Latest news with #NucleusGenomics
New York Post
3 hours ago
- Health
- New York Post
IVF parents are spending thousands to predict their babies' chances of having Alzheimer's, cancer and heart disease
Maybe she's born with it, maybe it's … genetic optimization? Prospective parents using in vitro fertilization (IVF) will soon be able to select embryos based on their potential risk for diseases — including illnesses that develop later in life — thanks to a groundbreaking $5,999 service announced this week by a US biotech company. 'Before there's a heartbeat, there's DNA,' Kian Sadeghi, founder and chief executive of Nucleus Genomics, said in a statement. 'One file containing DNA and genetic markers can tell you more about your baby's future than any other test a doctor could possibly run at this stage.' 4 Supporters say screening could prevent chronic illness, but critics warn it may fuel stigma and inequality. New Africa – What is IVF? The popular fertility treatment involves removing eggs from a woman's ovaries and fertilizing them with sperm in a lab. The resulting embryo — which could be frozen or fresh — is placed into the uterus, where it hopefully implants in the uterine wall and sparks a pregnancy. Before implantation, many IVF clinics already screen embryos for genetic abnormalities — such as extra chromosomes or gene mutations — that can lead to failed implantations, miscarriages, birth defects or inherited disorders. But the first-of-its-kind service from Nucleus Genomics takes things a step further. Build-a-baby The company just launched Nucleus Embryo, a new software platform that lets potential parents dig deep into the full genetic blueprint of their embryos before choosing which one to implant. 4 The number of Americans using IVF has skyrocketed over the last decade. – The tool lets IVF patients compare the DNA of up to 20 embryos, screening them for more than 900 conditions — including Alzheimer's, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and several forms of cancer. It doesn't stop there. The program also flags potential mental health conditions like depression and schizophrenia and even ranks cognitive traits like IQ. Parents can also get a look at cosmetic and physical features, from height, baldness and BMI to eye and hair color. The company isn't promising perfection. Instead, the software generates a so-called polygenic risk score that will give parents the probability of how likely it is an embryo might develop certain traits or diseases. 4 Many IVF clinics already screen for certain genetic risk factors, like an abnormal number of chromosomes. Charlize Davids/ – Ultimately, it's up to the parents to decide which qualities matter most to them. For those looking to decode the results, genetic counseling sessions are available. 'Lifespan has dramatically increased in the last 150 years,' Sadeghi told the Wall Street Journal. 'DNA testing to predict and reduce chronic disease can make it happen again.' A new era of reproductive tech The practice, known as polygenic embryo screening, is already highly controversial in the medical world, according to a report published by Harvard Law School's Petrie-Flom Center. Critics warn that allowing parents to screen embryos for risks like depression or diabetes could deepen stigma and discrimination against people living with those conditions. Meanwhile, disability advocates argue it promotes the harmful idea that disability is something to be fixed, not a natural part of human diversity. And when it comes to choosing embryos for traits like intelligence or athleticism, critics say we're sliding into designer baby territory — a modern form of eugenics that favors the rich, reinforcing social and healthcare inequalities. 4 Few Americans approve of using the technology to predict traits unrelated to disease. Gemyful – Still, the public appears open to some aspects of the tech. A 2023 survey found that 77% of Americans support using it to screen embryos for the likelihood of developing certain physical conditions, while 72% back screening for mental health risks. Proponents argue it's no different from vaccination — a preventive tool, not a judgment on those with the condition. But when it comes to non-medical traits, support drops fast: only 36% back screening embryos for behavioral traits and just 30% for physical features like height or eye color.
