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According to a survey jointly conducted by HOPE not hate, which campaigns against racism and fascism, and The Guardian, a British media company, Heliospect Genomics, an American biotechnology startup, raises questions about the ethics of gene enhancement. It was revealed that the method was adopted.
Video taken by HopeNotHeight during an undercover investigation revealed that a biotechnology startup called Heliospect Genomics was working with more than a dozen couples undergoing in vitro fertilization. In the video, Heliospect Genomics claims to sell services for up to $50,000 to customers who want to test 100 fertilized eggs and help them select their future children based on genetic IQ predictions. Heliospect Genomics executives reportedly boasted that their method could improve the IQ of an unborn child by more than 6 points.
Heliospect Genomics promoted experimental gene selection technology to customers. This method describes how to rank up to 100 fertilized eggs based on gender, height, risk of obesity, risk of mental illness, as well as IQ and other low-level characteristics that anyone would want.
According to Heliospect Genomics, the company’s prediction tool was built using data provided by the UK Biobank, which stores genetic material donated by 500,000 British volunteers. UK Biobank promotes that it only shares data for projects that are in the public interest.
Selecting embryos based on predicted IQ is illegal under UK law. In addition, although it is legal in the United States, where embryonic development regulations are lax, the provision of services to screen embryos based on IQ is not commercially recognized.
The company’s management reportedly explained that everything was within the scope of applicable laws and regulations. Meanwhile, Heliospect Genomics claims to be in stealth mode and is still in the development stages of the services it plans to provide. In addition, the service is provided for $4,000 for customers who test a small number of embryos, which is explained to be the same as that of competitors.
Prominent geneticists and bioethicists argue that the Heliospectomics service raises moral and medical issues. Katie Hotson, deputy director of the Center for Genetics and Society (CGS) in California, said one of the biggest problems is the status quo of genetic superiority and inferiority. “These technologies reinforce the belief that inequality comes from biology, not social causes.”
The CEO of Heliospect Genomics is Michael Christensen, a former financial trader from Denmark. Christensen argues that genetic selection holds the promise of a bright future, and that it is a great thing that anyone can have as many essentially disease-free, smart, and healthy children as they want.
Hope Not Hate activists, who conducted an undercover investigation, contacted Heliospect Genomics posing as a couple living in the UK who wanted to have a family. During several online meetings, Heliospect Genomics reportedly introduced a multi-gene scoring service. Heliospect Genomics explains that it does not provide in vitro fertilization services and predicts individual embryo characteristics by analyzing genetic data provided by parents with an algorithm.
Heliospect Genomics conducts guided tours at a private testing site, and in its presentation, selecting the smartest of 10 embryos will improve IQ by more than 6 points on average, but other characteristics, such as height, obesity, and risk of acne, will be prioritized depending on personal preference. claimed that it could be done. However, they claim that ultimately, using eggs cultured in a lab, customers will be able to create 1,000 or 1 million embryos and select carefully selected embryos from among them. In addition, Heliospect Genomics explained that in the future, the genetic screening service will be expanded to include personality types and dark triad scores will also be provided. Christensen said it might be possible to develop scores for depression or creativity, but beauty is actually something many people ask about, suggesting that customers are asking for a selection of traits related to appearance as well as IQ.
Among the employees working at Heliospect Genomics is Jonathan Anomali, an academic who caused controversy by saying he supports neoeugenics, the idea of creating children with desirable characteristics through embryo selection or genetic engineering. Anomaly appears to have been advising Heliospect Genomics on media strategy and assisting in acquiring investors and customers based in the US and Europe.
Heliospect Genomics obtained permission to access UK Biobank data in June 2023. In the access application, Heliospect Genomics explains that it wants to improve the prediction of complex traits using advanced technology, but because it intends to use it for commercial purposes, it has not disclosed embryo screening, and has also publicly explained that screening will improve IQ. Not doing it at all. Meanwhile, Heliospect Genomics commented that it has no intention of condoning industrial-scale egg or embryo production or selection of quality individuals, and does not plan to provide services for selecting embryos by dark triad or beauty.
In the UK, infertility treatment is highly regulated, so the only tests that can be carried out on embryos are those included in a list of serious health conditions approved by regulators. However, Heliospect Genomics suggests that if a couple living in the UK requests child genetic data that was accidentally generated during an approved fertilized egg test, it may be legally possible to send it overseas for analysis. Heliospect Genomics also advises going to the United States for in vitro fertilization, and is said to have appealed that it provides services while complying with regulations.
In fact, Heliospect Genomics CEO Christensen commented that the company was not trying to circumvent UK regulations on embryo testing, but that the UK Biobank simply did not require companies to disclose the exact commercial applications of their research. We further supported addressing concerns about pre-implantation embryo screening through public education, policy debate, and appropriately informed debate on the technology.
UK Biobank says the use of data by Heliospectgenomics is fully consistent with its access terms, but Stanford University bioethicist Professor Hank Greeley said he believes UK Biobank and the UK government will need to impose new regulations. He said we need to think more seriously about this. Related information: hereYou can check it here.
