Welcome to the latest issue of Repronews! Highlights from this week’s edition:

• Repro/genetics

  • Olympic skater and IVF-baby Alysa Liu wins gold in Milan

  • Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) market forecast to grow 10.5% annually to $1.13 billion by 2030

  • Alev Scott’s book Cash Cow reports on fertility industry in Europe, including dubious fertility tourism in Northern Cyprus

  • Germany debates decriminalizing abortion

• Population Policies & Trends

  • Discounted IVF drugs now being sold on TrumpRx website

  • France’s fertility plan includes sending letter to all 29-year-olds regarding family plans, reminding them of free fertility services such as egg-freezing

  • The New York Times reports that U.S. fertility is falling massively, but mainly due to lower teen and working-class pregnancies

  • Small Hokkaido town offers big baby bonus—and why it’s unlikely to work

• Genetic Studies

  • European ancestry is correlated with higher socioeconomic status across the Americas

• Further Learning

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Repro/genetics

IVF baby Alysa Liu was born via surrogacy (Men’s Journal)

• 20-year-old Alysa Liu has won the winter Olympic gold medal for figure skating in Milan.

• Her father, Arthur Liu, was a single dad who used a surrogate and anonymous egg donors to have his five children.

• Arthur chose white (Caucasian) egg donors because he “felt his children would benefit from a diverse gene pool” and multicultural upbringing.

• Alysa later asked her father: “Why do I look different? Why don’t I look Chinese?”

“Preimplantation genetic testing market research and global forecast report 2025-2030” (Research & Markets)

• The global preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) market is projected to grow from $690.2 million in 2025 to $1.13 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5%.

• Key growth drivers include rising genetic disorder prevalence, increased awareness of early genetic diagnosis, and widespread IVF procedures.

• Demand is supported by advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that enhance testing accuracy and efficiency.

• High costs and ethical challenges remain obstacles to growth.

• The U.S. market expects the fastest growth rate, driven by advanced healthcare infrastructure and supportive policies.

• Trends toward delayed pregnancies and rising risk of chromosomal abnormalities in embryos are contributing to market expansion.

• Detection of aneuploidy (an abnormal number of chromosomes) is expected to grow at the highest rate.

• Growing awareness of genetic screening benefits and the rising adoption of assisted reproductive technologies are contributing to strong growth.

“New book highlights fertility tourism in North Cyprus” (PET)

• Journalist Alev Scott has written a book on the fertility industry: Cash Cow: How the maternal body became a global commodity – and the hidden costs for women.

• The book investigates the murkier aspects of cross-border reproduction in Europe, including questionable practices in egg donation and surrogacy.

• An excerpt of the book published in the London Times highlights UK couples’ using fertility services in Northern Cyprus (occupied by Turkey) to engage in sex selection of their future children.

• The book is available at HarperCollins.

Reproductive self-determination and regulation of abortion in Germany: Current controversies and developments” (JoME)

• Abortion is still formally illegal in Germany due to Catholic and Kantian emphasis on embryonic human dignity.

• However, there is no punishment for abortion performed within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

• A Federal Commission on Reproductive Self-Determination and Reproductive Medicine, appointed in 2023, recommends decriminalizing early-stage abortion.

• Germany also has highly restrictive laws on stem-cell research.

More on repro/genetics:

• Podcast: “Polygenic risk, polygenic scores, polygenic indices: What are they? What should be done with them?” (PET)

Population Policies & Trends

“Discounted IVF drugs now available via TrumpRx website” (PET)

• U.S. President Donald Trump’s drug-discount programme TrumpRx is now live, offering reductions on some widely-used IVF drugs.

• The website, launched on 5 February, offers discounts on 43 drugs, including those for weight loss, diabetes, menopause, and fertility treatment.

• Four IVF medications are listed on the site. The U.S. Centres for Medicare and Medical Services estimates that fertility patients could save up to $2200 per cycle.

• “For very niche populations and very specific medication, at least in the case of infertility, it looks like this might be a good deal,” said Dr. Rena Conti, associate professor of markets, public policy, and law at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business.

• A single IVF cycle can cost as much as $30,000 in the U.S. and fertility treatment is often not covered by medical insurance.

• “We are pleased to see fertility medications included in the TrumpRx portal,” said Sean Tipton, chief advocacy and policy officer, American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). “This move alone does not make IVF attainable for most patients. ASRM urges President Trump and Congress to move beyond incremental steps and focus on solutions that truly make fertility care accessible and affordable for all patients who need it.”

“French 29-year-olds urged to start families” (PET)

• The French government is sending a letter to all 29-year-olds in the country to encourage them to think about when they will have children.

• In response to falling birth rates, President Emmanuel Macron has approved the implementation of a new 16-measure fertility plan by the Ministry of Health.

• “Fertility is a shared responsibility between women and men,” said Health Minister Stéphanie Rist. She added that the government’s role is “not to dictate whether or not to have children,” but to remind people of their options.

• Scientifically validated information about reproductive and sexual health will be available through a new national reference portal called Ma Fertilité.

• The letter highlights the availability of state-funded egg-freezing for 29- to 37-year-olds. To meet rising demand, the plan includes measures to open 30 additional egg-freezing centres by 2028 and improve regional access.

• The plan will also addresses the surge in demand for donor gametes following the enactment of the 2021 bioethics law granting single French women and those in same-sex partnerships access to state-funded IVF.

• Treatments using donated sperm have increased 8.5-fold compared to the period before the legislation was passed.

• The plan also includes funding to continue research into treatments for

  endometriosis and strengthening care for polycystic ovarian syndrome, which can affect fertility.

• France’s birth rate has fallen below the death rate

• France’s 2025 fertility rate of 1.56 children per woman, on average, is one of the highest in Europe. In 2024, the European average was 1.4, and the UK’s 1.41.

U.S. birthrate is plunging: Some say it’s a good thing (New York Times)

• The U.S. birthrate has fallen over 25% since 2007, driven largely by declines among teenagers and women in their early 20s, especially those without college degrees.

• Many young women from working-class backgrounds are delaying or avoiding children to achieve financial stability and avoid the stress and hardship they saw in their own childhoods.

• Teen birthrates are down 70% and unmarried birthrates down 30%, which some researchers see as a success story of greater control and planning rather than social decline.

• Changing adulthood patterns—later marriage (around 29–30), increased female employment, housing costs, better contraception, and shifting relationship dynamics—contribute to delayed family formation.

• Most American women still want about two children, but the U.S. fertility rate has fallen to 1.6.

Small Hokkaido town announces prefecture’s biggest baby bonus (population.news)

• Yoichi Town in Hokkaido will double its birth bonuses in FY2026, paying ~$6,600 from the third child onward—the highest municipal birth bonus in the prefecture—amid Japan’s record-low fertility (1.15 nationally, 1.01 in Hokkaido).

• Research covering all 1,741 Japanese municipalities finds huge variation in “desired birth rates” and shows that sustained child welfare spending—not one-time cash bonuses—is the strongest predictor of higher fertility.

• Successful cases like Akashi and Nagareyama municipalities boosted fertility through ongoing investments (free childcare, medical care, school meals, commuter-friendly daycare systems), not lump-sum payments.

• Structural factors such as commuting time, housing constraints, childcare access, and community networks matter, and are largely shaped at the municipal level.

• Yoichi faces severe demographic headwinds (aging population, shrinking base of women 20–39).

Genetic Studies

“Biogeographic ancestry and socioeconomic status: A meta-analysis of epidemiological findings” (Evolutionary Psychology Science)

• This study examines correlations between biogeographic ancestry (African, European, and Amerindian admixture proportions) and socioeconomic status (SES) in the Americas.

• Across aggregated samples, European ancestry is positively correlated with SES (about r = +0.16), while African and Amerindian ancestry are negatively correlated with SES (about r = −0.13 and r = −0.11, respectively).

• Moderator analyses (U.S. vs. non-U.S., local vs. multi-region samples, self-identified race/ethnicity subgroups, composite vs single SES measures…) generally do not eliminate the pattern.

• The authors argue that omitting genetic-ancestry measures can create omitted-variable bias in social-science models of inequality, while emphasizing that correlations do not by themselves identify mechanisms (e.g., cultural transmission, discrimination, genetics).

More on genetic studies:

• “NHS launches national cancer gene register” (PET)

• 556 genes asociated with uterine receptivity, may explain why embryo implantation fails in some fertility patients (PET)

• “First cell-level gene maps created for Alzheimer’s disease” (PET)

• “Continental genetic ancestries as predictors of socioeconomic and cognitive variation across the Americas” (OSF)

Further Learning

More on human nature, evolution, and biotech:

• Gennady McCracker, “Moral enhancement increases freedom” (JoME)

• “Some genes predate the last universal common ancestor of all life” (PET)

• “China leds Asia in its slow embrace of genetically modified crops (GLP/World Grain)

Disclaimer: We cannot fact-check the linked-to stories and studies, nor do the views expressed necessarily reflect our own.

Welcome to the latest issue of Repronews! Highlights from this week’s edition:

• Repro/genetics

  • The Guardian reports on scientists who have “rejuvenated” human eggs for the first, potentially enhancing IVF success rates in older women.

  • The Wall Street Journal reports that Russian Telegram billionaire Pavel Durov has had over 100 children by covering IVF costs for mothers and promising the children a share of his wealth.

• Population Policies & Trends

  • China’s population fell by 3.38 million in 2025; births fell to the same levels as 1738, when the population was about 10 times smaller.

  • Survey in Chinese city shows no correlation between support for Confucian family values and actual desire to have children.

• Genetic Studies

  • The New York Times reports on a study suggesting that lifespan in over 50% heritable, with less influence of lifestyle than previously thought.

  • Genetic study of Mexicans shows significant racial heterogeneity of the population and differences in prevalence of genetic variants linked to various diseases depending on Native America, European, or African ancestry.

  • Largest study of schizophrenia in people of African ancestry finds over 100 new regions of the genome linked to the disease, highlighting the value of including broader genetic diversity in studies.

  • Qatari study maps genetic diversity of Arabs, highlights impact of inbreeding in disabling genes.

• Further Learning

  • Francisco Ceballos writes in Quillette on the societal and health aspects of inbreeding, a phenomenon affecting 20-50% of marriages in certain societies.

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Repro/genetics

“Human eggs ‘rejuvenated’ in an advance that could boost IVF success rates” (Guardian)

• Scientists say they have “rejuvenated” human eggs for the first time, a procedure which could radically enhance IVF success rates for older women.

• The research suggests that an age-related defect that causes genetic errors in embryos could be reversed by supplementing eggs with a protein. Eggs given microinjections of the protein were almost half as likely to show the defect.

• Most women in their early 40s still have eggs, but most of these have an incorrect number of chromosomes.

• Declining egg quality is the main reason IVF success rates fall sharply with female age and is why the risk of chromosome disorders such as Down’s syndrome increases with age.

• “Overall we can nearly halve the number of eggs with [abnormal] chromosomes,” said Professor Melina Schuh, a Director at the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences in Göttingen and a Co-Founder of Ovo Labs, which aims to commercialize the technique. “That’s a very prominent improvement.”

• In older eggs, chromosome pairs tend to loosen at their midpoint, becoming slightly unstuck or detaching entirely before fertilization. The X-shaped structures fail to align and instead move around chaotically in the cell. When the cell divided, this results in an embryo with too many or too few chromosomes.

• In Britain, for patients under 35, the average birthrate for each embryo transferred in IVF treatment was 35%, compared with just 5% for women aged 43-44.

• The average age of fertility patients starting treatment for the first time is over 35.

• “Currently, when it comes to female factor infertility, the only solution that’s available to most patients is trying IVF multiple times so that, cumulatively, your likelihood of success increases,” said Dr. Agata Zielinska, a Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Ovo Labs. “What we envision is that many more women would be able to conceive within a single IVF cycle.”

• The research must be confirmed in more extensive trials.

“A Russian billionaire fights global infertility—with 100 of his own children” (Wall Street Journal)

• Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder of messaging app Telegram, has been covering IVF costs for women under 37 who want to use his donated sperm, promising his offspring a share of his fortune.

• “The patients who came, they all looked great, were well-educated and very healthy,” said a former doctor at the IVF clinic offering the service, AltraVita. “They wanted to have a child from, well, a certain kind of man. They saw that kind of father figure as the right one.”

• The women had to be unmarried to avoid legal complications.

• Durov, now 41 and based in Dubai, said he has over 100 children in at least 12 countries, not counting six other children conceived with three different mothers.

• “As long as they can establish their shared DNA with me, someday maybe in 30 years from now, they [the children] will be entitled to a share of my estate after I’m gone,” Durov has said. He plans to open source his DNA so that his biological children can find each other.

• Forbes estimates Durov’s net worth at $17 billion.

• Durov has framed his sperm donations as an effort to alleviate a shortage of healthy sperm and incentivize other men to do the same. He has attributed a “rapid drop in sperm concentration in men in many regions of the world” in part to plastic pollution, calling it a threat “to our survival.”

• AltraVita also offers “selective” embryo screening for genetic diseases.

• Anna Panina, a 35-year-old from Moscow, said she has considered participating in the program: “It’s a wonderful opportunity to become the mother of a beautiful and intelligent human being.”

More on repro/genetics:

• “IVF embryo transfer: Natural ovulation proves as effective as hormone treatment, with fewer maternal complications” (Medical Xpress)

• “Fertility and the workplace: Can employers help? Should they?” (PET)

• Why these Indian women are breaking the law to sell their eggs for IVF (NPR)

• “Consumer DNA test reveals truth about heritage” (PET)

• “Bring on the clones: Conception and misconception” (Roger Gosden)

Population Policies & Trends

“China’s population drops for fourth year as fewer babies born” (Reuters)

• China’s birth rate fell to a record low of 5.63 per 1,000 people in 2025.

• The population fell for the fourth consecutive year, shrinking by 3.39 million.

