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Designer Babies: Parents Design Unborn Children
4 Dec
Summary
- Parents can select traits like height and intelligence for unborn children.
- Nucleus Genomics offers a $30,000 program for embryo genetic optimization.
- Critics compare the technology to eugenics, citing ethical concerns.
The advancement of science has brought the once-fictional concept of designing unborn children into reality. Kian Sadeghi, CEO of Nucleus Genomics, champions "genetic optimization," enabling parents to select desired qualities for their future children, such as height, weight, and intelligence. His company, founded in 2021, uses advanced DNA screening of embryos.
Nucleus Genomics' $30,000 IVF+ program offers comprehensive DNA scans for parents and up to 20 embryos. The service screens for over 2,000 traits and conditions, including physical characteristics and predispositions to medical issues like depression and autism. Sadeghi believes this empowers parents to give their child the best possible start.
However, this push for "super-babies" has drawn sharp criticism, with opponents comparing it to eugenics and medical bodies like the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics expressing concerns about the rapid pace and lack of evidence. Despite these ethical debates, Sadeghi remains confident in his company's data, emphasizing that DNA is not destiny and life's "messiness" remains a crucial factor.
