Businesses that predict the risk of cancer and heart disease by performing 'genetic testing of embryos' during in vitro fertilization have emerged.



In recent years, the number of parents who give birth to in vitro fertilization is increasing, and the number of babies born by in vitro fertilization exceeds 500,000 a year, and the industrial scale has reached 14 billion dollars (about 1.7800 yen). Meanwhile, overseas media Bloomberg reported that a business has emerged that predicts 'future disease risk' by genetically testing fertilized eggs (embryos) produced by in vitro fertilization.

DNA Testing for Embryos Promises to Predict Genetic Diseases --Bloomberg

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-05-26/dna-testing-for-embryos-promises-to-predict-genetic-diseases

The Collins, who run the Collins Institute for Gifted Education, a non-profit educational institution in the United States, have finally succeeded in obtaining fertilized eggs in the sixth in vitro fertilization. At this time, Mr. and Mrs. Collins conducted a 'genetic test of the embryo' and received a risk assessment of future heart disease, cancer, diabetes, schizophrenia, etc. when the embryo grows.

Genetic analysis of fertilized eggs has already been performed as a preimplantation genetic diagnosis , but it is generally aimed at detecting chromosomal abnormalities and serious genetic diseases. However, a company called Genomic Prediction in New Jersey, USA, which was in charge of genetic testing of embryos, analyzes complex DNA data, evaluates the risk of diseases with multiple factors such as cancer and heart disease, and evaluates overall health. We are in the business of showing the degree by score.

In in vitro fertilization, if parents with multiple candidate embryos perform genetic analysis in advance, it will be possible to select embryos to implant based on the disease risk. Genomic Prediction comprehensively judges all genetic data and evaluates embryos with various disease risks as '0', with the higher the score, the lower the disease risk, and the lower the score, the higher the risk. I am. Of the embryos given by the Collins, the highest score was '1.9' and the lowest score was '-0.96'.

Of course, the difference between embryos born from parents with the same gene is small, and it is also largely influenced by environmental factors after birth, but the Collins do not think that this difference is small. .. 'It's about using cutting-edge science to give the children of the future all the advantages. It's like rolling the dice,' he said.



Laurent Terrier, CEO of Genomic Prediction, believes that everyone 'doesn't want their loved ones to suffer from illness' and wants a pre-implantation risk assessment. In fact, some supporters argue that genetic analysis scores for disease risk should be available to everyone and provide clear results, but for disease risk based on genetic testing of embryos. Some have accused the evaluation of 'strengthening eugenic ideas' and 'leading to active genetic editing of children.' Skeptics also argue that both sides exaggerate the accuracy of DNA analysis, and that the results of prenatal genetic testing do not directly affect life.

In the process of assessing various disease risks from embryonic DNA, we first process the DNA of cells collected from the embryo and then use our own software based on the DNA data of hundreds of thousands of people collected by projects such as UK Biobank. It will be analyzed and the mutation of the gene will be converted into the risk of the disease. Genomic Prediction uses physics-based mathematical analysis to predict which siblings are at higher risk of schizophrenia or cancer, even if they are siblings raised in the same family.

According to the tests conducted by Genomic Prediction so far, genes that increase the risk of disease are concentrated in some embryos, and genes that promote health tend to be concentrated in other embryos. CEO Terrier said, 'It's very cruel. Some people are born with disadvantageous cards, others are born with lucky cards. What we can do is To increase this probability. '

Genomic Prediction will perform genetic testing of embryos at an initial cost of $ 1000 (about 127,000 yen) and a fee of $ 400 (about 51,000 yen) per analysis, and a dedicated counselor will explain the meaning of the embryo score. That. The Collins said they had asked for genetic testing of 12 embryos produced after several months of treatment, and received scores on the risk of diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and schizophrenia. Collins said about these scores, when you want to stop taking marijuana for your child, you can say, 'You are more likely to have schizophrenia, so you should stop marijuana.' It also says that it will be useful in doing so.

Also, while Genomic Prediction itself does not provide scores for cognitive function, height, etc., the Collins downloaded raw genomic data about embryos and sent it to Florida DNA analysis company

SelfDecode for $ 199 (about 20,000). He said that he paid 5000 yen) and analyzed it independently. From the analysis of SelfDecode, it seems that it was possible to receive an evaluation of aspects that Genomic Prediction does not provide, such as stress management ability and mental health characteristics. Genomic Prediction states that access to raw embryonic genomic data is a customer's right and we do not intend to deny the possibility of other correlations.



Since infertility treatment is loosely regulated in the United States, it is unlikely that risk assessment of gene-based multifactorial diseases will be subject to legal backlash. However, there are criticisms that pre-implantation embryo testing can add unnecessary stress and confusion to the in vitro fertilization process, leading to parental discarding of embryos.

In the spring of 2022, the European Society for Human Genetics , a non-profit organization, claimed that the gene risk score was 'at best premature', saying that the environment could have a dramatic impact on gene expression. 'Before applying this technique, it is important to have a social debate, especially with regard to individual trait selection, which needs to be focused on what is considered acceptable,' said eugenics. I am concerned about the possibility of selection.

Nathan Treff, Chief Principal Officer of Genomic Prediction, said that 'a big dialogue is needed' and will respond to a broader discussion. In an article published in May 2022 by Treff and Oxford University ethicist Julian Savulescu , the low likelihood of illness means that future children will have a better life. He claims that the real danger is not to provide the genetic score to everyone. 'The lesson learned from the lessons of the Nazi eugenics program is that reproductive decisions should be made by the couple, not the state.'

Genomic Prediction plans to double the venture funds to 25 million dollars (about 3.18 billion yen) in December 2022 and expand / add inspection panels. 'Genetic testing of embryos is for parents who want to give their children every opportunity. I don't believe that laws and social norms stop parents from giving their children benefits,' Collins said. '.

in Science, Posted by log1h_ik