Genetic testing startup Nucleus has launched a new product called Nucleus Embryo, which claims to test IVF embryos for appearance and complex health attributes like IQ and anxiety. The company’s use of “polygenic scores” to determine these outcomes has sparked controversy among experts and critics.
Nucleus says it can predict traits such as sex, height, hair color, eye color, and intelligence, in addition to identifying genetic risks for diseases. However, medical professionals argue that polygenic risk scores are not yet widely accepted for individual use, and there is a lack of guidelines for their practice.
The National Human Genome Research Institute states that polygenic risk scores can only explain the relative risk for a disease, not provide an absolute diagnosis. The company’s spokesperson points to a 2018 paper validating its method for five common diseases, but this does not address the issue of using these scores for complex health outcomes like IQ.
Nucleus has faced similar criticism in the past, particularly over its Nucleus IQ product, which was accused of providing “bad science” and exploiting users. The company’s use of polygenic scores raises concerns about the ethics of genetic testing and the potential for misinformed decisions about reproduction.
While Nucleus claims to be helping parents make informed choices through genetic optimization, critics argue that this approach is too simplistic and ignores the complexity of human genetics. The startup has partnered with Genomic Prediction to offer its services to IVF clinics, but it remains unclear whether these tests are being conducted under proper medical supervision.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/06/genetics-testing-startup-nucleus-genomics-criticized-for-its-embryo-product-makes-me-so-nauseous