New Podcast: Is embryo selection eugenics?

Dear Rational Optimist,

Is selecting embryos to avoid devastating diseases the same thing as eugenics?

Jonathan Anomaly of Herasight says no—and the data behind his argument might change your mind.

In this episode of Optimists Make Money, we go inside the world of embryo selection and polygenic risk scoring—the technology letting parents assess real disease risk (schizophrenia, diabetes, certain cancers) in embryos during IVF, before a pregnancy even begins.

I recently caught up with Jonathan to dig into the taboo head-on:

In our interview you’ll hear:

• How polygenic risk scores are calculated from biobank data (9:15)

• Why embryo selection for disease risk is legal in the US but restricted in the UK (17:40)

• Where Jonathan thinks the eugenics comparison breaks down (28:31)

• The line between disease prevention and trait selection (32:43)

• What’s next for genetic screening technology in IVF (38:32)

Please click here to watch my conversation with Jonathan now.

—Stephen McBride

Stephen McBride is a co-founder of the Rational Optimist Society.