• In 2025, births were “roughly the same level as in 1738, when China's population was only about 150 million,” said Yi Fuxian, a demographer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

• The number of people aged over 60 has reached around 23% of the population, according to China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

• By 2035 the number of over-60s will reach 400 million, about the same as the populations of the United States and Italy combined.

• China has increased retirement ages, with men expected to work until they are 63 rather than 60, and women until they are 58 rather than 55.

• Marriages in China fell by 20% in 2024, the largest fall ever recorded.

• Marriages are considered a leading indicator for births in China.

• A May 2025 decision allowing couples to marry anywhere in the country rather than only their place of residence is likely to lead to a temporary boost to births. Marriages rose 22.5% from a year earlier to 1.61 million in Q3 2025.

• Chinese authories are promoting “positive views on marriage and childbearing.”

• China’s urbanization rate was 68% in 2025, up from 43% in 2005.

• Population planning is central to China’s economic strategy. This year Beijing faces a total potential cost of around $25.8 billion to boost births, according to Reuters estimates.

• Key costs are the national child subsidy, introduced for the first time last year, and a pledge that women throughout pregnancy have “no out-of-pocket expenses” in 2026, with all medical costs, including IVF, fully reimbursable.

• The number of Chinese women of reproductive age—defined by the UN as women aged 15 to 49 —is forecast to fall by over two-thirds to less than 100 million by 2100.

“High Confucian Familism Adherence but Low Fertility Intentions: Evidence From the Lowest Fertility Rate City in China” (JoFI)

• Yalei Zhai, a researcher at Kyoto University’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies, found that in an ultra-low-fertility Chinese city, support for Confucian family values did not correlate with intention to have children.

• The study estimates the impact of Confucian familism on fertility intention drawing from Tianjin Citizen Fertility Willingness Survey (n = 655 women, aged 15–49).

• Although Confucian ideals that encourage childbearing are widely accepted, fertility intentions (i.e., the expected number of children) remain low.

• Despite controling for fertility burdens and policy changes, stronger adherence to Confucian familism does not significantly predict greater fertility intentions.

• Zhai concludes: “The results suggest that the inclination to have a single child, even under incentive-based birth policies, arises from an ultracompetitive society that lacks comprehensive social welfare guarantees.”

More on population policies and trends:

• “I am a pronatalist” (Richard Hanania)

• “Trump’s fertility care initiative: A step forward or a missed opportunity?” (PET)

Genetic Studies

“Genes may control your longevity, however healthily you live” (New York Times)

• According to a study by the Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel), the human lifespan is about 50% heritable.

• The New York Times writes: “You can lengthen [your lifespan] a bit with a healthy lifestyle. But if your genetic potential is to live to be 80, for example, it is unlikely that anything you do will push your age at death up to 100.”

• The researchers used data from three sets of data from pairs of Swedish twins, including one set of twins that was reared apart, and data from a study of 2,092 siblings of 444 Americans who lived to be over 100.

• The goal was to identify outside factors that can affect how long someone lives, like infections or accidents, but found a significant role for genes.

• “If you are trying to gauge your own chances of getting to 100, I would say look at the longevity in your family,” said Dr. Thomas Perls, Director of the New England Centenarian Study.

• “This paper has a pretty powerful message,” said S. Jay Olshansky, Emeritus Professor of epidemiology at the University of Illinois. “You don’t have as much control as you think.”

• The study’s conclusions that genes are powerful drivers of lifespan is consistent with what is known about other species, said Daniela Bakula of the University of Copenhagen.

• Dr. Uri Alon, one of the study authors, calculated that certain healthy or unhealthy habits can add or subtract 5 years or so from genetically expected life expectancy.

“Clinically relevant variants from the Mexican biobank show striking diversity across Hispanic people” (Nature Medicine)

• Researchers at Cinvestav Research Center (Mexico City) analyzed genome-wide data for 6,011 people from Mexico and found that disease-relevant genetic variants were not uniformly distributed across ancestries, but differed according to European, African, or Native American genetics.

• Te frequency distribution of gene variants that affect the metabolism of fentanyl (rs2242480) or statins (rs4149056) showed ancestry-specific patterns, being most prevalent in Native America ancestry chromosome segments.

• The authors note: “The emerging population subgroups at risk could not have been detected without the incorporation of local ancestry in the analytical pipeline.”

• There was also variation in disease risk within these broad ancestral categories, e.g. between northern and southern Mexican Indigenous groups.

• The authors conclude: “This study illustrates genetic heterogeneity across Hispanic populations and demonstrates that disease risk varies widely within admixed populations. Thus, a ‘one size fits all’ population descriptor does not capture genetic differences in such populations, and a case-by-case approach should be used when investigating the genetic risk and distribution of clinically relevant genetic variants.”

• The genetic risk patterns could inform public health measures and targeted genetic tests. Many of the differentiated variants show increased prevalence in Native American backgrounds.

“Largest genetic study of schizophrenia and African ancestry reveals shared biology across global populations” (Medical Xpress)

• Schizophrenia and related psychoses occur in all human populations but have the highest rates of diagnosis among people of sub-Saharan Africa ancestry.

• Decades of research have established a highly heritable and polygenic basis for schizophrenia, which is mostly shared across populations.

• Electronic health records linked with genomic data from the Million Veteran Program (MVP)—a U.S. research program that looks at the effects of genes, lifestyle, military experiences, and exposures on the health and wellness—enable a comprehensive assessment of schizophrenia genetics in populations of African ancestry in the U.S.

• The researchers found over 100 new regions in the genome linked to schizophrenia that had not been clearly identified before. Many of these genetic differences are more common in people of African ancestry.

• People of African ancestry have been under-studied in genetic research.

“Qatari genetic map reveals over 150,000 structural variants” (Medical Xpress)

• Research by King’s College London and Sidra Medicine, Qatar, has produced the most detailed map of large-scale genetic differences in the Qatari population, revealing providing a clearer picture of the genetic diversity of Arabs and the relationships between genetic variations and health.

• People of Arab ancestry remain significantly underrepresented in large global databases of human genomes.

• The research looks at structural variants—large-scale changes in DNA that affect long stretches of genetic material that can be missing, duplicated, or rearranged. Because of their size, structural variants affect much more of the genome, making them relevant to human health.

• The researchers analyzed more than 6,000 Qatari genomes. allowing them to see where variants occur, how common they are across the five main Qatari sub-populations, and their relationship to health information from the Qatar Biobank.

• The analyses revealed over 150,000 structural variants. Many affected genes are involved in biological processes related to cardiometabolic health and diabetes, aligning with the high prevalence of related diseases in the population.

• “Structural variants have an important impact on human biology, but they’ve been largely understudied in global genomics because they’re hard to detect,” said Dr. Mario Falchi, Reader in Computational Medicine at King’s. “We’ve created the most detailed map of these variants in the Arab population. This gives us a much clearer view of genetic diversity in the region and paves the way for precision medicine.”

• High levels of consanguinity (inbreeding) enables examination of the impact of inheriting deletions of pieces of DNA from both parents. The researchers uncovered more than 180 genes that had lost their function completely or been “knocked out” as a result of inheriting the same deletion from both parents. This means the protein associated with the gene is not produced at all.

• There were certain regions of the genome where the loss of both copies of DNA was not seen, despite the frequency of people in the population who carried the same deletion, suggeting having at least one copy is essential for human survival,

• “This work is presented both as a unique global resource for anyone studying the genetics of Arab ancestries around the world, and as a demonstration of the importance of consanguineous populations in improving our understanding of the human genome,” said Professor Khalid Fakhro, Chief Research Officer and Lead Principal Investigator of the research study at Sidra Medicine. “We look forward to expanding these studies to tens of thousands of Qatari genomes in the next phase, and to contribute to global efforts in genetic mapping and population-scale health discovery.”

• The Qatar Genome Program has played a pioneering role in including Arab genomes in global genomic databases with detailed health information from more than 40,000 Qataris collected through the Qatar Biobank.

More on genetic studies:

• “Large study identifies more than 100 genetic regions linked to schizophrenia” (News Medical)

• “Maternal genetic factors may reveal why pregnancy loss is so common” (Medical Xpress)

• “Big data make hidden genetic drivers of type 2 diabetes visible” (Medical Xpress)

• “Genetic variants associated with rare inherited growth disorder identified in two prehistoric individuals” (News Medical)

• “National genomic screening program could save thousands of Australians from preventable cancer and heart disease” (Medical Xpress)

• “Genomic screening uncovers hidden cancer and heart disease risk in young adults” (News Medical)

Further Learning

Francisco Ceballos, “A brief history of inbreeding” (Quillette)

• Biologist Francisco Ceballos writes that while inbreeding can provoke strong moral and cultural reactions, but it is a biological reality that can be measured precisely with modern genomics.

• The main forms of inbreeding are:

  • Endogamy by isolation: small, geographically isolated populations intermarry out of necessity (genetic drift).

  • Consanguinity by choice: deliberate marriage between relatives for social, economic, or symbolic reasons (property, lineage, trust).

• Many societies practised consanguinity for political or social reasons (royal dynasties, clans, religious communities), often to preserve status or cohesion.

• Genomics revealed a key marker of inbreeding: runs of homozygosity (ROH) — long stretches of identical DNA inherited from both parents.

• Everyone has some ROH because humans ultimately descend from small ancient populations. The longer the ROH, the closer the parental relatedness.

• Ancient humans were often highly inbred due to small, scattered populations. With agriculture, trade, and migration, human genetic diversity increased and inbreeding declined. Some cultures reintroduced consanguinity deliberately.

• Inbreeding increases the risk of congenital diseases: while everyone carries hidden recessive mutations, children of relatives have a higher chance of carrying the same mutation in their chromosome pair.

• This results in higher rates of recessive genetic diseases and inbreeding depression (reduced overall vitality affecting height, fertility, immunity, cognition, and survival).

• Darwin first demonstrated inbreeding depression experimentally in plants.

• Historical examples like the Habsburg dynasty illustrate how repeated consanguinity weakens populations over generations.

• Modern genomic studies show measurable health impacts of cousin marriage: Higher child mortality, more learning disabilities and developmental delays, greater healthcare use, and higher rates of congenital disorders.

• These effects are observed even in wealthy societies with good healthcare, indicating the cause is genetic, not environmental.

• About 10% of people worldwide descend from consanguineous unions. In some regions 20–50% of marriages are between relatives.

• Ceballos argues this makes consanguinity not only a private or cultural matter, but a public-health and economic issue due to higher medical and social costs.

• The topic is politically sensitive, often leading to reluctance to discuss risks openly. Genetics is about probabilities, not moral judgment.

• Ceballos concludes that just as genetic inbreeding reduces biological resilience, intellectual or cultural inbreeding reduces societal resilience. Diversity—genetic or intellectual—supports robustness.

More on human nature, evolution, and biotech:

• “The mysterious eugenics of aesthetic taste” (Los Angeles Review of Books)

Disclaimer: We cannot fact-check the linked-to stories and studies, nor do the views expressed necessarily reflect our own.

Welcome to the latest issue of Repronews! Highlights from this week’s edition:

• Repro/genetics

  • British couples are legally able to genetically select embryos for health and intelligence by using the services of U.S. firms.

  • Births to unmarried American women in their 40s has quadrupled since 1993, largely through IVF. Highly educated women are the most likely to use. IVF births have increased 50% over the past decade.

  • Over half of IVF fertility cycles in the U.S. now take place in clinics affiliated with private equity firms.

• Population Policies & Trends

  • Gerontocracy: Vox discusses the rising numbers, power, and policy privileges of America’s elderly population.

  • Providing genetic services in wartime Ukraine.

  • Experiment with the Total Fertility Rate Simulator.

• Genetic Studies

  • Variants of a single gene linked to over 90% of Alzheimer’s cases.

  • First comprehensive study of Kazakh genetics finds the population is a genetic bridge between East and West Eurasia. Many population-specific genetic health risks identified.

• Further Learning

  • Personality and intelligence: Two meta-analyses find intelligence is linked to openness to experience and (modestly) lower neuroticism.

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Repro/genetics

UK IVF couples use U.S. services to rank embryos based on potential IQ, height and health (Guardian)

• Couples undergoing IVF in Britain are legally able to rank their embryos based on genetic predictions of IQ, height, and health by using U.S. firms.

• While polygenic screening is not allowed in British clinics, patient can, under data protection laws, demand embryos’ genetic data and analyze these abroad.

• The U.S. company Herasight reportedly charges $50,000 to assess an unlimited number of embryos. The Guardian notes: “There is no suggestion Herasight is in breach of any regulations.”

• “People are willing to spend loads of money and heartache to give their kids slightly better lives after they’re born,” said one patient. “This seems the best bang for your buck; it’s less per year than private school.”

• In Britain, tests performed on embryos are legally restricted to a list of serious health conditions, such as Huntington’s, sickle cell disease, or cystic fibrosis.

• Herasight said: “We can confirm that Herasight has been working with parents from across the globe, including families who have undergone IVF treatment in the UK, by transforming routine PGT-A [preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy, an abnormal number of chromosomes] data that parents have legally obtained and provided to us. This data can be accessed by clients under applicable data protection laws in the UK, Europe, and the rest of the world.”

“How IVF has led to a record number of single moms in their 40s” (NPR)

• IVF enables 2% of all births in the United States. That accounts for almost 100,000 births every year, up 50% from 10 years ago.

• Women opting for IVF via sperm donor may choose based on factors such as race, health, height, and education. “I cared about some physical attributes to look like me,” said one IVF mother. “And I cared about family health history.”

• The chances of conceiving a child with just one try of IVF are below 50% after a woman turns 35 and this probability decreases every year.

• Each attempt at IVF typically costs $15,000-30,000 in the U.S.

• Women with higher education are the top users of IVF, enabling 6.4% of births among women with doctorate or professional degrees (as opposed to only 1.8% of births among the general population).

