many people as possible. There have also been concerns raised about whether genetically optimizing IQ in embryos could increase risk of mental health conditions like schizophrenia. Sadeghi said that his company's report on schizophrenia risk for embryos noted that the condition is linked to both bipolar disorder, as well as intelligence, and that ADHD, OCD, Alzheimer's disease and autism were also linked to intelligence. He added that "we always educate parents on links between high disposition to neurological diseases and exceptional traits." "When you analyze genes for disease risk, you're also uncovering insights into traits, since both share a common genetic foundation," he said. The software, while being offered to parents to help them prevent their children from developing genetic disease, therefore does come with ethical considerations—considerations which will continue to be explored and discussed in public, now that the technology has brought the issue into the spotlight.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nucleus Genomics Launches Nucleus Embryo, Genetic Optimization Software Alongside Partnership with Genomic Prediction
Parents pursuing IVF now have a new level of choice to empower their family planning NEW YORK, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With U.S. birthrates plummeting and IVF on the rise, Nucleus Genomics today launched Nucleus Embryo, the first genetic optimization software that lets parents see and understand a complete genetic profile to select an embryo. "Before there's a heartbeat, there's DNA," said Kian Sadeghi, founder and CEO of Nucleus. "One file containing DNA and genetic markers can tell you more about your baby's future than any other test a doctor could possibly run at this stage. Most clinics stop at whether an embryo will develop. For many parents, that's not enough. Patients have long asked for more transparency from clinics, and Nucleus Embryo is an important step toward complete data ownership for parents planning their families." The software enables parents to analyze and compare up to 20 embryos across over 900 hereditary conditions and 40 additional analyses beyond basic viability, spanning cancers, chronic conditions, appearance, cognitive ability, mental health, and more. To widen access to the software, Nucleus will partner with Genomic Prediction, the first company to offer genome-wide screening on embryos. The partnership sets a new standard in genetic medicine, continuing Genomic Prediction's decade-long history of giving hopeful parents the best possible chance of implanting healthy embryos. The company's analyses focus on hereditary conditions, acting as the first line of defense against chronic and rare diseases. "As an organization, we are committed to supporting patients' rights to their DNA and any information that can aid in their family-building journey," said Kelly Ketterson, CEO of Genomic Prediction. "We have a legacy of innovation aimed at providing patients with access to the best scientific resources. Our partnership with Nucleus opens access to information our patients have requested and allows us to uphold our commitment to this legacy." Nucleus' partnership with Genomic Prediction reflects a growing shift in how parents think about genetics as a tool to give children the best possible start in life. A wide-ranging study of Americans found the majority accepted the use of genetic technology to choose embryos based on health and personality traits. Four in 10 parents would use genetic optimization as another tool to understand their future child's cognitive abilities. Most women undergo three to six IVF cycles before successfully having a baby, with each cycle costing up to $25,000. Many embryos are unviable within days of being fertilized, leaving parents with few to choose from. Facing high stakes, clinicians often recommend genetic testing to optimize a couple's chances of a healthy pregnancy. But these tests typically stop at a select number of hereditary conditions and chromosome count. Now, advanced genetic analysis from Nucleus gives parents a new window into the health and well-being of their future child. Nucleus Embryo provides a comprehensive genetic profile for each embryo, encompassing hereditary genetic diseases, like cystic fibrosis and hemochromatosis, alongside genetic measures of cognitive ability, mental health, and risk for chronic diseases. Wide access to genetic insights for embryos can also help extend lifespan from the earliest stages of life. While more than half of all deaths annually in the U.S. are attributed to chronic, age-related conditions — such as Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease — research shows embryonic selection can materially help reduce disease risk for these conditions. "We celebrate health optimization and the pursuit of longevity in every other part of life via our focus on training, supplements, and sleep," Sadeghi said. "We all know health isn't just the absence of disease. It's the ability to understand our bodies and genetic makeup to reach our full potential. Now we can apply this principle to life's inception." About Nucleus Genomics Nucleus builds software for generational health. Inspired by the loss of his cousin who died of