ImputePGTA and PGT-P Explained: The Latest in Polygenic Embryo Testing with guest Jonathan Anomaly of Herasight

Nov 12, 2025

Jonathan Anomaly, former philosophy professor and Director of Communications at Herasight, dives into the intriguing world of polygenic embryo testing. He unpacks the groundbreaking ImputePGTA, revealing how it reconstructs embryo genomes to enhance traditional screening. The discussion touches on ethical concerns surrounding designer babies, the practical impacts for IVF patients, and the nuances of parental sequencing. Anomaly emphasizes the importance of informed consent and the necessity for transparency in this evolving field of reproductive technology.

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INSIGHT

Polygenic Testing Reframes Embryo Screening

Polygenic PGT (PGTP) assesses hundreds or thousands of small variants rather than single-gene or chromosomal changes.
PGTP leverages large biobanks to create scores that estimate embryo genetic risk for complex traits and diseases.

ADVICE

Simulate Parental Genomes Before IVF

Sequence parents and simulate embryo outcomes to estimate expected genetic risks before IVF.
Use simulation results to decide whether another IVF round is likely to improve embryo genetic profiles.

INSIGHT

Reconstructing Embryo Genomes From Existing Data

HeraSight reconstructs embryo genomes by combining parental whole-genome sequences with standard PGT-A data.
This lets clinics run polygenic analyses without additional embryo biopsies or direct embryo sequencing.

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Read the full episode notes: https://www.draimee.org/imputepgta-and-pgt-p-explained-the-latest-in-polygenic-embryo-testing-with-guest-jonathan-anomaly-of-herasight

Today I'm thrilled to dive into the world of polygenic embryo testing (PGTP) and ImputePGTA with my guest, Jonathan Anomaly, Director of Communications at Herasight. And, I'm beyond delighted that Herasight is choosing to share their newest tech, ImputePGTA with us here, for the first time as an Egg Whisperer Show exclusive! Jonathan brings a unique perspective as both a former philosophy professor focused on the ethics of reproductive technologies and a leader at a company developing cutting-edge embryo screening tools. Together, we explore the latest advances in genetic testing and what they mean for families considering IVF.

In our conversation, we unpack the science and ethics behind polygenic testing, discuss how it differs from traditional embryo screening, and address the hopes and concerns that come with these new technologies. We talk about the real-world impact for patients, the importance of informed consent, and how families can make empowered choices about their reproductive journeys. Whether you're a patient, a provider, or just curious about the future of fertility medicine, this episode is packed with insights.

In this episode, we cover:

The basics of PGTP and how it compares to PGTA and PGTM
Announcement of ImputePGTA, a new technique that enables accurate polygenic embryo screening from a routine test (PGT-A)
How polygenic risk scores are developed and validated
The potential and limitations of predicting disease risk and traits in embryos
Ethical considerations and common misconceptions about "designer babies"
The role of family history and ancestry in genetic testing
How Herasight's technology can help patients with different backgrounds and needs
What the future holds for embryo testing, including IVG and gene editing

Resources:

Herasight: herasight.com
Jonathan Anomaly's website: jonathan-anomaly.com
Dr. Aimee's resources: draimee.org
IVF calculator and white papers (available on herasight.com)
Subscribe to the Egg Whisperer Show on YouTube and Spotify

Do you have questions about IVF?Click here to join Dr. Aimee for The IVF Class. The next live class call is on Monday, November 17, 2025 at 4pm PST, where Dr. Aimee will explain IVF and there will be time to ask her your questions live on Zoom. Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh is one of America's most well known fertility doctors. Her success rate at baby-making is what gives future parents hope when all hope is lost. She pioneered the TUSHY Method and BALLS Method to decrease your time to pregnancy. Learn more about the TUSHY Method and find a wealth of fertility resources at www.draimee.org.