“Private equity firms now oversee over half of US IVF cycles” (Medical Xpress)

• A study has found massive expansion in fertility clinics affiliated with private equity firms in the U.S. since 2013, rising from 3% to 32%.

• In 2023, over half of IVF cycles in the U.S. were done at clinics affiliated with private equity firms.

• Commenting on the tend, study lead James Dupree said: “It might be good for patients; it costs a lot of money to modernize IVF laboratory equipment and perform outreach to patients, and private equity firms can provide capital to hopefully improve quality and patient care.”

More on repro/genetics:

• “Denmark launches national sperm donor register” (PET)

• “Men’s Health Strategy for England includes infertility” (PET)

• “Australia should (carefully) permit compensation for donors of surplus frozen eggs” (PET)

• “Could egg defect breakthrough help stop the ‘horrible IVF rollercoaster’?” (Guardian)

• “Engineered womb lining model opens a window into embryo implantation” (News Medical)

Population Policies & Trends

“Older voters are gaining power: Young people are paying the price” (Vox)

• Vox argues that US public policy disfavors the young, offering relatively meager support to families with children while providing retirees with benefits.

• The US is undergoing a demographic transition that will define much of American life in the 21st century: The drift towards gerontocracy—government of, by, and for the old—threatens the prosperity of America as a whole.

• Between 1960 and 2024, the share of Americans over 65 doubled from 9% to 18%. Within a decade, America’s seniors will outnumber its children for the first time in history. By 2060, those over 65 are expected to make up about one quarter of the population.

• The political implications are profound: seniors already accounted for 29% of the U.S. electorate in 2024. Older voters have always exerted disproportionate political influence due to their exceptionally high turnout rates.

• Programs for the elderly will consume an ever-larger share of the federal budget , burdening younger Americans with higher tax rates or borrowing costs.

• States have recently shifted tax burdens away from older generations and toward younger ones. Since 2022, Texas, Colorado, Iowa, and Pennsylvania have all slashed property taxes specifically for homeowners 65 or older. A slew of states have begun exempting retirement income from taxation. Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and West Virginia ended taxes on Social Security benefits, while Iowa abolished the taxation of all forms of retirement income—from 401(k) withdrawals to pension benefits—for residents over 55.

• Federal rules already shield indigent retirees from income taxes.

• The current rebellion against property taxation has been remarkably widespread. Texas has enacted especially steep cuts, reducing property taxes by $18 billion in 2023. Less sweeping reductions have passed in Georgia, North Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Idaho, among other places.Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has floated a plan to eliminate all property taxes in his state.

• Some recent property tax cuts massively favor longtime homeowners over first-time buyers. In 2024, Georgia and Alabama both capped the amount that a homeowner’s assessed property value can rise in a given year.

• According to a report from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, a young family purchasing a Miami townhouse in 2024 would owe three times as much in property taxes as an older neighbor occupying an identical unit since 2006.

• In 2021, the United States spent just 0.6% of GDP on benefits for children and their parents—far below the OECD average of 2.3%.

• President Joe Biden oversaw a permanent expansion in elder benefits. At the end of 2024, Congress passed a bill increasing Social Security payments to public-sector workers, at an annual cost of nearly $20 billion.

• President Donald Trump’s GOP has largely embraced social spending that is explicitly earmarked for seniors. Republicans have forsworn cuts to Social Security and Medicare—and created new tax benefits for the old—combined with large spending cuts to programs that primarily benefit Americans under 65.

• The GOP did finance tax cuts this year with large reductions in Medicaid spending, which will adversely impact many older Americans.

• The vast majority of voters will remain under 65 for decades to come. The young could organize in defense of their own interests.

• The Yes in My Backyard (YIMBY), composed largely of young renters, has agitated against zoning policies that privilege homeowners over tenants. YIMBYs’ fundamental aim—to make housing abundant and affordable—would benefit renters of all ages and make America as a whole more prosperous.

• Vox concludes: “If younger voters stand up for their broader material interests in a similar fashion, America’s political economy just might age gracefully.”

“‘Heroes deserve to go home’: The need for genetics in wartime Ukraine” (PET)

• A Kyiv genetics lab, Genecode Diagnostics, continues operating despite war damage, focusing on DNA identification amid severe resource constraints.

• Genotyping is crucial to identify fallen soldiers. The lack of a centralized military DNA database makes identification slower, costlier, and difficult for families.

• The lab handles ~400 human identification cases monthly, alongside prenatal, embryo, and cancer genomic tests, despite having far greater unused capacity.

• War conditions have disrupted family structures and reproduction, with sharp rises in unregistered fathers, demand for paternity testing, and increased detection of severe genetic conditions via limited prenatal screening.

Total Fertility Rate Simulator (tfrsim.com)

• The Fertility Policy Simulator lets you experiment with different policy mixes in the hope of achievement a replacement level fertility rate (2.1 per woman).

• Policy options cover fertility policies, “illiberal” policies like abortion bans or a childlessness tax, welfare, taxes, and immigration.

More on population policies and trends:

• “Estonia is linking a super genome database to patient records. Is it safe?” (Politico)

Genetic Studies

“Just one gene may be responsible for over 90% of Alzheimer’s cases” (Science Alert)

• A study by University College London (UCL) researchers has found 9 out 10 Alzheimer’s cases could be driven by specific variations in a single gene.

• Based on four genetic datasets covering almost 470,000 people, the researchers identified variations in the APOE gene as implicated in most Alzheimer’s cases.

• “Without the contributions of APOE ε3 and ε4 [variants], most Alzheimer’s disease cases would not occur, irrespective of what other factors are inherited or experienced by carriers of these variants throughout life,” said genetic epidemiologist Dylan Williams.

• Individuals’ Alzheimer’s risk significantly depend on which two variants of the APOE gene they have received from their mother and father.

• Alzheimer’s risk is also increased by factors such as obesity, social isolation, and lack of sleep.

“First comprehensive Great Steppe genomic dataset uncovers unique variants” (Medical Xpress)

• Researchers from Nazarbayev University’s National Laboratory have created the first large-scale, high-quality genotyping dataset of healthy Kazakh individuals.

• The study presents a detailed analysis of genetic diversity across 224 participants representing Kazakhstan’s major regions and tribal groups.

• Central Asian populations remain largely underrepresented in global genome databases.

• Kazakhs are revealed to be a genetic bridge between East and West Eurasia. “Our goal was to build a genomic foundation for precision medicine and population studies in Kazakhstan,” says Professor Ulykbek Kairov, the project’s principal investigator. “The genetic landscape of Kazakhs reflects centuries of interaction along the Silk Road, and now we have data to explore that scientifically.”

• The study identifies 74 population-specific variants with potential biomedical implications, particularly in genes linked to metabolism and drug response, including associations with alcohol metabolism, aerodigestive cancers, lipid metabolism (nomadic Kazakh populations had a historically high-fat diet), glucose regulation, and type 2 diabetes risk.

• The research found low levels of inbreeding and exceptionally low homozygosity, confirming cultural practices that discourage consanguineous marriages.

• All genotyping data are publicly available through the European Variation Archive (accession PRJEB89820) and associated code is accessible on GitHub.

• “This dataset positions Kazakhstan within the global genomic map,” notes Dr. Dos Sarbassov, co-author and project supervisor. “It will help develop population-specific health care solutions and strengthen international cooperation in genomics.”

More on genetic studies:

• “More than two-thirds of the genetic risk across major mental health conditions appears to be shared,” according study of 1 million people (The Hindu)

• “Schizophrenia and osteoporosis share 195 genetic loci, highlighting unexpected biological bridges between brain and bone” (Medical Xpress)

• “Brazil’s genetic treasure trove: Supercentenarians reveal secrets of extreme human longevity” (Medical Xpress)

• “How a rare genetic variant protects some people from developing blood cancers” (Medical Xpress)

• “Genomic map linking complex trait genes” (PET)

• “Cognitive evolution in Western Europe” (Aporia)

• “Non-coding gene discovered to be a cause of blindness” (PET)

Further Learning

“Prsonality and intelliegence are more closely linked than we thought” (Nature-Nurture-Nietzsche)

• Two new metanalyses (studies synthesizing multiple studies) explore the relationship between intelligence and personality.

• Psychologists have traditionally thought intelligence and personality are largely unrelated. Among the Big Five personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness), intelligence had only been linked to openness to experience.

• One study synthesizes 200 studies covering more than 162,000 people, while the other synthesizes 1,235 studies covering more than two million people from more than fifty nations.

• Both studies examined personality-intelligence links not just at the broad trait level, but also at lower levels of the personality hierarchy, i.e. sub-traits. Both studies explore crystallized intelligence (knowledge and skills) and fluid intelligence (ability to process information quickly and solve novel problems, independent of acquired knowledge).

• Openness and neuroticism were found to be the two traits most closely linked to intelligence. Openness was positively correlated with intelligence, while neuroticism was slightly negatively correlated with intelligence.

• Both studies concluded that personality-intelligence links are much stronger at the sub-trait level than the trait level.

• Crystallized intelligence was found to be more strongly linked to personality than is fluid intelligence.

• Perhaps intelligence helps cultivate openness, and especially its intellectual facets. Smarter people are better equipped to undertake cognitively demanding tasks and obtain more benefits from doing so. As a result, they enjoy these tasks more and develop a stronger interest in them. Smarter people are also better equipped to entertain and evaluate unconventional ideas, and thus may come to enjoy those more too.

• Depression and anxiety were negatively correlated with intelligence in both studies.

• Intelligence is a useful resource for dealing with the challenges of everyday life, enabling better occupational and financial outcomes, which may help insulate people from the kind of stressful emotions associated with neuroticism.

• Steve Stewart-Williams concludes: “[P]ersonality and intelligence are more intertwined than once believed. The key to unlocking their relationship is to look deeper than broad traits, into the rich and nuanced world of personality facets.”

More on human nature, evolution, and biotech:

• “The four principles in Islamic and Western medical ethics” (New Bioethics)

Disclaimer: We cannot fact-check the linked-to stories and studies, nor do the views expressed necessarily reflect our own.

Baby births by country worldwide: Have you updated your priors? Do you understand that India has almost three times as many births as China? That Pakistan has almost 10 times more births than Japan? That Nigeria has more births than all of Europe (including Russia) combined? The future belongs, in the first instance, to those who show up. I have discovered during my studies that the demographic sustainability of societies—which was of keen interest ancient political philosophers like Aristotle—is of essentially no interest to virtually all the great contemporary political philosophers. A curious thing, that.

China vs. India working populations: The collapse of China’s working-age population is well underway. China must sustain almost 25% productivity growth over the next 25 years just to make up for demographic shrinkage. The Chinese Communists’ pronatalist policy efforts—pivoting sharply away from the One-Child Policy—have so far yielded no discernible results. Admittedly, China still has significant scope for “catch-up” growth because per capita wealth still isn’t that high. In addition, I think the Chinese public pension system is ungenerous, which may prevent rising pension costs from reaching catastrophic Franco-Italian levels. Downside risks to economic growth include China’s relative closure under Xi Jinping, the politicization of large parts of the economy, and their authoritarian system’s tendency to hide rather than address emerging problems. It is striking that Chinese economic growth in recent years has only slightly above U.S. growth. India will benefit from continuing demographic growth for some decades, though it remains an open question whether the nation’s scale can be translated into power-projection abroad (Brazil offers the best precedent for answering in the negative).

Disconnected: One of my pet theories is that access to smartphones craters fertility even in less developed countries. That might explain why very high fertility is only persisting in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and most of Sub-Saharan Africa. I can’t think of anything else that would explain the simultaneous fertility collapse across Latin America, South and Southeast Asia, and much of North Africa and the Middle-East in recent years.

WW2 baby boom: Why did the Baby Boom start before the end of World War II? Beat me. In France, it even started under German occupation and the Vichy Regime. The latter had some pronatalist policies that doesn’t seem enough to explain.

Twins: IVF leads to more twins as more eggs are implanted to increase the chance of successful pregnancy. The numbers seems to be going down as single embryo transfer—which reduces the chance of birth defects—becomes the norm.

Emigrants: Noteworthy that lower-middle countries—not the poorest—tend to have the most emigrants; that Ukraine, Syria, and Venezuela have among the highest absolute numbers of emigrants; and the significant Indian and Chinese diasporas are likely to continue to have impact.

Life expectancy: Past pretty middling level of national wealth, life expectancy largely decouples from the economy.

Wild land mammals

Humans and our livestock make up 95% of mammal biomass: The above fits in just two squares below. Mammalian life is essentially made up of self-reproducing humans and the industrialized rearing and processing of various life-forms for our consumption. And a few pets. Very Samsaric.

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Welcome to the latest issue of Repronews! Highlights from this week’s edition:

• Repro/genetics

  • Tech billionaires Sam Altman and Brian Armstrong are backing Preventive, a startup aiming to use gene editing to eliminate hereditary diseases in embryos.

  • Danish sperm bank becomes first to set minimum IQ requirement for donors.

  • WHO releases first global guideline against infertility, calls for expanding access to fertility care like IVF.

  • Richard Hanania discusses studies suggesting IVF does not cause genetic damage in newborns.

• Population Policies & Trends

  • China taxes condoms for first time in 30 years, removes VAT on childcare to fight collapsing fertility.

  • European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) study says aging and shrinking workforces will lower living standards in Eastern Europe, with 0.4 percentage points less annual per capita growth to 2050, warns of looming fiscal-demographic death spiral.

  • Map: Fertility rate by region across the EU, average fertility fell to 1.38 in 2023.

  • How Trump gave up on his free IVF promise to please the pro-life movement.

• Genetic Studies

  • Study shows genetic correlations and underlying common intelligence factor between six cognitive-related traits.

• Further Learning

  • Filipe Nobre Faria and Sandra Dzenis argue nations are “natural families” whose cohesion arises from “genetic relatedness, culturally evolved institutions, and intergroup competition.”

