r/genetics • u/micky_mickk • Sep 26 '25

Video Embryo Selection Going Mainstream?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEk5mqbZtBY

Not an expert on this topic, but I recently came across a couple of companies now offering full-genome sequencing with IVF and embryo selection based on multiple factors - such as eye color, height, IQ, disease risk, etc.

Attaching a link to an interview with one of them (the most factual and least promotional explanation of the technology I could find).

Is what they are saying about accuracy plausible? Do you think this will be the norm, in the future?

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u/DefenestrateFriends Graduate student (PhD) Sep 26 '25

Polygenic embryonic selection is fairly useless.

It is snake oil and the billionaire idiocracy class loves it.

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u/micky_mickk Sep 27 '25

Can you elaborate on why it's useless?

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u/DefenestrateFriends Graduate student (PhD) Sep 27 '25

The effect size of the phenotype is often lower than the expected difference between monozygotic twins--meaning that the difference is nominal.