In August 2023, Noor Siddiqui expressed a provocative view regarding parental choices about genetic testing, suggesting that opting against it could be seen as irresponsible. She implied that such decisions might stem from a desire for moral superiority at the expense of potential suffering for their children.
Public opinion in the United States on genetic testing is diverse. A 2024 survey of 1,627 adults conducted by a group of bioethicists revealed a strong majority supported testing for serious health conditions like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. In contrast, opinions were more divided regarding mental health disorders, while testing for appearance-related traits received less favorable responses.
The topic of intelligence testing has proven particularly contentious. This aligns with an ongoing debate over how intelligence should be defined and the implications of its historical use. In the 2024 survey, 36.9% of respondents were in favor of preimplantation genetic testing for intelligence, whereas 40.5% opposed it, and 22.6% were undecided.
Organizations involved in genetic testing, such as Genomic Prediction, have reported receiving inquiries about intelligence testing from various international sources. The company previously offered a predictor for what it termed “intellectual disability,” but discontinued the feature following ethical concerns and questions regarding its predictive capabilities. Diego Marin, the head of global business development at Genomic Prediction, stated that the company’s primary aim is to mitigate disease risk rather than enhance non-disease-related traits.
In contrast, the company Orchid does conduct tests for genetic markers associated with intellectual disabilities and developmental delays. Reports suggest that intelligence testing may be available to select high-paying clients. Notably, it has been claimed that entrepreneur Elon Musk utilized Orchid’s services for at least one of his children with Shivon Zilis. However, representatives from Orchid, Musk, and Zilis did not provide comments on this matter.
Additionally, Kian Sadeghi, a young entrepreneur, founded Nucleus Genomics after gaining an early interest in genetics, starting with a yeast modification project at 16. He aimed to create a more advanced genetic testing service than existing options like 23andMe.
Source: https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/16/1125159/ethics-embryo-screening-reproduction-baby/