  • Graphics: Humans and livestock make up 95% of mammal biomass (wild animals only 5%).

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Repro/genetics

Tech titans are trying to make a genetically engineered baby (Wall Street Journal)

• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Coinbase Co-Founder and CEO Brian Armstrong each back Preventive, a startup working towards gene editing of embryos to prevent hereditary disease.

• Preventive is searching for places to experiment where gene editing is allowed, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is prohibited by federal law from reviewing applications for human trials involving editing of embryos.

• Armstrong argues that gene editing could reduce risk of heart disease, lower cholesterol, and prevent osteoporosis.

• Armstrong posted that he is “[e]xcited to be an investor in Preventive! More than 300 million people globally live with genetic disease. … It is far easier to correct a smaller number of cells before disease progression occurs, such as in an embryo.”

• Preventive has raised $30 million in investment to explore embryonic gene editing.

• The company pledges not to avance to human trials “if safety cannot be established through extensive research.”

• Earlier this year, Armstrong said that IVF clinics of the future will include a “Gattaca stack” of technologies including in vitro gametogenesis (IVG) to create ovules; preimplantation genetic testing; embryo editing for disease prevention or enhancement; and artificial wombs to eliminate the risks and burdens of pregnancy. He believes such technologies can address declining birth rates and “accelerate evolution.”

• The Wall Street Journal also released a podcast discussing these issues: “The Secret Plan to Create Genetically Engineered Babies.”

“No more dumb sperm: Danish sperm bank sets IQ bar” (Danish Dream)

• Donor Network, a Danish sperm bank, has become the first sperm bank in the world to require a minimum IQ of 85 from donors. About 18% of applicants fail the standard.

• The bank also excludes people with a criminal record.

• Donor Network provides clients with a 25-30 page profile for each donor, including psychometric information on cognitive abilities and personality.

• Denmark is a major sperm exporter and Donor Network says the new screening standards aim to meet demanding global consumer expectations.

• Screening of sperm donors for medical diseases is routine.

“WHO issues first global guideline on infertility” (WHO)

• The WHO has released the first global guideline for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infertility.

• Infertility is estimated to affect 15% of people at some point during their lives.

• The guideline calls for integration of fertility care into national health strategies, services and financing.

• In some countries, a single round of IVF treatment can cost double the average annual household income.

• The guideline advises on preventing lifestyle and environmental causes of infertility and urges a rights-based approach to foster reproductive agency.

“Should all parents consider embryo selection?” (Richard Hanania)

• Considering that parents have “a moral obligation to do what we can to create the healthiest, smartest, and best-looking children possible,” blogger Richard Hanania examines the safety of IVF and embryo selection procedures.

• While studies show IVF-conceived children are more likely to have health problems such as birth defects, much of the statistical variance is likely due to the older age of parents or their subfertility, rather than the procedure itself.

• A Finnish study found people conceived through assisted reproduction had better long term educational and employment outcomes than the general population.

• Hanania concludes that the peculiarities of the IVF procedure, such as massively reduced competition among sperm to fertilize the egg, have few negative effects.

• “Overall, IVF lets people who are less healthy have more kids,” he writes. “Age and subfertility status are major contributors to negative outcomes, but the IVF process itself isn’t.”

More on repro/genetics:

• “The world’s oldest baby: A 30-year old frozen embryo is now a child” (The Conversation / GLP)

• “‘They treat men like vending machines’: Inside the hidden world of social media sperm selling” (The Guardian)

• Berenice Cera argues that Argentina should have coverage for preimplantation genetic testing on grounds of human rights, scientific progress, and reproductive autonomy (Health & Human Rights)

• “Embryo selection: A guide for the curious” (Quillette)

• “My family’s embryo selection process”: Discussing use of Herasight to select an embryo for pregnancy (Anfei Larkin)

• “Guidelines for management of male infertility published in Australia” (PET)

• “‘The odd throuple’: Accuracy and authenticity in the IVF film Joy” (PET)

• AquaWomb: “This machine could keep a baby alive outside the womb. How will the world decide to use it?” (The Guardian)

Population Policies & Trends

“China to tax condoms for first time in 30 years as demographic crisis deepens” (Euronews)

• For the first time in 30 years, condoms will no longer be VAT-free in China, due to a new law aiming to boost birth rates.

• Condoms will now be subject to a 13% tax levy.

• Simultaneously, the government is removing VAT on childcare providers, elder-care institutions, and marriage-related services.

• China is now in deep demographic crisis with a fertility rate of about 1 per woman, leading to a collapsing workforce.

• Critics warn taxing condoms may contribute to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

• According to a 2024 report by the YuWa Population Research Institute, the average cost of raising a child in China until the age of 18 is 538,000 yuan ($76,165), making it one of the most expensive countries for parents.

EBRD study: Aging populations will lead to lower living standards (Financial Times)

• A study by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has found that, due to population aging and shrinking workforces, annual GDP per capita growth will fall almost 0.4 percentage points yearly in eastern Europe and the Caucasus between now and 2050.

• “Emerging Europe is aging,” said EBRD Chief Economist Beata Javorcik. “Low fertility and a shrinking workforce will increasingly weigh on its growth prospects.”

• Per capita growth will fall even harder in other countries due to demographic factors, namely South Korea (1.1 points yearly), Italy and Spain (over 0.7 points), and China and Japan (0.5-0.6 points).

• An EBRD survey in Europe found that 42% of the over-65s want governments to prioritize public spending on healthcare and 25% on pensions.

• “The time to act is now before demography closes off your options,” said Javorcik. “Because there may be this spiral that’s being created as voters get older, as leaders get older, they care more about issues of interest to the elderly, in particular pensions, and therefore it becomes harder to do any pension reforms.”

“‘The pro-life movement still has some real juice’: How Trump’s promise of free IVF fizzled” (Politico)

• Social and religious conservatives have spent more than a year lobbying the Trump campaign and administration to not mandate insurance coverage for IVF.

• These conservatives oppose IVF as akin to abortion, due to the creation (and often destruction) of surplus embryos.

• While President Donald Trump has moved to lower the cost of some IVF medicines, these represent a small part of the cost of the procedure.

• Social conservatives celebrated the fact Trump did not designate IVF an “essential health benefit” under the Affordable Care Act, which would require insurers to cover it.

• “No one’s really talking about [Trump’s IVF initiative],” said Flory Wilson, CEO of the Reproductive & Maternal Health Compass. “It’s a nothingburger. I just don’t see how this is moving the needle in any meaningful way.”

• During the 2024 campaign, Trump called himself “the father of IVF.”

Genetic Studies

“Multivariate genome-wide analysis: Shared genetic architecture and brain structural correlates of cognitive abilities” (Scientific Reports)

• Researchers estimated potentially causal genetic variants associated with cognitive ability.

• The study identified 3,842 genome-wide significant loci, including 275 new loci.

• Analysis found a common cognitive factor representing shared genetic variance common to six cognition-related phenotypes—namely processing speed, educational attainment, executive function, memory performance, reaction time, and intelligence.

• This common factor reflects fundamental neural processes—synaptic efficiency, neural connectivity, and neurotransmitter regulation—that enable cognitive performance across diverse tasks.

More on genetic studies:

• “Within-family heritability estimates for behavioural and disease phenotypes from 500,000 sibling pairs of diverse ancestries” (medRxiv)

• “Human genome structure mapped at base-pair resolution” (PET)

• “AI model predicts rare, disease-causing genetic variants” (PET)

Further Learning

“Nations as natural families: From kin selection to multilevel selection” (Nations & Nationalism)

• Political scientists Filipe Nobre Faria and Sandra Dzenis argue for the sociobiological view of nations as “natural families” or extended kin groups, not as purely artificial constructs.

• The authors use multilevel selection theory—an evolutionary framework modeling competition and selection occurring at different levels in the hierarchy of life, e.g., both at the level of individuals and groups—to argue that “nations function as extended kin groups whose cohesion arises from genetic relatedness, culturally evolved institutions, and intergroup competition.”

• “Traits that may appear individually costly—such as loyalty, altruism and conformity—can enhance the survival and competitiveness of groups. Multilevel selection does not replace kin selection [whereby genes shared by different family members are perpetuated through familial solidarity]; it extends it. Our multilevel selection approach shows how symbolic, kin-like identities enable group-level adaptations at the national scale.”

• The authors argue their “biocultural” conception of the nation “helps bridge evolutionary reasoning with constructivist theories of nationhood.”

• “Nations are not random products of history; they are recurring formations that emerge under specific evolutionary conditions. As humans spread into new environments, they tend to organise themselves into larger and more cohesive groups. Across time and place, we see nations arise, develop and sometimes collapse. This recurring pattern is driven by fundamental dynamics: cooperation, conflict, kinship, and cultural adaptation.”

More on human nature, evolution, and biotech:

• Study of Swedish lottery winners finds wealth gains minimally decrease risk of criminal behavior (National Bureau of Economic Research)

• Study finds CEOs with daughters on average lead companies with 9.1% higher corporate social responsibility (CSR) ratings (Journal of Financial Economics)

• “Low cognitive ability estimates in developing countries: A statistical analysis of their credibility” (Human Evolution)

• “National IQs: Measurement and defense” (OpenPsych)

• “How ancient humans bred and traded the first domestic dogs” (Nature)

• Perry Hendricks, “Organ markets are always the best option” (JoME)

Disclaimer: We cannot fact-check the linked-to stories and studies, nor do the views expressed necessarily reflect our own.

Welcome to the latest issue of Repronews! Highlights from this week’s edition:

• Repro/genetics

  • “IQ is 50% genetic,” “Have your best baby”: Nucleus Genomics posts embryo selection ads in New York City.

  • Report: Adverse events occur in less than 1% of UK fertility treatments.

• Population Policies & Trends

  • Ruxandra Teslo in the New York Times calls for a “fertility abundance agenda” broadening access to IVF and other fertility services to expand women’s reproductive choices and increase population growth.

• Genetic Studies

  • Major Nature study finds genetic influence accounting for most known heritability for height, fluid intelligence, and other traits.

  • Jenny Graves writes on differential genetic activity in male and female human brains.

  • Massive Taiwanese study discovers genes associated with diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions among East Asians.

  • Study of Greenlanders finds ancient Arctic adaptations may influence modern disease risk.

• Further Learning

  • Phoebe Arslanagić-Little discusses birth rate decline and pronatal measures on the Looking for Growth podcast.

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Repro/genetics

“IVF ads urge you to ‘have your best baby’ through genetic optimization” (Ad Age)

• Embryo selection startup Nucleus Genomics has taken ads in New York City with headlines such as “Have your best baby,” “Have a healthier baby” and “IQ is 50% genetic.”

• The ads point to the campaign side pickyourbaby.com with links to genetic testing services either to “Preview” one’s baby or to select embryos as “IVF+.” Preview probabilistically predicts the baby’s future traits, while “IVF+” enables polygenic selection for reduced chances of illnesses or traits like height and IQ.

• “Not that long ago, IVF-1 sparked fear and the stigma of test tube babies,” Nucleus Embryo Founder Kian Sadeghi in a launch video. “What was once controversial is now an everyday practice. The same is true with genetic optimization. The technology is now here, and it’s here to stay.”

• Critics have raised questions about Nucleus Genomics’ science and business practices.

Adverse events occur in less than 1% of UK fertility treatments (PET)

• A report from the British Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) found that the number of incidents in British fertility clinics increased last year, but remains low.

• Incidents occurred in less than 1% of the over 100,000 fertility treatments cycles which took place in licensed clinics.

• The report also found that interest in egg donation has increased, with no cases of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) being reported among donors.

More on repro/genetics:

• Dutch hospital pioneers whole-genome testing to diagnose rare conditions (Medical Xpress)

• “First-of-its-kind provincial registry opens to build Ontario’s hereditary cancer database” (News Medical)

• Mice pup conceived via IVF have slightly higher DNA mutations (Medical Xpress)

Population Policies & Trends

“Here’s what Trump should actually do on fertility” (New York Times)

• Dr. Ruxandra Teslo, a genomics researcher at the Sanger Institute, calls for a “fertility abundance agenda” to “help women build the families they want, and on their own terms, by expanding access to fertility care and modernizing the systems that support it.”

• Dr. Teslo urges increasing federal funding in reproductive science, expanding insurance coverage for IVF and fertility preservation, requirng consistent lab accreditation and quality standards, and ensuring more rigorous reporting on clinical outcomes.

• “A society that claims to value families shouldn’t treat the ability to have one as a test of luck or wealth,” Teslo writes. “It shouldn’t force women to reorganize their entire lives around a biological deadline while offering little support when that deadline approaches.”

• She believes such an agenda can unite broad swathes of Americans: “For conservatives, it would reinforce pro-family values and respond to their growing alarm about declining birth rates. For progressives, it would advance the goal of making high-quality reproductive health care more affordable and accessible.”

• A Pew poll found that 70% of Americans say access to IVF is a good thing.

• While President Donald Trump has signaled his support and taken some measures for fertility treatment, Teslo argues that stronger actions have been lacking due to his governing style and hostility to IVF’s use of embryos among part of his conservative base.

Genetic Studies

“Whole genome sequencing reveals how much human heritability we can finally explain” (News Medical)

• A major study in Nature has sequenced the whole genomes of about 348,000 unrelated people of European ancestry in UK Biobank and looked at 34 common traits and diseases (like height, fluid intelligence, cholesterol, smoking, fertility).

• Overall, genetic variants measured in these genomes explain about 88% of the heritability that you would estimate from family studies, so most of the “missing heritability” from earlier work is now captured. This includes capturing around 80% of the heritability of fluid intelligence.

• Common variants (present in at least 1% of people) explain about two-thirds of this heritability (~68%), and rare variants (present in less than 1%) explain about one-fifth (~20%).