a rare — yet preventable — genetic disease, Nucleus founder and Thiel Fellow Kian Sadeghi left an Ivy League university to build a product that could have saved her life. Our advanced DNA health test and analysis takes the guesswork out of your health, whether it's perfecting your protocols, knowing your risk for cancer, or planning for a healthy family. Follow us on social media @nucleusgenomics. About Genomic Prediction Genomic Prediction, Inc. is the frontrunner in advanced embryo screening. Our proprietary LifeView platform is state-of-the-art technology that assesses embryos for genetic health aimed at improved IVF outcomes. The LifeView Embryo Health Score Test (EHS) offers insight into the likelihood of developing conditions driven by multiple genes. It tests for significant health issues, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, certain cancers, and mental health conditions. The EHS results are derived from the same embryo sample used in the following PGT tests: PGT-A: Identifies chromosome abnormalities in embryos. PGT-A+: Pinpoints the origin (paternal, maternal, or embryonic) of chromosome abnormalities. PGT-M: Decreases the chances of passing on monogenic (single-gene) conditions. PGT-SR: Detects chromosome abnormalities and structural imbalances, providing clarity between normal and balanced chromosomes. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Nucleus
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
IVF parents are spending thousands to predict their babies' chances of having Alzheimer's, cancer and heart disease
Maybe she's born with it, maybe it's … genetic optimization? Prospective parents using in vitro fertilization (IVF) will soon be able to select embryos based on their potential risk for diseases — including illnesses that develop later in life — thanks to a groundbreaking $5,999 service announced this week by a US biotech company. 'Before there's a heartbeat, there's DNA,' Kian Sadeghi, founder and chief executive of Nucleus Genomics, said in a statement. 'One file containing DNA and genetic markers can tell you more about your baby's future than any other test a doctor could possibly run at this stage.' The popular fertility treatment involves removing eggs from a woman's ovaries and fertilizing them with sperm in a lab. The resulting embryo — which could be frozen or fresh — is placed into the uterus, where it hopefully implants in the uterine wall and sparks a pregnancy. Before implantation, many IVF clinics already screen embryos for genetic abnormalities — such as extra chromosomes or gene mutations — that can lead to failed implantations, miscarriages, birth defects or inherited disorders. But the first-of-its-kind service from Nucleus Genomics takes things a step further. The company just launched Nucleus Embryo, a new software platform that lets potential parents dig deep into the full genetic blueprint of their embryos before choosing which one to implant. The tool lets IVF patients compare the DNA of up to 20 embryos, screening them for more than 900 conditions — including Alzheimer's, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and several forms of cancer. It doesn't stop there. The program also flags potential mental health conditions like depression and schizophrenia and even ranks cognitive traits like IQ. Parents can also get a look at cosmetic and physical features, from height, baldness and BMI to eye and hair color. The company isn't promising perfection. Instead, the software generates a so-called polygenic risk score that will give parents the probability of how likely it is an embryo might develop certain traits or diseases. Ultimately, it's up to the parents to decide which qualities matter most to them. For those looking to decode the results, genetic counseling sessions are available. 'Lifespan has dramatically increased in the last 150 years,' Sadeghi told the Wall Street Journal. 'DNA testing to predict and reduce chronic disease can make it happen again.' The practice, known as polygenic embryo screening, is already highly controversial in the medical world, according to a report published by Harvard Law School's Petrie-Flom Center. Critics warn that allowing parents to screen embryos for risks like depression or diabetes could deepen stigma and discrimination against people living with those conditions. Meanwhile, disability advocates argue it promotes the harmful idea that disability is something to be fixed, not a natural part of human diversity. And when it comes to choosing embryos for traits like intelligence or athleticism, critics say we're sliding into designer baby territory — a modern form of eugenics that favors the rich, reinforcing social and healthcare inequalities. Still, the public appears open to some aspects of the tech. A 2023 survey found that 77% of Americans support using it to screen embryos for the likelihood of developing certain physical conditions, while 72% back screening for mental health risks. Proponents argue it's no different from vaccination — a preventive tool, not a judgment on those with the condition. But when it comes to non-medical traits, support drops fast: only 36% back screening embryos for behavioral traits and just 30% for physical features like height or eye color.
