A US startup, Heliospect Genomics, is offering wealthy couples the chance to screen embryos for IQ, charging up to $50,000 for testing 100 embryos. The company claims its technology can increase a child’s IQ by over six points compared to natural conception. This controversial service has raised significant ethical concerns among experts, who warn it may reinforce notions of “superior” genetics and exacerbate social inequalities. Heliospect operates legally in the US, where such practices are less regulated than in the UK, where embryo selection based on IQ is prohibited
The actual effectiveness of these screening methods is questionable, as they assume that a larger number of embryos would result in viable pregnancies. However, statistics indicate that the success rates of live births from IVF vary widely, particularly with age. This raises concerns about the feasibility of the screening process, as many couples may not have enough viable embryos to choose from.
While there is a general consensus among scientists that intelligence has a hereditary component, the genetic underpinnings are influenced by thousands of genes, each contributing only a small effect. The development of large genetic databases, like the UK Biobank, has facilitated the identification of these genetic factors. Researchers can analyze DNA samples to find correlations between genetic markers and traits such as educational attainment, which is sometimes used as a proxy for IQ.
The idea of screening for intelligence also raises ethical questions about social stratification. Critics fear that such practices could lead to a society divided along genetic lines, reminiscent of the dystopian themes explored in the film Gattaca, where genetically engineered individuals hold advantages over those conceived naturally.