• Among the rare-variant contribution, roughly 21% comes from coding variants (in protein-making parts of genes) and 79% from non-coding variants (regulatory and other regions of DNA).

• For 15 traits, there was no meaningful difference between heritability estimated from the genomes and from family relationships, suggesting that for these traits, genetic heritability is essentially fully accounted for by the measured variants.

• Some heritability is still unexplained (about 12% on average), likely due to ultra-rare variants, structural variants, gaps in the current reference genome, and non-additive effects.

• The results imply that polygenic scores and mapping of rare, especially non-coding, variants can be substantially improved with WGS in cohorts under ~500,000 people.

“Hundreds of genes act differently in the brains of men and women” (The Conversation)

• Jenny Graves, Distinguished Professor of Genetics and Vice Chancellor’s Fellow at La Trobe University (Australia), writes that hundreds of genes show sex-biased activity in human brains, though the functional implications remain uncertain.

• Around one-third of all human genes show sex-biased expression across tissues

• In the brain, a study found 610 genes more active in males and 316 in females.

• Most sex-biased brain genes are on non-sex chromosomes, suggesting regulation beyond X/Y differences, often via sex hormones.

• These differences emerge early in fetal development, with thousands of genes already showing sex-biased activity before reproductive organs form.

• Female-biased genes tend to involve neuronal processes, while male-biased genes relate more to cellular structures and membranes.

• RNA differences do not always produce protein or functional differences, and some developmental pathways may diverge but converge on similar outcomes.

• Sex-biased gene expression may contribute to different disease risks (e.g., Alzheimer’s higher in women; SRY-linked effects in Parkinson’s).

• Similar patterns exist in other primates and animals, indicating ancient evolutionary origins of sex-biased brain gene activity.

“Population-specific genetic risk scores advance precision medicine for Han Chinese populations” (Medical Xpress)

• A study in Nature analyzed genomic and health data from over half a million Taiwanese participants of the Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative (TPMI), achieving “achieving unprecedented accuracy in predicting risks for common diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune disorders.”

• The study identified 2,656 genetic associations, including 95 previously unreported variants, and found that the genetic risks collectively explain up to 10.3% of total health variation in the Taiwanese population.

• “This project marks a milestone for precision medicine in East Asia,” said Dr. Cathy S.-J. Fann, at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica. “By integrating large-scale genomic and clinical data, we are building predictive models that truly reflect the real genetic architecture of our population.”

• Despite representing almost a quarter of the global population, East Asians account for under 4% of participants in past genome-wide studies. It is hoped that ancestry-specific genetics will improve precision medicine across East Asia.

“Ancient Arctic adaptations may influence modern disease risk” (Medical Xpress)

• Researchers have identified 251 genetic variants in native Greenlanders significantly affecting bloodstream protein levels.

• Genetic control over certain proteins was found to be significantly stronger in Greenlanders than in Europeans, showing how isolated populations can develop high-impact genetic variants.

• “By understanding how genetic variants regulate proteins in the blood, we can identify new drug targets and understand why certain populations are more susceptible to specific diseases,” said Professor Torben Hansen of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research. “This is especially important for populations like Greenland, where unique genetic adaptations that once provided survival advantages now contribute to elevated disease risks,”

• The research contributes to understanding Greenlanders’ risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes.

• “Indigenous and underrepresented populations have been largely excluded from genomic research,” said Dr. Sara Stinson, who carried out the research at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center. “Without studying diverse populations, we miss critical pieces of human biology and perpetuate health disparities.”

More on genetic studies:

• “Life without sex: Large-scale study links sexlessness to physical, cognitive, and personality traits, socioecological factors, and DNA” (PNAS)

• “Overlooked layer of DNA may explain disease risk, severity” (Medical Xpress)

• “Longevity gene offers clues to extending life without restrictive diets” (News Medical)

• “DNA discovery could help identify mothers at risk of pre-eclampsia” (Medical Xpress)

• “Landmark Japanese genome cohort reveals best practices for managing massive DNA databases” (News Medical)

• “New approach revives DNA from historic medical tissues” (News Medical)

Further Learning

“Baby booms, growth, and decline” (Looking for Growth)

• Phoebe Arslanagić-Little, Co-Director of pro-fertility advocacy group Boom, spoke on the Looking for Growth podcast on birth rate decline and how to make life better for parents.

More on human nature, evolution, and biotech:

• “DNA reveals the secret history of dogs” (TIME)

• “New gene-editing strategy could help development of treatments for rare diseases” (New York Times)

• “‘Biotech Barbie’ says the time has come to consider CRISPR babies. Do scientists agree?” (Nature)

• “Health Canada opens grocery stores to cloned animal foods. Is the nation ready?” (Castanet/GLP)

• boom

Disclaimer: We cannot fact-check the linked-to stories and studies, nor do the views expressed necessarily reflect our own.

James Watson, the co-discoverer with Francis Crick of the double-helix structure of DNA, recently died at age 97. The Nobel Prize winner was no stranger to controversy. In his 2003 book DNA: The Secret to Life, Watson discusses how his advocacy for reprogenetic choice led to controversy in German media. He makes an earnest case for looking genetic realities in the face and using genetic enhancement motivated by love for future generations.

Below are some extracts from the book’s conclusion, entitled “Our Genes and Our Future.”1 Watson’s thoughts on genetic enhancement can profitably compared to those of CRISPR co-developer and fellow Nobel Prize-winner Jennifer Doudna. My bolding.

Only with the discovery of the double helix and the ensuing genetic revolution have we had grounds for thinking that the powers held traditionally to be the exclusive property of the gods might one day be ours. Life, we now know, is nothing but a vast array of coordinated chemical reactions. The “secret” to that coordination is the breathtakingly complex set of instructions inscribed, again chemically, in our DNA.

But we still have a long way to go on our journey toward a full understanding of how DNA does its work. In the study of human consciousness, for example, our knowledge is so rudimentary that arguments incorporating some element of vitalism [the idea that organisms are defined by non-materialist forces or qualities] persist, even as these notions have been debunked elsewhere. Nevertheless, both our understanding of life and our demonstrated ability to manipulate it are facts of our culture. Not surprisingly, then, Mary Shelley [author of Frankenstein] has many would-be successors: artists and scientists alike have been keen to explore the ramifications of our newfound genetic knowledge.

Many of these efforts are shallow and betray their creators’ ignorance of what is and is not biologically feasible. But one in particular stands out in my mind as raising important questions, and doing so in a stylish and compelling way. Andrew Niccols’s 1997 film Gattaca carries to the present limits of our imagination the implications of a society obsessed with genetic perfection. In a future world two types of humans exist—a genetically enhanced ruling class and an underclass that lives with the imperfect genetic endowments of today’s humans. Supersensitive DNA analyses ensure that the plum jobs go to the genetic elite while “in-valids” are discriminated against at every turn. Gattaca’s hero is the “in-valid” Vincent (Ethan Hawke), conceived in the heat of reckless passion by a couple in the back of a car. Vincent’s younger brother, Anton, is later properly engineered in the laboratory and so endowed with all the finest genetic attributes. As the two grow up, Vincent is reminded of his own inferiority every time he tries, fruitlessly, to best his little brother in swim races. Genetic discrimination eventually forces Vincent to accept a menial job as a porter with the Gattaca Corporation. …

Few, if any, of us would wish to imagine our descendants living under the sort of genetic tyranny suggested by Gattaca. Setting aside the question of whether the scenario foreseen is technologically feasible, we must address the central issue raised by the film: Does DNA knowledge make a genetic caste system inevitable? A world of congenital haves and have-nots? The most pessimistic commentators foresee an even worse scenario: Might we one day go so far as to breed a race of clones, condemned to servile lives mandated by their DNA? Rather than strive to fortify the weak, would we aim to make the descendants of the strong ever stronger? Most fundamentally, should we manipulate human genes at all? The answers to these questions depend very much on our views of human nature.

Today much of the public paranoia surrounding the dangers of human genetic manipulation is inspired by a legitimate recognition of our selfish side—that aspect of our nature that evolution has hardwired to promote our own survival, if necessary at the expense of others. Critics envision a world in which genetic knowledge would be used solely to widen the gap between the privileged (those best positioned to press genetics into their own service) and the downtrodden (those whom genetics can only put at greater disadvantage). But such a view recognizes only one side of our humanity. …

Disposed though we might be to competition, humans are also profoundly social. Compassion for others in need or distress is as much a genetic element of our nature as the tendency to smile when we’re happy. …

Even those who accept that the urge to improve the lot of others is part of human nature disagree on the best way to go about it. It is a perennial subject of social and political debate. The prevailing orthodoxy holds that the best way we can help our fellow citizens is by addressing problems with their nurture. Underfed, unloved, and uneducated human beings have diminished potential to lead productive lives. But as we have seen, nurture, while greatly influential, has its limits, which reveal themselves most dramatically in cases of profound genetic disadvantage. Even with the most perfectly devised nutrition and schooling, boys with severe fragile X disease will still never be able to take care of themselves. Nor will all the extra tutoring in the world ever grant naturally slow learners a chance to get to the head of the class. If, therefore, we are serious about improving education, we cannot in good conscience ultimately limit ourselves to seeking remedies in nurture. My suspicion, however, is that education policies are too often set by politicians to whom the glib slogan “leave no child behind” appeals precisely because it is so completely unobjectionable. But children will get left behind if we continue to insist that each one has the same potential for learning.

We do not as yet understand why some children learn faster than others, and I don’t know when we will. But if we consider how many commonplace biological insights, unimaginable fifty years ago, have been made possible through the genetic revolution, the question becomes pointless. The issue rather is this: Are we prepared to embrace the undeniably vast potential of genetics to improve the human condition, individually and collectively? Most immediate, would we want the guidance of genetic information to design learning best suited to our children's individual needs? Would we in time want a pill that would allow fragile X boys to go to school with other children, or one that would allow naturally slow learners to keep pace in class with naturally fast ones? And what about the even more distant prospect of viable germ-line gene therapy? Having identified the relevant genes, would we want to exercise a future power to transform slow learners into fast ones before they are even born? We are not dealing in science fiction here: we can already give mice better memories. Is there a reason why our goal shouldn’t be to do the same for humans?

One wonders what our visceral response to such possibilities might be had human history never known the dark passage of the eugenics movement. Would we still shudder at the term “genetic enhancement”? The reality is that the idea of improving on the genes that nature has given us alarms people. When discussing our genes, we seem ready to commit what philosophers call the “naturalistic fallacy,” assuming that the way nature intended it is best. By centrally heating our homes and taking antibiotics when we have an infection, we carefully steer clear of the fallacy in our daily lives, but mentions of genetic improvement have us rushing to run the “nature knows best” flag up the mast. For this reason, I think that the acceptance of genetic enhancement will most likely come about through efforts to prevent disease. …

All over the world government regulations now forbid scientists from adding DNA to human germ cells. Support for these prohibitions comes from a variety of constituencies. Religious groups—who believe that to tamper with the human germ line is in effect to play God—account for much of the strong knee-jerk opposition among the general public. For their part, secular critics, as we have seen, fear a nightmarish social transformation such as that suggested in Gattaca—with natural human inequalities grotesquely amplified and any vestige of an egalitarian society erased. But though this premise makes for a good script, to me it seems no less fanciful than the notion that genetics will pave the way to Utopia. …

My view is that, despite the risks, we should give serious consideration to germ-line gene therapy. I only hope that the many biologists who share my opinion will stand tall in the debates to come and not be intimidated by the inevitable criticism. Some of us already know the pain of being tarred with the brush once reserved for eugenicists. But that is ultimately a small price to pay to redress genetic injustice. If such work be called eugenics, then I am a eugenicist.

Over my career since the discovery of the double helix, my awe at the majesty of what evolution has installed in our every cell has been rivaled only by anguish at the cruel arbitrariness of genetic disadvantage and defect, particularly as it blights the lives of children. In the past it was the remit of natural selection—a process that is at once marvelously efficient and woefully brutal—to eliminate those deleterious genetic mutations. Today, natural selection still often holds sway: a child born with Tay-Sachs who dies within a few years is—from a dispassionate biological perspective—a victim of selection against the Tay-Sachs mutation. But now, having identified many of those mutations that have caused so much misery over the years, it is in our power to sidestep natural selection. Surely, given some form of preemptive diagnosis, anyone would think twice before choosing to bring a child with Tay-Sachs into the world. The baby faces the prospect of three or four long years of suffering before death comes as a merciful release. And so if there is a paramount ethical issue attending the vast new genetic knowledge created by the Human Genome Project, in my view it is the slow pace at which what we now know is being deployed to diminish human suffering. Leaving aside the uncertainties of gene therapy, I find the lag in embracing even the most unambiguous benefits to be utterly unconscionable. That in our medically advanced society almost no women are screened for the fragile X mutation a full decade after its discovery can attest only to ignorance or intransigence. Any woman reading these words should realize that one of the important things she can do as a potential or actual parent is to gather information on the genetic dangers facing her unborn children—by looking for deleterious genes in her family line and her partner’s, or, directly, in the embryo of a child she has conceived. And let no one suggest that a woman is not entitled to this knowledge. Access to it is her right, as it is her right to act upon it. She is the one who will bear the immediate consequences.

Two years ago, my views on this subject received a very cold reception in Germany. The publication of my essay, “Ethical Implications of the Human Genome Project,” in the highly respected newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), provoked a storm of criticism. Perhaps this was the editors’ intent: Without my knowledge, let alone consent, the paper had given my essay a new title devised by the translator as “The Ethic of the Genome—Why We Should Not Leave the Future of the Human Race to God.” While I subscribe to no religion and make no secret of my secular views, I would never have framed my position as a provocation to those who do. A surprisingly hostile response came from a man of science, the president of the German Federal Chamber of Medical Doctors, who accused me of “following the logic of the Nazis who differentiate between a life worth living and a life not worth living.” A day later, an editorial entitled “Unethical Offer” appeared in the same paper that had published mine. The writer, Henning Ritter, argued with self-righteous conviction that in Germany the decision to end the lives of genetically damaged fetuses would never become a private matter. In fact, his grandstanding displayed a simple ignorance of the nation’s law; in Germany today, it is solely the right of a pregnant woman, upon receipt of medical advice, to decide whether to carry her fetus to term.