TechCrunch
5 hours ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
Genetics testing startup Nucleus Genomics criticized for its embryo product: ‘Makes me so nauseous'
Nucleus Genomics, a genetic testing startup founded by 25-year-old Kian Sadeghi, initially launched in 2021 with the goal of calculating a patient's risk for specific diseases. But it's been courting controversy for years with products that claim to tell people how their genetics correlate to a host of complex issues, including their IQ. On Wednesday, it ratcheted up the controversy to an ear-splitting level when it announced a new product called Nucleus Embryo with a tweet that said: 'Every parent wants to give their children more than they had. For the first time in human history, Nucleus adds a new tool to that commitment.' Every parent wants to give their children more than they had. For the first time in human history, Nucleus adds a new tool to that commitment. Welcome to Nucleus — Nucleus Genomics (@nucleusgenomics) June 4, 2025 Nucleus says it can test IVF embryos not just for well-known specific genes that have a high chance of illnesses like breast cancer, but also for appearance — sex, height, hair color, eye color — as well as IQ and complex health attributes like anxiety and ADHD. The launch video includes a screen shot of a comparison menu. The idea is to help parents choose which embryos to pick and which ones to, perhaps, discard. Nucleus Genomics embryos features screen Image Credits:Nucleus Genomics (opens in a new window) Genetic testing of embryos isn't unheard of. IVF physicians can test for genes that can cause conditions like Down syndrome, or when parents know they are of high risk for a particular genetic disorder, like cystic fibrosis. Techcrunch event Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Boston, MA | REGISTER NOW But that's not exactly what Nucleus is doing. It is using controversial 'polygenic scores' to determine 'complex genetic outcomes, like intelligence and anxiety,' a spokesperson says. According to the National Human Genome Research Institute, polygenic scores only calculate the probabilities of a certain complex illness occurring, mainly within populations. 'A polygenic risk score can only explain the relative risk for a disease,' the NHGR says. This is not the same as discovering a specific gene, such as for example the BRCA1 gene mutation, which gives a person a 60-80% 'absolute risk of breast cancer,' the NHGR says. There's a reason doctors don't typically use such tests for individuals. 'Polygenic risk scores are not yet routinely used by health professionals because there are no guidelines for practice and researchers are still improving how these scores are generated,' according to the NHGR. Nucleus defends that its method can be used to determine an individual's risk. The spokesperson pointed us to a 2018 paper where the authors said they had developed validated methods for five common diseases: coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and breast cancer. That paper was advocating screenings to help individuals make lifestyle or therapeutic decisions, similar to Nucleus's initial concept. Wednesday's tweet was promising parents that Nucleus can help them create designer babies. It has now been viewed more than 4 million times and has hundreds of comments, many of them either expressing disbelief that this works as promised, or horror at the idea. One VC chimed into the discussion saying, 'I was going to type something like Noah get the boat but honestly the reality of this just makes me so nauseous.' I was going to type something like Noah get the boat but honestly the reality of this just makes me so nauseous — Max Niederhofer ❤️🔥 (@maxniederhofer) June 5, 2025 Nucleus has experienced this kind of controversy before, as TechCrunch previously reported, when it its $14 million series A earlier this year. The startup is backed by Founders Fund, Alexis Ohanian's 776, and angels including Adrian Aoun (CEO at Forward Health), Brent Saunders (former CEO at Allergan), and Matteo Franceschetti (CEO at Eight Sleep). Last year, Sadeghi launched Nucleus IQ, which is supposed to tell users how much their genetics influence intelligence. The product was blasted as 'bad science and big business' by some critics. Sadeghi published a lengthy defense of his company's methodology. Even so, telling adults that they are genetically smart is one thing. Telling IVF parents that they can choose the appearance and other complex attributes for their children is, many would argue, something else. Nucleus is not currently conducting such tests via IVF lab partners itself, The Wall Street Journal reports. It's partnering with Genomic Prediction, which works with IVF clinics. A Genomic executive told the WSJ that many parents request intelligence tests, and it doesn't provide that. Parents can voluntarily upload genetic data information to Nucleas if they want to pursue it. Or, as Sadeghi said in the launch video aimed at would-be parents: 'Not that long ago IVF-1 sparked fear and the stigma of test tube babies,' he said. 'What was once controversial is now an everyday practice. The same is true with genetic optimization. The technology is now here and it's here to stay.'
