There is broad scientific consensus that intelligence is partly inherited and that genes play a significant role. But pinning this incredibly complex trait down to precise contributions from specific genes is a far more thorny scientific challenge – and claims of being able to produce meaningful IQ “gains” in the context of embryo screening are widely viewed as contentious.
Despite the science being unsettled, … the US startup Heliospect, appears to be preparing to publicly launch a service that allows parents who have conceived several embryos through IVF to select those most likely to have “desirable” traits, such as height and IQ.
One issue is that genes linked to good parenting – [genes also passed on to children] – contribute to academic outcomes. [However,] these genes benefit [children] by helping provide a kind, nurturing home environment rather than by directly making them smarter.
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Prof Hank Greely, of Stanford University in California, said he didn’t believe that studies to date demonstrate an ability to make genetic predictions of the future intelligence of embryos precisely enough to produce anything other than “trivial” gains.