The more honorable critics were those who argued openly from personal beliefs, rather than exploiting the terrifying specter of the German past. The respected German president, Johannes Rau, countered my views with an assertion that “value and sense are not solely based on knowledge.” As a practicing Protestant, he finds truths in religious revelation while I, a scientist, depend only on observation and experimentation. I therefore must evaluate actions on the basis of my moral intuition. And I see only needless harm in denying women access to prenatal diagnosis until, as some would have it, cures exist for the defects in question. In a less measured comment, the Protestant theologian Dietmar Mieth called my essay the “Ethics of Horror,” taking issue with my assertion that greater knowledge will furnish humans better answers to ethical dilemmas. But the existence of a dilemma implies a choice to be made, and choice to my mind is better than no choice. A woman who learns that her fetus has Tay-Sachs now faces a dilemma about what to do, but at least she has a choice, where before she had none. Though I am sure that many German scientists agree with me, too many seem to be cowed by the political past and the religious present: except for my longtime valued friend Benno Müller-Hill, whose brave book on Nazi eugenics, Murderous Science (Tödliche Wissenschaft), still rankles the German academic establishment, no German scientist saw reason to rise to my defense.

I do not dispute the right of individuals to look to religion for a private moral compass, but I do object to the assumption of too many religious people that atheists live in a moral vacuum. Those of us who feel no need for a moral code written down in an ancient tome have, in my opinion, recourse to an innate moral intuition long ago shaped by natural selection promoting social cohesion in groups of our ancestors. …

With its direct contradiction of religious accounts of creation, evolution represents science’s most direct incursion into the religious domain and accordingly provokes the acute defensiveness that characterizes creationism. It could be that as genetic knowledge grows in centuries to come, with ever more individuals coming to understand themselves as products of random throws of the genetic dice—chance mixtures of their parents’ genes and a few equally accidental mutations—a new gnosis in fact much more ancient than today’s religions will come to be sanctified. Our DNA, the instruction book of human creation, may well come to rival religious scripture as the keeper of the truth.

I may not be religious, but I still see much in scripture that is profoundly true. In the first letter to the Corinthians, for example, Paul writes:

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

Paul has in my judgment proclaimed rightly the essence of our humanity. Love, that impulse which promotes our caring for one another, is what has permitted our survival and success on the planet. It is this impulse that I believe will safeguard our future as we venture into uncharted genetic territory. So fundamental is it to human nature that I am sure that the capacity to love is inscribed in our DNA—a secular Paul would say that love is the greatest gift of our genes to humanity. And if someday those particular genes too could be enhanced by our science, to defeat petty hatreds and violence, in what sense would our humanity be diminished?2

In addition to laying out a misleadingly dismal vision of our future within the film itself, the creators of Gattaca concocted a promotional tag line aimed at the deepest prejudices against genetic knowledge: “There is no gene for the human spirit.” It remains a dangerous blind spot in our society that so many wish this were so. If the truth revealed by DNA could be accepted without fear, we should not despair for those who follow us.

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Welcome to the latest issue of Repronews! Highlights from this week’s edition:

• Repro/genetics

  • Chinese researchers have removed an extra set of chromosomes from an embryo, eventually resulting in a health birth.

  • U.S. President Donald Trump will enable access to cheaper IVF drugs and encourage employers to offer fertility insurance.

• Population Policies & Trends

  • The OECD has issued guidelines for all levels of government to better manage demographic change.

• Genetic Studies

  • Embryo selection startup Herasight has published a study on polygenic prediction of intelligence.

  • 13 obesity-related genes have been identified in a multi-ancestry study.

  • Better understanding of the genetics of food cravings and aversions could lead to personalized nutrition plans to improve health.

• Further Learning

  • James Watson, the co-discover of the double-helix structure of DNA, has passed away: his comments on genetic enhancement and love.

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Repro/genetics

“Baby born from embryo that originally had three sets of chromosomes” (PET)

• A Chinese study reports how an embryo with originally three pronuclei resulted in a healthy baby after one pronucleus was microsurgically removed.

• After fertilization, a normal zygote has two pronuclei, one from the egg and one from the sperm, each containing chromosomes.

• The mother’s eggs were fertilized and produced seven embryos each with three pronuclei.

• Tripronuclear embryos would normally be discarded. However, the mother was offered the technique of microsurgical enucleation. This involves removing one of the pronuclei in a procedure similar to how pronuclei are transferred to the donor cell during mitochondrial donation.

• The researchers performed enucleation on six zygotes. Two of the enucleated embryos progressed to the blastocyst stage of development.

• The blastocysts underwent non-invasive genetic testing to check for chromosomal abnormalities. One was selected for transfer and developed into a healthy baby boy, who showed normal health and development after birth.

• The authors write: “The removal of one [pronuclei] from a [triponuclear] zygote is not a routine procedure in assisted reproductive technology. It should only be considered as an experimental rescue measure.”

• The researchers hope the technique may be used more widely in future “for cases where oocytes are extremely precious, such as patients with poor ovarian response,” or for those who cannot undergo further egg collection cycles for medical or financial reasons.

“Trump unveils plan to expand access to ‘fertility insurance’ and IVF drugs” (TIME)

• President Donald Trump has announced that his administration will encourage employers to offer fertility benefits to their employees, similar to dental or vision coverage.

• He also revealed an agreement with EMD Serono to provide cheap fertility medications at “massive discounts” through the government website TrumpRx.

• “We’ll dramatically slash the cost of IVF and many of the most common fertility drugs for countless millions of Americans,” Trump said.

• New Labor Department guidance aims to make it easier for companies to add fertility coverage for their employees. The White House is neither mandating participation, nor subsidizing employers that choose to offer the coverage.

• Trump said the fertility coverage “will reduce the number of people who ultimately need to resort to IVF, because couples will be able to identify and address problems early.” He added: “The result will be healthier pregnancies, healthier babies, and many more beautiful American children.”

• Currently around one in four large employers in the U.S. provide IVF coverage.

• Drugs are only one component of IVF procedures. Patients also pay for ultrasounds, anesthesia, laboratory work and embryo storage, which together can exceed $20,000 per round.

• During the 2024 campaign, Trump had pledged to require insurers to cover fertility treatment.

• Sean Tipton, Chief Advocacy and Policy Officer at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), said an “executive action cannot, on its own, ensure every patient who needs IVF—which for some represents the only option to have a child—can access it,” but the announcement is a “crucial first step.”

• RESOLVE, the National Infertility Association, said the announcement “sends a signal to policymakers and employers that infertility is deserving of coverage – a necessity rather than a luxury. However, the potential impact for patients depends on what happens next.”

More on repro/genetics:

• “An egg economy: In vitro maturation (IVM)” (Roger Gosden)

• Matt Ridley, “CRISPR gave humans the ability to edit the genes of any animal, plant, fungus or microbe. What will we do with it?” (Globe & Mail)

• LSE/Vienna study: “Many women over 43 need donor eggs for IVF success” (PET)

• Policy Paper: For Inclusive Fertility Care for All (Fertility Europe)

• “Information about elective egg freezing on Instagram reels: a content review” (JARG)

• “The AI genetics revolution is coming: We’re worrying about the wrong arms race with China” (The New Atlantis)

• A review of Dr. Anna Molas’ Taming Egg Donors: The Egg Donation Reproductive Market in Spain (PET)

• “IVF inequality highlighted in British Parliament” (PET)

Population Policies & Trends

“OECD guidelines on the multi-level governance of demographic change” (OECD)

• The OECD has issued guidelines to for governments to manage demographic change, notably to ensure that “shrinking and ageing regions are not left behind, but supported through strategic adaptation, innovation and solidarity.”

1. Integrate demographic projections and foresight tools into strategic planning to ensure policies and investments are future-proof.

2. Territorialize sectoral policies to promote integrated, place-based responses to demographic change within and across regions.

3. Coordinate across levels of government and functional areas to adapt services and investments efficiently, especially in small or shrinking municipalities.

4. Strengthen participatory governance to revitalize communities and enhance trust.

5. Attract, retain and develop public sector capacity in shrinking areas to maintain essential services and institutional resilience.

6. Ensure fiscal frameworks are responsive to demographic change.

7. Adjust infrastructure and service delivery systems to reflect evolving demographic needs.

More on population policies and trends:

• “Rationality of women in fertility decisions: An intergenerational study in rural Indonesian contexts” (International Journal of Population Studies)

• “The ethics of population policy for the two worlds of population conditions” (Health Care Analysis)

• “Make American procreate again: Among the MAGA fertility fanatics” (The Economist)

• “Communist pronatalism” (Aporia)

Genetic Studies

“A new polygenic score for intelligence” (Aporia)

• Herasight, an embryo selection company, has published a validation study on within-family polygenic prediction of general cognitive ability, i.e. predicting intelligence based on the contribution of many genes.

• Their polygenic score (PGS) claims to predict 16% of variance in intelligence in a sample of the UK Biobank.

• According to the paper: “Our PGS predicts higher educational attainment, occupational status, and family income within families, and retains good performance in non-European ancestry samples, with the correlation retaining 64% of its magnitude in [an] African American subset.”

• The polygenic score for intelligence was found to also be partially correlated with other traits, such as reduced likelihood of ADHD, sleep problems, type 2 diabetes, and some cardiovascular diseases.

“Obesity-related genes revealed in multi-ancestry study” (PET)

• A study in Nature Communications has identified 13 obesity-related genes.

• Five of these genes had not been previously associated with diabetes and were discovered thanks to the inclusion of non-European genomes.

• “Obesity is a complex trait that is influenced by many genetic and lifestyle factors,” said Professor Santhosh Girirajan. “Studies in a single population can lead us to miss important genes that are shared across populations but may not rise to statistical significance in any one of them, even if they are clinically important in that population.”

• The study used data from the UK Biobank and the U.S.-based All of Us biobank, with participants of African, American, East Asia, European, Middle Eastern, and South Asian ancestry.

• “Some of the previously discovered obesity genes appear to only have significant association to obesity in Europeans, which could limit their potential as therapeutic targets for a global population,” said Professor Girirajan.

“The genetics of food cravings and aversions” (GLP/University of Colorado)

• Geneticist Dr. Joanne Cole of the University of Colorado has identified hundreds of regions of the human genome associated with liking food.

• Some of these genetic variations influence how strongly taste receptors bind to different food compounds.

• “Each person is genetically at risk for a different set of conditions,” said Dr. Cole. “We should be targeting each individual’s genetic disease risk with disease-tailored lifestyle interventions.”

• The research may pave the way for genetically-informed personalized nutrition plans.

More on genetic studies:

• “Male and female human fetuses show distinct patterns of gene activity” (PET)

• “Genomics of pregnancy loss” (JARG)

Further Learning

DNA pioneer James Watson passes away at 97

• James Watson, the co-discoverer of the double-helix structure of DNA together with Francis Crick, has passed away at the age of 97.

• The Nobel Prize-winner attracted controversy in his later years.

• In his 2003 book DNA: The Secret of Life, Watson recounted how he was attacked in German media for suggesting using reproductive technologies for genetic health and enhancement.

• He wrote: “My view is that, despite the risks, we should give serious consideration to germline gene therapy. I only hope that the many biologists who share my opinion will stand tall in the debates to come and not be intimidated by the inevitable criticism. Some of us already know the pain of being tarred with the brush once reserved for eugenicists. But that is ultimately a small price to pay to redress genetic injustice.”

• He concluded: “Love, that impulse which promotes our caring for one another, is what has permitted our survival and success on the planet. It is this impulse that I believe will safeguard our future as we venture into uncharted genetic territory. So fundamental is it to human nature that I am sure that the capacity to love is inscribed in our DNA—a secular Paul would say that love is the greatest gift of our genes to humanity. And if someday those particular genes too could be enhanced by our science, to defeat petty hatreds and violence, in what sense would our humanity be diminished?”

• Watson came under particular fire in recent years for suggesting there are genetic causes for racial differences in intelligence.

More on human nature, biotechnology, and evolution:

• Interview with Steven Pinker, “Humor, the causes of war, and everything in between” (Richard Hanania)

• “Republican states win case striking down rule protecting transgender health care rights” (Washington Blade/GLP)

• U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-IN), Chair of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB), “How America can win the biotech race” (Foreign Affairs)

• “A liver extracted from a genetically modified pig transplanted into a 71-year-old man” (New York Times/GLP)

• “AI chip-powered retinal implant shown to help blind victims see again” (Science Daily/GLP)

• “Britain’s landmark agricultural gene editing law kicks in next month. Here’s what to expect” (MSN/GLP)

Disclaimer: We cannot fact-check the linked-to stories and studies, nor do the views expressed necessarily reflect our own.

Welcome to the latest issue of Repronews! Highlights from this week’s edition:

• Repro/genetics

  • The Washington Post reports on how AI and robotics are being used to automate human conception.

  • Jonathan Anomaly makes a conservative case for reprogenetic technologies, arguing these are needed to stem the accumulation of harmful mutations.

• Population Policies & Trends

  • 53% of Americans now say having fewer children is bad for the country, but 56% also say the federal government should not try to increase births.

  • Research suggests declining religiosity and the costs of housing and childcare are driving U.S. fertility decline.

  • The UN Population Fund calls for “greater reproductive agency” by supporting access to contraception and fertility services.

• Genetic Studies

  • Large study of African Americans discovers numerous genes involved in Alzheimer’s disease.