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
New IVF technology allows parents to decide how their child will look: All you need to know about it
Image credits: Getty Images Being able to carry your child and bring them into the world is a special feeling that many describe as life-changing. However, many women are not able to experience this event due to physical and health reasons. The technology of In-vitro fertilization, also known as "test-tube babies" was invented in the late 1970s and 1970s to help women struggling to conceive. The first IVF baby was born in 1978 and was named Louise Brown. Until recently, IVF involved the fertilization of an egg with a sperm in a lab and then transferring the resulting embryo into the woman's uterus. But now, a new IVF technology allows parents to decide the genetic makeup of their child. Yes, Nucleus Genomics, a US-based DNA testing and analysis company has announced the world's first genetic optimization software that "helps parents pursuing IVF see and understand the complete genetic profile of each of their embryos." Why does this technology matter? Image credits: Getty Images The technology can be really impactful as according to the company it can analyse the genetic makeup of embryos to test for up to 900 conditions including diabetes, cancer and heart disease. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo Thus, by choosing embryos with the lowest risk profiles, parents can ensure the longevity of their child's life and ensure that they are healthy. "Nucleus Embryo is the first-ever genetic optimization software that helps parents give their children the best possible start in life—long before they're even born," said the company on X. How will the process take place? Image credits: Getty Images If you are prospective parents interested in getting their embryos analysed then you can upload up to 20 embryo DNA files from your IVF clinics for over 900 genetic analyses. After the analysis is completed, the company will provide the clients with a detailed report showing the results. "Sort, compare, and choose your embryos based on what matters most to you," said the company. The analyses not only include health conditions but also cognitive ability, mental health risks such as depression and anxiety disorders, BMI and even IQ-related markers. Additionally, demo pictures shared by the company also show that the parents will be able to decide the child's eye and hair colour as well. Should you do it? Image credits: Getty Images The practice raises ethical concerns about choosing embryos based on probabilities but Kian Sadeghi, the 25-year-old founder of the company said to the Wall Street Journal that he finds no distinction between people using DNA tests to understand their own risks and those screening embryos to select one that is likely to have a longer life. "It is the same underlying motivation," Sadeghi said. "It is about living a longer, healthier life." "The longevity movement is about taking medicine back and putting it in the people's hands," he added. "Why would that not apply now to the most intimate, personal, emotional, sensitive decision you will make? Picking your baby." One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Newsweek
a day ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Parents Can Choose Genetic Makeup of Their Children With New IVF Option
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A U.S.-based biotech company has unveiled a new in vitro fertilization (IVF) option that allows parents to select embryos based on genetic markers tied to health and longevity. DNA testing and analysis company Nucleus Genomics has announced the world's first genetic optimization software that "helps parents pursuing IVF see and understand the complete genetic profile of each of their embryos." Why It Matters The company says it can analyze the genetic makeup of embryos to test for up to 900 conditions including diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. By choosing embryos with the lowest risk profiles, parents can theoretically boost their children's chances of living longer and healthier lives. But the practice also raises ethical concerns about choosing embryos based on probabilities. "Nucleus Embryo is the first-ever genetic optimization software that helps parents give their children the best possible start in life—long before they're even born," the company said on X, formerly Twitter. Composite image of a fetus and the brain. Composite image of a fetus and the brain. Getty/Newsweek What To Know Prospective parents can upload up to 20 embryo DNA files from their IVF clinics for over 900 genetic analyses spanning cancers, chronic conditions, appearance, cognitive ability, mental health, and other conditions. The company then provides clients with a detailed report, which shows their embryo's results. "Sort, compare, and choose your embryos based on what matters most to you," Nucleus Genomics said. Demo pictures of the process provided by the company shows that the tests will also reveal what eye color and hair color the child is likely to have. A screengrab from Nucleus Genomics showing an in vitro fertilization option that allows parents to select embryos based on genetic markers tied to health and longevity. A screengrab from Nucleus Genomics showing an in vitro fertilization option that allows parents to select embryos based on genetic markers tied to health and longevity. Nucleus Genomics It tests for markers for common conditions like type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, and high blood pressure, and genetic contributions to various