Three technologies that will shape biotech in 2026


Recently, embryo scoring has evolved. Labs can pinch off a couple of cells from an embryo, look at its DNA, and screen for some genetic diseases. That list of diseases is increasing. And now some companies are taking things even further, offering prospective parents the opportunity to select embryos for features like height, eye color, and even IQ.

This is controversial for lots of reasons. For a start, there are many, many factors that contribute to complex traits like IQ (a score that doesn’t capture all aspects of intelligence at any rate). We don’t have a perfect understanding of those factors, or how selecting for one trait might influence another.

Some critics warn of eugenics. And others note that whichever embryo you end up choosing, you can’t control exactly how your baby will turn out (and why should you?!). Still, that hasn’t stopped Nucleus, one of the companies offering these services, from inviting potential customers to have their “best baby.” Read more here.

This article first appeared in The Checkup, MIT Technology Review’s weekly biotech newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Thursday, and read articles like this first, sign up here.



Source link

  • Related Posts

    AI will transform the ‘human job’ and enhance skills, says science minister | AI (artificial intelligence)

    Advances in AI and robotics will transform human jobs, starting with roles in warehouses and factories, the UK science minister has said, as the government announced plans to reduce red…

    One of our favorite budgeting apps is only $50 for the year for new users

    The start of the new year is a great time to get your finances in order, and a good budgeting app can help with that. Instead of laboring over a…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    Canada Gazette – Part I, December 21, 2019, Vol. 153, No. 51

    Carney reaches ‘preliminary but landmark’ China deal on tariffs, quota – National

    Carney reaches ‘preliminary but landmark’ China deal on tariffs, quota – National

    WATCH: A visit to The Turtle Hospital

    WATCH:  A visit to The Turtle Hospital

    PNC stock pops after bank beats estimates, State Street and J.B. Hunt shares slide

    PNC stock pops after bank beats estimates, State Street and J.B. Hunt shares slide

    AI will transform the ‘human job’ and enhance skills, says science minister | AI (artificial intelligence)

    AI will transform the ‘human job’ and enhance skills, says science minister | AI (artificial intelligence)

    Brazil’s Bolsonaro finds novel way to reduce 27-year sentence: reading books | Jair Bolsonaro

    Brazil’s Bolsonaro finds novel way to reduce 27-year sentence: reading books | Jair Bolsonaro