• Further Learning

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Repro/genetics

“Robots are learning to make human babies: 20 have already been born” (Washington Post)

• AI-enabled robotics are being trialed to automate IVF procedires, using computer-vision to select sperm and robotic arms to perform fertilization.

• At least 20 babies have reportedly been born via such automated protocols in clinical trials over the past three years. Early results generally match average manual IVF performance.

• Reprotech startups are commercializing automation modules for IVF and egg freezing in parts of Latin America and Turkey. These are often not yet FDA-approved in the U.S.

• The WHO estimates 1 in 6 people experience infertility globally. Access to fertility care is limited and underfunded, especially outside wealthy countries.

• Proponents argue automation can reduce variability between embryologists, increase throughput, and lower costs by standardizing lab work.

• Widespread adoption of AI automation in reprotech hinges on regulatory approvals, real-world cost reductions, and larger, independent clinical validations.

Jonathan Anomaly, “The radical conservative case for genetic enhancement” (Genetic Literacy Project)

• Philosopher Jonathan Anomaly argues that “the conclusion of the sexual revolution is about to be written.” After the contraceptive pill and IVF, new forms of reproductive technology “will further separate sex and reproduction.”

• “As IVF becomes cheaper and polygenic prediction more accurate, many parents will do IVF electively, so they can consciously select among genetically diverse embryos. Others will continue to do things the old-fashioned way, even if it’s riskier.”

• Anomaly argues that in the future, when gene editing is safer and genetics better understood, using gene editing to “spell check” an embryo for negative mutations may become routine.

• “Chesterton’s fence” is a metaphor highlighting the risks of unnecessarily destabilizing existing customs, institutions, and limits. These may serve purposes we are unaware of. This suggests caution in use of reprogenetic technologies.

• However, Anomaly notes that modern medicine and welfare have reduced natural selection, meaning that harmful mutations now accumulate in every generation. Darwin warned this might harm human fitness.

• The evolutionary psychologist John Tooby argued that without use of reprogenetic technology, humanity may eventually suffer a “genetic meltdown.”

• Anomaly suggests the metaphor of “Chesterton’s post”: that doing nothing can lead to the decay of existing systems. He urges use of reprotech to prevent genetic decline and sustain well-being in a human world without natural selection.

• He concludes: “Those who reject radical enhancement may need to embrace some amount of genetic engineering simply to stay where we are now. We may need to keep repairing the post just to preserve the parts of it that we cherish.”

More on repro/genetics:

• EFW2025: Sign up for Fertility Europe’s 2025 European Fertility Week webinar on 6 November (Fertility Europe)

• “Sperm selection for assisted reproductive technology: Do we have a winner?” (JARG)

• “IVF innovation: What you need to know about global regulatory pathways in 2025” (FemTech World)

• “Hidden evolution in sperm raises disease risk for children as men age” (Medical Xpress)

• “Push for military coverage of IVF faces challenge in Congress” (New York Times)

• From June: “EU ministers propose international limits on sperm ‘super donors’” (Euronews)

Population Policies & Trends

“Growing share of Americans say fewer people having kids would negatively impact the U.S.” (Pew Researcher Center)

• Over half of Americans (53%) say fewer people choosing to have children in the future would negatively impact the U.S. This is up 6 points since last year.

• A majority (56%) say the federal government should have no role in encouraging people to have children. A third (32%) say it should have a major or minor role.

• Most women within each party are more likely to say the federal government should play no role in increase natality.

• Among people supporting a federal role in increasing the birth rate, Democrats more likely than Republicans to say they would support requiring employers to provide paid family leave (85% vs. 67%), providing free child care (84% vs. 48%), requiring health insurance companies to cover the cost of fertility treatment (71% vs. 48%), and giving parents of minor children a monthly payment (56% vs. 31%).

“The two reasons Americans aren’t having babies, according to data” (Washington Post)

• Analysts suggest the two main drivers of declining fertility in the U.S. are cultural shifts away from traditional family life, notably declining religiosity, and the growing cost childcare and housing.

• Research by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) has found that a two-parent household must earn 39% more (≈$26,900/year) to maintain its living standard after the first child—much higher than the 24% increase required a decade ago.

• Birth rates are lowest in U.S. counties where raising children takes a larger share of household income, suggesting local cost-of-living pressures are a key factor.

• Counties with higher births often feature cheap housing and subsidized childcare (such as Onslow County, NC), notably via military family benefits, and/or have a pronatalist religious culture (as in significantly Jewish Rockland County, NY and majority-Mormon Utah County, UT).

• Regular attendance of religious services tends to be higher in high-fertility counties.

• Data journalist Youyou Zhou argues that that the U.S. could raise fertility not by one-time bonuses but through consistent family support and pronatalist cultural reinforcement—citing initiatives like Oklahoma’s universal pre-kindergarten care and education, which has helped sustain higher fertility in the state.

UN Population Fund flags fertility aspirations gap in India (BWHW)

• In its 2025 State of the World Population report, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) argues that the “real fertility crisis” is not overpopulation or population decline, but the gap between the number of children people want and what they have.

• UNFPA points out that millions of people are still unable to reach their desired family size due to infertility, lack of contraceptives, financial constraints, or social pressures. The report calls for “greater reproductive agency.”

• India’s fifth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) for 2019-2021 has found that the world’s most populous country now has a fertility rate of 2 per woman.

• 31 Indian states and territories now have a fertility rate below 2.1, the replacement level.

• UNFPA is skeptical of blanket pronatalist measures such as cash incentives. Instead it calls for:

  • Expanding reproductive health services, including for contraceptives and infertility treatment.

  • Addressing adolescent fertility and contraceptive needs among youth.

  • Tackling structural barriers like housing, job insecurity, and childcare access.

  • Ensuring inclusiveness, notably for unmarried people and gay people.

  • Improving accountability and data beyond fertility alone, to fertility satisfaction and bodily autonomy.

  • Supporting community-led behavior change and engaging men and boys to reduce stigma.

More on population policies and trends:

• NHS England pulls blog noting “benefits” of cousin marriage and warning against “stigmatizing certain communities” (Washington Examiner)

• From July: China rolls out $500 annual subsidy for small children to boost birth rate (Reuters)

• From June: “Vietnam scraps two-child policy as it tackles falling birthrate” (Guardian)

• “€2,000 bonuses and free parties: Hotels enter Poland’s fertility fight” (Financial Times)

Genetic Studies

“Largest study of African American brain tissue reveals key Alzheimer gene activity” (News Medical)

• A study by researchers at the Boston School of Medicine have identified many new genes involved in Alzheimer’s disease among African Americans.

• The researchers say this is a step towards deciphering the genetic architecture and underlying mechanisms of Alzheimer’s risk in black Americans.

• The study notes “nearly all of the established [Alzheimer’s disease] risk variants are population-specific or have divergent frequencies across populations.”

• Alzheimer’s is about twice as common in black Americans compared to white Americans. This is partially due to social determinants of health such as disparities in healthcare access and higher rates risk factors such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

More on genetic studies:

• NHS whole genome sequencing to breast cancer patients can identify unique genetic features to guide immediate treatment or match patients with relevant clinical trials for over 15,000 women in the UK every year (Cambridge University)

• “Local ancestry inference method could improve accuracy of genetic testing and patient diagnoses” (Medical Xpress/Texas Children’s Hospital)

• “Study provides genetic evidence why women possibly twice at risk of depression than men” (The Hindu)

Further Learning

More on human nature, evolution, and biotech:

• “Beyond general intelligence: The genetics of specific cognitive abilities” (Steve Stewart-Williams)

• Harvard geneticist David Reich suggests non-Africans may be 10-20% Neanderthal: “You might argue that non-Africans today are Neanderthals who just have waves and waves of modern humans from Africa mixing with them.” (Dwarkesh Podcast)

• “Why do we need seed banks? 75% of plant genetic diversity has been lost since the early 20th century, and its losses are accelerating” (Seed World/GLP)

Disclaimer: We cannot fact-check the linked-to stories and studies, nor do the views expressed necessarily reflect our own.

Welcome to the latest issue of Repronews! Due to lack of bandwidth, this newsletter has become more irregular. I will however continue to publish when there is major news in the areas of reprotech and demographic trends.

There has been a lot of coverage in leading Anglo media in recent months of “designer babies” and fertility collapse/ aging, as journalists have become more aware of reprotech breakthroughs and the socioeconomic and even political implications of demographic trends. This newsletter offers a few highlights:

• Repro/genetics

  • U.S. researchers create functonal human eggs from skin cells, offering long-term hope for infertile people.

  • Herasight decloaks: reprotech startup openly offers polygenic embryo selection for reduced risk of diseases and higher intelligence.

  • Dr. Thanos Papathanasiou argues that with public funding of IVF, 1 in 10 births in Britain could be achieved through assisted reproduction.

• Population Policies & Trends

  • François Valentin highlights the adverse socioeconomic consequences of fertility collapse in Europe; U.S. births now outnumber the EU’s.

  • The Financial Times reports on ballooning elderly spending and associated political instability in Britain and France.

• Genetic Studies

  • Some Denisovan DNA was adaptive and positively selected for in Native Americans.

• Further Learning

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Repro/genetics

“Researchers produce human eggs from skin cells in scientific first” (ABC)

• A U.S. research team has succeeded in taking DNA from skin cells to create functional human eggs.

• The technique involves somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)—transferring skin cell DNA into a functional ovary—and then halving the number of chromosomes through an experimental process call mitomeiosis.

• Professor Paula Amato of Oregon Health and Science University said: “In addition to offering hope for millions of people with infertility due to lack of eggs or sperm, this method would allow for the possibility of same-sex couples to have a child genetically related to both partners.”

• After fertilization, one in 10 of these eggs continued to developed after six days, the traditional moment when an embryo would be implanted during IVF.

• The researchers stress that the procedure is only a proof-of-concept at this stage and that years of research on efficacy and safety will be needed before clinical application.

IVF startup Herasight offers embryo selection for IQ (Herasight)

• The genetic screening startup Herasight went out of “stealth mode” in August, publicly revealing its embryo selection services.

• Herasight offers polygenic selection of embryos according to their reduced probability of developing cancers, type 2 diabetes, schizophrenia, and other diseases, as well as increased probability of higher intelligence.

• The company’s website features an embryo screening tool to simulate outcome probabilities based on number of embryos, ancestry, and selected traits.

• It also features an IVF Calculator to predict prospective parents’ chances of success at each stage of IVF treatment, from egg retrieval to live birth.

• The company’s claims for the accuracy of its polygenic scores for within-family prediction of disease risks is detailed in a white paper.

• The Washington Post reported that some of Elon Musk’s children may have been conceived and selected via Orchid Health, another IVF startup which provides polygenic selection of embryos to reduce risk of diseases.

• The popular blog Astral Codex Ten summarized how polygenic selection works and addressed various ethical objections.

• Dr. Emma Meaburn of Birckbeck, University of London, recently argued that “it seems likely that the predictive power of polygenic scores will grow—especially when combined with other information—but they will never be a crystal ball.”

• Jonathan Anomaly, a philosopher and Herasight’s Director of Communications, discussed the ethics of polygenic embryo screening with philosopher Allen Buchanan.

• Anomaly also joined the Genetic Literacy Project Podcast to discuss “the messy ethics of embryo selection” with Cameron English and Liza Lockwood.

• Anomaly and his Herasight colleages Ivan Davidson and Santiago Munne wrote an article for the American Society of Reproductive Medicine’s (ASMR) journal Fertility and Sterility, making the case for “the polygenic revolution.”

  • They argue that polygenic embryo testing (PGT-P) is a “natural extension” of current practice of genetic testing of embryos.

  • They conclude: “Rather than condemning PGT-P with vague worries about ‘playing God’ or the lack of equal access for everyone—which apply to most scientific breakthroughs—we should focus research on improving the predictive power of polygenic scores for all ethnic groups, and on demanding that providers empirically validate their results.”

“Forget ‘1 in 32 children from IVF’: We should aim for 1 in 10” (PET)

• Dr. Thanos Papathanasiou, CEO and Medical Director of the Bourn Hall Clinic, Britain’s leading IVF clinic, argues for improving access to IVF services.

• British research estimates each IVF-conceived child contributes £100,000 in net lifetime taxes on average, as against a public cost of £13,000–16,000 per live birth. Funding three IVF cycles (£15,000) still yields a strong return on investment. A U.S. study similarly finds a $155,000 return per child.

• Dr. Papathanasiou argues that the share of babies conceived via IVF in the UK can be increased from 1 in 32 to 1 in 10 by increasing accessibility of IVF services. This would also help raise Britain’s low fertility rate of just 1.41 per woman.

• Reportedly, almost 1 in 10 births in Denmark and Israel are achieved through assisted reproductive techniques such as IVF and artificial insemination, “showing what is possible when access is treated as a national priority.”

• To increase the accessibility of IVF, Dr. Papathanasiou argues for increased funding, long-term planning, expert input, consistent standards, elimination of postcode inequalities, and streamlined administration.

• He concludes: “This is not just about numbers and policies—it is about fairness, hope, and the belief that everyone who wants to build a family should have that chance.”

More on repro/genetics:

• “Gene editing is being sold on the promise of healthier babies—But what are the ethical concerns?” (ABC)

• “Inside Silicon Valley’s growing obsession with having smarter babies” (Wall Street Journal)

• “The quest to create gene-edited babies gets a reboot” (NPR)

• “How far is the clinic? Urbanicity and sociodemographic variation in the distance to assisted reproductive technology clinics in the USA” (JARG)

• “Brussels fertility clinic investigated for exceeding donor limits” (PET)

Population Policies & Trends

“Europe is doomed: This chart shows why” (The Telegraph)

• Political analyst and noted tweeter François Valentin argues that fertility collapse will have lasting negative effects on Europe’s economy, society, and security.

• He notes that in 2024, for the first time, the U.S. had more live births than the EU, despite America having 110 million fewer inhabitants.