cancers (e.g., breast, colorectal, ovarian). It also covers mental health risks, such as depression and anxiety disorders, as well as physical traits like eye color, hair color, height, BMI, and even IQ-related markers. The test offers a comprehensive genetic profile, allowing prospective parents to compare multiple embryos on these different attributes before choosing one for implantation. "Life span has dramatically increased in the last 150 years," Kian Sadeghi, the company's founder and chief executive, told the Wall Street Journal. "DNA testing to predict and reduce chronic disease can make it happen again." The 25-year-old told the Journal he sees no distinction between individuals using DNA tests to understand their own risks and those screening and ranking embryos to select one likely to live a longer life. "It is the same underlying motivation," Sadeghi said. "It is about living a longer, healthier life." "The longevity movement is about taking medicine back and putting it in the people's hands," Sadeghi added. "Why would that not apply now to the most intimate, personal, emotional, sensitive decision you will make? Picking your baby." A screengrab of analysis by Nucleus Genomics showing a detailed report of prospective embryo results. A screengrab of analysis by Nucleus Genomics showing a detailed report of prospective embryo results. Nucleus Genomics What People Are Saying Nucleus said on its website announcing Nucleus Embryo: "My parents are immigrants from Iran who came to America with nothing but a conviction that me and my siblings would have more. But when my 15-year-old cousin suddenly died in her sleep from a preventable genetic disease, my family was powerless to save her. "My parents, grieving the loss of my cousin, were also terrified. What if my siblings and I were at the same risk? That was the first time I understood what generational health meant. "Our users don't just do Nucleus for themselves—they do it for themselves and their loved ones. Now, I'm proud to say that care can start before a child is even born." Other users on social media questioned the ethics of the technology. One thread, viewed more than 3 million times, said, "Holy s***. It's happening…you don't just pick a child. You rank them by longevity potential." Emma Waters, a policy analyst at The Heritage Foundation, responded to tweets about the project. "'I only wanted you because you were a girl and the right kind of healthy. I destroyed the other 19 human embryos that your father and I created.' "Don't worry, it's 'not eugenics,' it's only science." 'I only wanted you because you were a girl and the right kind of healthy. I destroyed the other 19 human embryos that your father and I created.' Don't worry, it's 'not eugenics,' it's only science. — Emma Waters (@emlwaters) June 5, 2025 Asked for her definition of eugenics, she said, "The selection or rejection of a living human being based on certain traits or conditions. I.e., choosing which embryos live and which ones are destroyed based on factors like health, sex, and IQ." What Happens Next Polygenic embryo screening is largely unregulated in the U.S., and it is likely to remain that way for the foreseeable future.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The Gattaca Future Is Here
Advances in the world of embryonic screening: The company Nucleus Genomics announced the launch of Nucleus Embryo yesterday, which they bill as "the first genetic optimization software that lets parents pursuing IVF [in vitro fertilization] see and understand the complete genetic profile of each of their embryos." It's a dashboard, essentially, that lets parents see the full analysis of their frozen embryos—each embryo's probability of having some 900 diseases, as well as information about their appearance (male pattern baldness, eye color, hair color), IQ, and more. You can now compare each embryo to the others, and rank order your preferences for which ones you implant, if you so choose. You can know which embryos are more likely to have seasonal allergies, asthma, restless leg syndrome, schizophrenia, cystic fibrosis, alcoholism, celiac disease, and more. "Some people don't think you should have access to the choice Nucleus Embryo empowers you to make," writes Nucleus CEO Kian Sadeghi. "Here's the thing. It's not their choice to make. It's yours." (For the price of $6,000, of course.) Competitors like Orchid offer essentially the same thing. What's discussed a bit less in all the marketing copy is that you're not genetically tweaking the embryos, you're just discarding the ones that don't meet your specifications. And, look, I don't mean to let my Catholic show too much, but I have a hard time getting excited about a Gattaca future—as do many others who've been following the developments in the world of embryonic screening: Other folks within Silicon Valley are bullish on this, and interested in investing in gene-editing technology, applying it to embryos specifically. So expect this to be something we hear a lot more about in the future: Some people surely believe this is a means to reduce suffering, and that it is better to eliminate embryos that would be possibly destined for great suffering than to allow them to continue to grow and develop into children, and then adults, who would incur extreme hardship (like a life with cystic fibrosis or Tay-Sachs disease). To me, this argument is less compelling, because I don't believe it is the parent's role to pick and choose which children are "desirable" and to discard those with traits that might lead to suffering. I also fear the use of this technology as a means of indulging