What Embryo Selection Means for Humanity - Dr Jonathan Anomaly – Podcast Recap

This podcast recap is from an extensive conversation about embryo selection, particularly concerning polygenic risk scores used in In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) to provide prospective parents with information about their embryos' genetic predispositions for various traits and diseases. The conversation addresses the ethical concerns surrounding this technology, including the specter of eugenics, the potential for deepening social and genetic inequality if access is limited to the wealthy, and the philosophical problem of personhood when choosing one embryo over another. Dr. Anomaly, associated with the company Herasite, champions the technology as a way to promote individual autonomy and reduce disease burden, arguing that it democratizes access by offering a method to reconstruct the entire embryo genome from existing genetic tests, making the process difficult to regulate or stop. The discussion also touches on the scientific validation of these predictive scores across different ancestry groups and the psychological and moral trade-offs parents face when making such informed choices.