UK IVF Couples Use Legal Loophole to Screen Embryos for IQ, Height, and Health Risks
Couples in the UK are utilizing a legal loophole to send their embryos’ genetic data abroad for controversial screening, allowing them to rank embryos based on predicted traits like IQ and height. This practice circumvents UK regulations that restrict embryo testing to serious health conditions and prohibit clinics from selecting embryos based on these polygenic scores. One US company, Herasight, offers this service, claiming to predict traits and work with UK-based couples, despite ethical concerns and objections from medical professionals who deem the technique unproven. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has stated this testing is unlawful for use in the UK, but cannot stop couples from seeking it overseas.
John Q. Hosedrinker