A New York startup, Nucleus Genomics, offers a service to prospective parents that allows them to rank embryos based on predicted traits, including lifespan and health risks. This service utilizes whole-genome data to generate polygenic risk scores, providing insights into potential health outcomes and other characteristics.
The company's CEO, Kian Sadeghi, emphasizes that this approach aims to empower individuals by giving them more control over their health decisions. Traditional pre-implantation testing focuses on chromosomal abnormalities and single-gene disorders, while Nucleus goes further by analyzing genetic variants to estimate future traits.
This technology raises ethical questions about the selection of embryos based on predicted traits and the potential impact on the definition of health and longevity.