PGTP takes advantage of a decade-long effort in genomics to identify the genetic contributors to many common diseases. Most diseases are considered polygenic, often linked to many different genes interacting with each other and their environment in complex ways. One SNP alone might make a negligible difference to a person's risk of developing diabetes,. but adding up the effects from tens to millions of these variants can produce a model for scoring that risk.
Companies are offering genetic tests of embryos generated by in vitro fertilization that they say allow prospective parents to choose those with the lowest risk for diseases such as diabetes or certain cancers. However, some researchers are concerned about the accuracy and ethics of these tests.
This is an audio version of our Feature: The controversial embryo tests that promise a better baby
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