Inside Silicon Valley billionaires ‘dangerous’ bid to engineer genetically superior babies… and the people prepared to pay a fortune to ‘accelerate evolution’
A couple in their 20s and 40s, Arthur Zey and Chase Popp, recently welcomed a son, Dax, into the world. Their path to parenthood involved a deliberate selection process, choosing an embryo from six created through Zey’s sperm and a donor egg, making Dax a notable case in the emerging field of embryo selection.
The Dawn of “Designer Babies”
Zey and Popp weren’t relying solely on chance when starting their family. In March of last year, they were presented with genetic analyses predicting future traits – height, IQ, and various health markers – for each of six viable embryos. They then selected the embryo they believed offered the most favorable combination of these characteristics. Popp described the outcome as a success, stating, “Looking at Dax, he overall seems like he feels good, he looks healthy to me.” He embraced the label of “designer baby,” viewing it as a compliment.
The Science and the Cost
The technology used by Zey and Popp is offered by companies like Herasight, which charges $50,000 for its embryo analysis services. This analysis aims to provide insights into potential traits like IQ and height, as well as risks for conditions such as schizophrenia, psoriasis, and Type 2 Diabetes. While genetic screening for chromosomal abnormalities and single-gene hereditary illnesses has been available for decades, the attempt to predict polygenic traits – those influenced by many genes – is a newer and more complex endeavor.
Experts, like Fyodor Urnov of the Innovative Genomics Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, express skepticism about the reliability of these predictions, stating that the focus is less about addressing genetic disease and more about “baby improvement.”
Ethical Concerns and Future Implications
The emergence of this technology raises significant ethical questions. Concerns center around who determines which traits are desirable, the potential for exacerbating social inequalities, and the possibility of misuse by authoritarian regimes. Arthur Caplan, head of medical ethics at New York University Grossman School of Medicine, noted that some in Silicon Valley are driven by ambitions beyond individual health, suggesting scenarios like genetically adapting humans for space travel or creating a cohort resistant to artificial intelligence.
Several companies, backed by Silicon Valley investors including OpenAI’s Sam Altman and PayPal founder Peter Thiel, are actively researching reproductive gene editing, despite bans on such practices in many parts of the world. Preventive, a San Francisco-based startup, has raised $30 million for this research. The founder of Preventive, Lucas Harrington, distanced his company from the controversial work of He Jiankui, emphasizing the need for rigorous safety research.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Arthur Zey and Chase Popp do?
Arthur Zey and Chase Popp selected an embryo from six viable options created through IVF, based on genetic analysis predicting future traits like IQ, height, and health markers.
What is Herasight and how much does it cost?
Herasight is a company that analyzes embryos for potential traits and risk factors, costing $50,000 for their services.
What concerns have been raised about this technology?
Concerns include the ethical implications of selecting for desirable traits, the potential for increased social inequality, and the possibility of misuse of the technology.
As the science advances, these technologies will become more accessible, potentially leading to a future where genetic screening and selection are more commonplace. However, the ethical and societal implications will require careful consideration and ongoing debate.