New York Post
06-06-2025
- Health
- New York Post
IVF parents are spending thousands to predict their babies' chances of having Alzheimer's, cancer and heart disease
Maybe she's born with it, maybe it's … genetic optimization? Prospective parents using in vitro fertilization (IVF) will soon be able to select embryos based on their potential risk for diseases — including illnesses that develop later in life — thanks to a groundbreaking $5,999 service announced this week by a US biotech company. 'Before there's a heartbeat, there's DNA,' Kian Sadeghi, founder and chief executive of Nucleus Genomics, said in a statement. 'One file containing DNA and genetic markers can tell you more about your baby's future than any other test a doctor could possibly run at this stage.' 4 Supporters say screening could prevent chronic illness, but critics warn it may fuel stigma and inequality. New Africa – What is IVF? The popular fertility treatment involves removing eggs from a woman's ovaries and fertilizing them with sperm in a lab. The resulting embryo — which could be frozen or fresh — is placed into the uterus, where it hopefully implants in the uterine wall and sparks a pregnancy. Before implantation, many IVF clinics already screen embryos for genetic abnormalities — such as extra chromosomes or gene mutations — that can lead to failed implantations, miscarriages, birth defects or inherited disorders. But the first-of-its-kind service from Nucleus Genomics takes things a step further. Build-a-baby The company just launched Nucleus Embryo, a new software platform that lets potential parents dig deep into the full genetic blueprint of their embryos before choosing which one to implant. 4 The number of Americans using IVF has skyrocketed over the last decade. – The tool lets IVF patients compare the DNA of up to 20 embryos, screening them for more than 900 conditions — including Alzheimer's, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and several forms of cancer. It doesn't stop there. The program also flags potential mental health conditions like depression and schizophrenia and even ranks cognitive traits like IQ. Parents can also get a look at cosmetic and physical features, from height, baldness and BMI to eye and hair color. The company isn't promising perfection. Instead, the software generates a so-called polygenic risk score that will give parents the probability of how likely it is an embryo might develop certain traits or diseases. 4 Many IVF clinics already screen for certain genetic risk factors, like an abnormal number of chromosomes. Charlize Davids/ – Ultimately, it's up to the parents to decide which qualities matter most to them. For those looking to decode the results, genetic counseling sessions are available. 'Lifespan has dramatically increased in the last 150 years,' Sadeghi told the Wall Street Journal. 'DNA testing to predict and reduce chronic disease can make it happen again.' A new era of reproductive tech The practice, known as polygenic embryo screening, is already highly controversial in the medical world, according to a report published by Harvard Law School's Petrie-Flom Center. Critics warn that allowing parents to screen embryos for risks like depression or diabetes could deepen stigma and discrimination against people living with those conditions. Meanwhile, disability advocates argue it promotes the harmful idea that disability is something to be fixed, not a natural part of human diversity. And when it comes to choosing embryos for traits like intelligence or athleticism, critics say we're sliding into designer baby territory — a modern form of eugenics that favors the rich, reinforcing social and healthcare inequalities. 4 Few Americans approve of using the technology to predict traits unrelated to disease. Gemyful – Still, the public appears open to some aspects of the tech. A 2023 survey found that 77% of Americans support using it to screen embryos for the likelihood of developing certain physical conditions, while 72% back screening for mental health risks. Proponents argue it's no different from vaccination — a preventive tool, not a judgment on those with the condition. But when it comes to non-medical traits, support drops fast: only 36% back screening embryos for behavioral traits and just 30% for physical features like height or eye color.
