The use of polygenic risk scores in pre-implantation genetic testing: an unproven, unethical practice

Y Polygenic risk score analyses on embryos (PGT-P) are being marketed by some private testing companies to parents using in vitro fertilisation as being useful in selecting the embryos that carry the least risk of disease in later life. It appears that at least one child has been born after such a procedure. But the utility of a PRS in this respect is severely limited, and to date, no clinical research has been performed to assess its diagnostic effectiveness in embryos. Patients need to be properly informed on the limitations of this use of PRSs, and a societal debate, focused on what would be considered acceptable with regard to the selection of individual traits, should take place before any further implementation of the technique in this population.

Automated summary

Although polygenic risk score analyses on embryos (PGT-P) are being marketed to parents using in vitro fertilisation as a tool for selecting embryos with lower disease risk, the utility of PRS in this context is limited and lacks clinical research support. Patients need to be informed about the limitations of using PRSs in this way, and a societal debate about the selection of individual traits should take place before further implementation of this technique in this population.