parental hubris, a belief that you are responsible not just for your child's care and safekeeping and spiritual growth—no matter what is thrown their way—but that you may also craft them into perfect beings who become as attractive as can be, as smart as can be. To some degree, parents do this once the children are outside the womb—they provide them with the best opportunities to grow and learn and foster their natural talents—but I do wonder how it might psychologically alter a child to know that they were selected for life due to their potential for excellence vs. their innate value. But, honestly, my own personal beliefs on this are beside the point. Many libertarians probably disagree with me, and see this technology as a massive expansion of human choice applied to the most important realm. This future is here; public support for IVF is already extremely high, and genetic screening is already routine in pregnancy. It's not crazy to theorize that, as the price tag continues to drop as the marketplace becomes more crowded, this type of screening will catch on for those who use IVF, and that some people—perhaps the most type-A parents with the most disposable income—will even be spurred to choose IVF creation of babies vs. the good old-fashioned method, as it gives them greater control over outcomes (but, if we're being honest, less fun). In other words, we're a far cry from parents trying to optimize their kids' intellect by letting them watch Baby Mozart; techniques for optimization are much more sophisticated now, and a whole bunch of ethical quandaries will come along with that. Expect progressives to object to a society increasingly bifurcated based on ability, corresponding to the disposable income of one's parents, and expect conservatives to object on pro-life grounds. Though, interestingly, maybe the MAGA types—who voted for "the fertilization president" (an image I still hope to get out of my head)—and the Silicon Valley types who are broadly supportive of this technology will sort of join forces with IVF-approving normies and it will all become broadly accepted. It's hard to say how it all plays politically. Another Trump travel ban: On Wednesday, President Donald Trump banned citizens of 12 countries—Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen—from entering the United States. He also announced restrictions on travel for citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela, but stopped short of a full ban. People from those countries will not be allowed to come to the United States permanently or get tourist or student visas, but will be allowed to enter under certain circumstances. This is more extensive than the so-called Muslim travel ban of his first term, and it's not totally clear what the specific reasoning is for barring citizens of these countries from visiting or living in the United States. The attack on Jews in Boulder, Colorado, by an Egyptian man who had overstayed his visa and was thus here illegally, "underscored the extreme dangers" posed by the entry of foreigners, said Trump. Oddly, though, he didn't announce any restrictions on travel by Egyptians. I don't believe this statistic is correct, and I am also very curious about where all our taxpayer dollars are going if they're not going to food assistance for poor kids. Articles like this one claim that "an estimated 1 in 4 children don't have enough to eat—a 46% increase over pre-pandemic numbers" and cite the nonprofit Feeding America. When I follow the link, there's nothing to substantiate this number, and this X user is roughly correct that a huge chunk—some estimates say more like 43 percent—of NYC elementary schoolers are overweight. "Many today insist that it is critical—even morally required—that we use the word 'genocide' to describe Israel's war in Gaza. No other term will do. Those not joining the chorus are allegedly complicit in genocide. Those questioning the nature of the accusation are labeled genocide deniers," write Norman J.W. Goda and Jeffrey Herf for The Washington Post. "Why this insistence? Efforts to delegitimize Israel as colonial and racist began before the state was declared in 1948. Genocide, meanwhile, is the crime of crimes; a state committing genocide is forever illegitimate. Given this history and gravity, we should pose some questions. Israel's war against Hamas in the urban environments of Gaza has led to thousands of civilian casualties. But is genocide really the correct way to describe the war?" "Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, citizens of the People's Republic of China, were charged in a criminal complaint with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, false statements, and visa fraud, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr.," per a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. "The FBI arrested Jian in connection with allegations related to Jian's and Liu's smuggling into America a fungus called Fusarium graminearum, which scientific literature classifies as a potential agroterrorism weapon. This noxious fungus causes 'head blight,' a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice, and is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year. Fusarium graminearum's toxins cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock." But it sounds like the scientists mostly failed to file the proper paperwork; will be interesting to see what more comes out about this case. Classic Trump administration: Hell yeah, New Jersey! With age, I conquer my animus and grow in respect for that scrappy little state: The post The Gattaca Future Is Here appeared first on
