Fertility Inc.: The Embryo Editing Dinner
The Journal. Podcast Recap
Published:
Duration: 25 min
Summary
This episode covers a secretive meeting in Silicon Valley discussing embryo editing for genetically engineering babies. It examines the ethical, scientific, and societal implications of such technology.
What Happened
In late July, a group of Silicon Valley elite and scientists gathered at a luxury restaurant in San Francisco to discuss the future of embryo editing. The dinner, hosted by Brian Armstrong, co-founder and CEO of Coinbase, was centered on the question of how to bring embryo editing to fruition, a technology that involves tweaking an embryo's DNA to potentially engineer a genetically enhanced baby.
Embryo editing has been a hot topic since 2018 when Chinese scientist He Jiankui claimed to have created the world's first genetically edited babies, which sparked international outcry and led to his imprisonment. Many scientists remain concerned about the implications of embryo editing, including heritable genetic changes and the potential for creating 'designer babies' or engaging in eugenics.
Despite its controversial nature, embryo editing continues to attract interest from powerful figures in Silicon Valley. Brian Armstrong and others view it as a way to prevent genetic diseases and even enhance human capabilities, drawing inspiration from the sci-fi film 'Gattaca'. Armstrong has expressed interest in both disease prevention and human enhancement through genetic technology.
Journalist Emily Glaser discovered that a company called 'Preventive' is actively pursuing embryo editing research, with connections to major figures like Brian Armstrong and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Preventive has been exploring opportunities to conduct research outside the US, where embryo editing is illegal, including in the UAE.
Preventive's CEO, Lucas Harrington, claims the company is focused on proving the safety of embryo editing before attempting to bring a baby to term. However, they have faced criticism and skepticism from the scientific community, who fear the misuse of the technology.
In parallel to embryo editing, embryo screening has gained traction as a legal alternative in the US. Companies like Orcid and Nucleus offer screening services for genetic traits and disease risks, allowing parents to select embryos with desired characteristics. This technology has raised ethical questions about the potential for eugenics and the accuracy of such tests.
Key Insights
- Brian Armstrong, co-founder of Coinbase, is a leading figure in the push towards embryo editing, envisioning it as a means to prevent diseases and enhance human capabilities. He has drawn inspiration from the film 'Gattaca' and proposed working in secrecy to reveal a genetically engineered baby, though this idea was deemed impractical.
- Embryo editing remains illegal in many countries, including the US, due to ethical and safety concerns. The FDA prohibits reviewing applications for clinical trials involving edited embryos, forcing companies like Preventive to seek research opportunities abroad.
- Preventive, a company pursuing embryo editing, has been linked to tech leaders like Sam Altman and Brian Armstrong. It has been actively hiring scientists and exploring research locations outside the US, although it denies working with any couples to edit embryos currently.
- While embryo editing is still controversial and restricted, embryo screening is legally available in the US. Companies such as Orcid and Nucleus offer genetic screening for diseases and traits, sparking debates about the potential for eugenics and the accuracy of these tests.