Home / Health / Australians Access Controversial IVF Embryo Gene Tests
Australians Access Controversial IVF Embryo Gene Tests
4 Feb
Summary
- Australians are using controversial IVF embryo gene tests for disease and traits.
- US companies offer embryo genetic screening, accessible to Australians abroad.
- Tests predict traits like intelligence and disease risk from thousands of genes.
A controversial genetic testing technology is being accessed by Australians during IVF treatments. This method aims to rank embryos based on their potential risk for diseases and predicted traits, including intelligence, height, and hair color. Experts caution that the technology is not yet suitable for clinical application.
While national guidelines prohibit embryo screening for such traits, US-based companies are pursuing partnerships with Australian fertility clinics. Australian IVF patients can legally undergo these advanced tests if they do so internationally, raising ethical and regulatory questions.
The technology, known as polygenic risk scores, analyzes thousands of genes. It condenses this genetic information into a single score to estimate an embryo's likelihood of developing specific traits or conditions. Patients then use these predictions to make decisions about which embryo to implant during their IVF journey.