• The EU’s fertility rate has fallen to 1.35 per woman.

• Valentin argues that ecological anxiety about having children is misplaced.

• Falling fertility undermines growth as the share of the working-age population shrinks and poses a serious medium-term security threat as mobilizable manpower dwindles.

• In addition, large and high-voting elderly populations will “distort out democracies” and will contribute to “impossibly toxic political conversations about the trade-offs of immigration.”

• While British women say in survey that they want 2.35 children on average, the fertility rate in 2024 was only 1.41.

• Valentin concludes: “a childless continent will not just be smaller, poorer, and older; it will also be lonelier and sadder.”

“France and Britain are in thrall to pensionsers” (Financial Times)

• John Burn-Murdoch argues that politicians who spoke honestly about aging-related costs—such as Britain’s Theresa May and France’s Emmanuel Macron, Michel Barnier, and François Bayrou have been punished by voters.

• He higlights how the British and French pension systems are unsustainable, squeezing out other spending—such as infrastructure and defense—and destabilizing governments.

• Pensioners’ incomes have grown faster than workers’ in both countries. In France, pensioners now earn more than workers.

More on population policies and trends:

• “A contracting population need not be a catastrophe” (The Economist)

• Renaud Foucart, “The global economy has a boomer problem” (TIME)

• “Brain drain as geopolitical strategy” (Not With a Bang)

• “Israel’s future-oriented natalism: A Q&A with Daniel Kane” (Public Discourse): Reflects on Israel’s child-friendly culture, family subsidies, extended family support networks, less neurotic approach to parenting than the U.S., and the social normalization of large families.

Genetic Studies

Study finds Denisovan DNA was adaptive for Native Americans (Science)

• Modern humans interbred with Neanderthals and Denisovans, leaving small archaic DNA segments in our genomes.

• Some archaic variants became adaptive under local environmental pressures.

• An archaic version of MUC19, which encodes a protein involved in immunity, was found to be positively selected for among Native Americans.

• The researchers believe the genetic material was first in Denisovans, then passed on to Neanderthals, and then to Homo Sapiens.

• The exact adaptive function of the gene is not clear, but may be related to immunity.

More on genetic studies:

• “Multiomic study of world’s longest-lived person gives insights into aging” (PET)

Further Learning

• “12 things everyone should know about evolutionary theory” (Steve Stewart-Williams)

• “Brain editing now ‘closer to reality’: The gene-altering tools tackling deadly disorders” (Nature)

• Study of 20,000 Finns finds smarter people commit less crime (Steve Stewart-Williams)

• “Genetic enhancement technologies: Navigating ethical, political, and commercial frontiers in a rapidly evolving market” (AInvest)

• “Javanese ethical concepts in health and healing” (JoME)

• “Cultural challenges to the adversarial cooperation framework in bioethics: A Confucian critique” (JoME)

Disclaimer: We cannot fact-check the linked-to stories and studies, nor do the views expressed necessarily reflect our own.

1. Population is a fundamental driver of national power

For any given level of economic development and social organization, population is a fundamental variable of national power.1 Population growth differentials are necessary (though not sufficient) drivers for the rise of the U.S. as a superpower since the 18th Century and the severe relative decline of France in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The contribution of population to national power has been recognized by statesmen and political scientists as varied as Aristotle, Ben Franklin and other Founding Fathers, Tocqueville, Charles de Gaulle, and Lee Kuan Yew.

It is true that many populous countries, due to institutional failure and/or weak human human capital, are geopolitically underwhelming. And, as one of our reviewers pointed out, relatively small states like 5th-century BC Athens or 18th-century England can sometimes punch massively above their weight. However, over the long run, such exceptional small states tend to lose their advantage as their innovations diffuse to other, larger countries. Population, economics, and relatedly technology all matter to power. As Abraham Lincoln said on which nations tend to win: “I believe in the Providence of the most men, the largest purse, and the longest cannon.”

2. Sub-replacement fertility has gone global

After a long population explosion, the world has entered a phase of sub-replacement fertility, and sometimes ultra-low fertility (1.4 children or less per woman), in most countries. Sub-replacement fertility affects every economically prosperous and techno-scientifically innovative country in the world, with the notable exception of Israel.

A striking recent trend however is that low fertility does not only concern the most developed countries, but also many lower- and middle-income countries in Latin America, South and Southeast Asia, and even parts of North Africa and the Middle East (Tunisia, Iran). High fertility is now largely restricted to sub-Saharan Africa and parts of the Muslim world.

3. The Global North (including China) is collapsing

The babies of today represent the humanity of tomorrow. Did you know that India now makes almost twice as many babies as China? Or that Indonesia and Congo each make more babies than the entire European Union? Or that Nigeria and Pakistan each make about as many babies as all of Europe? Long before the end of the century, such demographic differentials will have obvious geopolitical impacts.

4. Shrinking labor forces and rising elderly costs paralyze nations

In sub-replacement countries, shrinking workforces must bear the pension and healthcare costs of ballooning elderly populations, reducing the resources available to project onto the international scene. This trend is already severely impacting Italy and Japan, but will also become very visible in countries like Russia, South Korea, and eventually China. Countries that are able to slow these trends through higher births and productive immigration2 will retain geopolitical capacity for longer.

Significantly, all of the most economically developed and techno-scientifically innovative countries, except Israel, have sub-replacement fertility. Adverse demographics means that over time such nations will be less able to contribute to global public goods such as foreign aid or innovation. The latter is crucial because, in my view, global challenges like environmental degradation and infectious disease are mostly likely to be solved through innovation (and not the imposition of national sacrifices whose benefits are diluted globally).

5. Reprotech can increasingly foster population growth, genetic health, and enhancement

Reprotech has the potential to sustain or increase the size of working-age populations, reduce genetic diseases and their associated healthcare costs and productivity losses, and increase human capital (arguably the most fundamental driver of economic growth, technological innovation, and societal capacity).

Already, reprotechs such as intra-uterine insemination, IVF, and egg freezing can significantly prolong women’s fertility window and enable subfertile people, single women, lesbian couples, and (through surrogacy) gay couples to have children. Cheap genetic sequencing enables detection of genetic conditions and creates reams of genetic data. AI is also helping us to make sense of this data and better understand the often maddeningly complex relationships between genes and phenotypic traits such as cardiovascular disease, schizophrenia, and intelligence. Gene editing is also now possible, though taboo.

These achievements already seem worthy of science fiction. But more is on the horizon, such as artificial wombs and in vitro gametogenesis (IVG, creation of sperm or egg from other cells, has already been used to create offspring in mice). Both artificial wombs and IVG would radically improve the accessibility of reprotech as one would no longer need the burdens and risks of pregancy and/or of extracting a handful of eggs through ovarian stimulation. As reprotech becomes more genetically powerful and accessible, so its geopolitical impact will increase.

6. Reprotech’s current geopolitical impact is marginal, but growing

The current geopolitical impact of reprotech worldwide is marginal: IVF contributes to 1-2% of births in developed countries. However the impact of IVF in pro-reprotech nations is no longer negligible, contributing to 6-7% of all births in Denmark and Israel. Whether one likes it or not, enthusiastic adoption of reprotech has helped Israel achieve its population goal of a secure Jewish-majority state in the Middle East.

Again in Israel, largescale genetic testing and embryo screening has enabled a dramatic reduction of monogenic diseases like Tay Sachs among Ashkenazi Jews newborns and Beta Thalassemia among Arab newborns.

Even if adoption remains at a fairly modest level in absolute numbers, reprotech’s impact may become geopolitically significant if only because fertility rates are otherwise so low, especially in the most innovative and powerful countries. Assuming the growth of IVF adoption remains consistent, almost 400 million additional people could be born by 2100—not a negligible amount!

7. Governments are increasingly promoting access to reprotech to support population growth

Governments in sub-replacement countries are increasingly promoting access to reprotech to boost birth rates. France is looking to fight infertility in support of the nation’s longstanding pronatalist tradition. China is broadening insurance coverage of reprotech to boost births as part of the Three-Child Policy. Perhaps surprisingly, there is even an emerging bipartisan consensus on support for IVF in the heavily polarized USA. The pronatalist Trump administration has said it will expand support for IVF: “Because we want more babies, to put it very nicely.”

One can also imagine distinctly creepy scenarios. Would authoritarian governments like China and North Korea be willing to create state-run artificial womb farms to raise parentless children for the good of the nation? Not impossible.

8. Medical genetics is being routinized

Medical genetics and genetic counseling are expanding across the world. As documented by our Repronews newsletter, genetic studies of subpopulations are proliferating to more and more countries and subgroups. Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) is even planning to genetically sequence every newborn in England to identify diseases, predict disease risk, and provide personalized care. The expansion of biobanks of genetic and phenotypic datasets, combined with steadily growing AI capabilities, will improve our understanding of human genetics in ways that inform reprotech.

9. Reprotechs are often mutual enablers of one another

Many emerging reprotechs are mutual enablers one another. In particular, artificial wombs and IVG could both radically increase the ease of using reprotech, leading to a tipping point towards mass adoption. Legal scholar Hank Greely has predicted that “Easy PGD” (easy preimplantation genetic diagnosis) could become the norm once IVG becomes available. This would mean creating any number of early-stage embryos and then selecting for implantation the one with the most genes associated with health and other desired traits.

The genetic power of reprotech will increase over time. For example, while current polygenic embryo selection might enable a 2- to 3-point average increase in IQ, selection from a larger number of embryos and progressively improving understanding of the links between genes and phenotypes could lead to significantly higher potential gains. It may be that one day many societies come to see the unnecessarily randomized creation of human beings as barbaric.

10. Adoption of reprotech will vary widely

There is no expectation that countries will equally adopt reprotech breakthroughs. Indeed, a major theme of my research is that different ethical and religious philosophies (such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism) have varying attitudes towards reproduction that have had significant genetic impacts historically and continue to influence attitudes towards use of reprotechs today.

Adoption will depend on:

1. Nations’ biotechnological capabilities. These are strongest in North America, Europe, East Asia, Israel, the Arab Gulf states. Elites in countries like India are also likely to access reprotech.

2. Nations’ differing policies and values. These can include policy goals such as boosting birth rates and promoting genetic health, as well as balancing values such as freedom (reproductive), equality (motivating equal access to reprotech and/or suppression of genetic enhancement), and the sanctity of early-stage human life (severely restricting use of reprotech as “exploitative,” as in Germany).

Today, Germany and Israel represent opposite poles of the reprotech policy spectrum. Learning the exact opposite lessons from the Holocaust, Israelis have enthusiastically embraced reprotech to foster a healthy and growing Jewish population, while Germans have largely rejected reprotech as violating human dignity and proximity to “eugenics,” not to mention rejecting ethno-natalism in general.

Insofar as policies and values affecting reprotech adoption directly impact both the gene pool and nations’ overall geopolitical competitiveness, these offer a paradigmatic example of gene-culture coevolution.

In term of current trends, we can reasonably predict:

• Mass adoption of reprotech is likely to initially occur in countries combining biotechnological capabilities with a heavy genetic disease load due to a history inbreeding. This would include Israel, the Gulf Arab states, and (at least for elites) India.

• The U.S. is likely to continue to pioneer development of the most innovative reprotechs, due to unmatched biotech capabilities, a critical mass of wealthy consumers, a thriving venture capital and startup scene, and lack of restrictive regulation. Mass adoption seems unlikely for the foreseable future however.

• Scholars like Alexis Heng Boon Chin have argued that, unless restricted, Confucian societies like China and Singapore are likely to embrace reprotech for genetic enhancement (which he calls “Confugenics”), driven by status-obsessed competitiveness. This will however very much depend on government choices (historically often restrictive).

In conclusion, while the world is affected by many profound trends—climate change, infectious disease threats, AI, and old fashioned wars and power-political rivalries—population should not be neglected. Population trends will continue to be crucial for the power imbalances and the course of many conflicts, such as those between Ukraine and Russia or between Israel and the Palestinians. At a most fundamental level, reproductive trends will determine who we are as a species.

When considering the future power of the U.S., the EU, China, Russia, and other polities, population trends, and increasingly reprotech, will be a critical factor. As such, scholars should further explore the current and potential impact of emerging reprotechs on socioeconomic systems and geopolitics. What may be relatively marginal today may have outsized impact in the future.

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Note: This academic article has also been Visualized in 10 Points.

I am pleased to announce that Politics and the Life Sciences has published an in-depth academic article by myself and my friend Filipe Nobre Faria on the geopolitical and socioeconomic impact of reprotech in an age of collapsing fertility.

This article was written last December just before AI became a superhuman research assistant. Had the AI already been around, it certainly would have helped to identify relevant literature. Now that, at least in history and political science, AI pretty much has the ability to write an adequate master’s thesis in a matter of minutes, one wonders what the future of academic writing will or should be.

Below is a bullet point summary of our argument.

• For every given level of socieconomic development and organizational capacity, population is a fundamental variable of national power (evidenced, among many other examples by the rise in U.S. power since the 18th century and the severe relative decline in French power during the 19th and early 20th centuries).

• After a long population explosion, the world has entered a phase of sub-replacement fertility and even ultra-low fertility (1.4 children or less per woman) in many countries.

• These countries’ geopolitical capacity declines over time as a shrinking working-age population must support the growing elderly population with its ballooning healthcare and pension costs. This trend has especially hit Italy and Japan, but will affect almost all developed countries, notably South Korea and China.

• Sub-replacement fertility affects all of the more economically developed and techno-scientifically innovative countries in the world, with the notable exception of Israel. Shrinking and increasingly burdened workforces will reduce their capacity to contribute to global goods such as innovation and foreign aid.

• The steady development of reproductive technologies (reprotech) is increasingly affecting demographic trends, with consequences not only for parents but also socioeconomic systems and geopolitics.

• Reprotech does this by fostering population growth (thus a larger workforce), genetic health (reducing healthcare costs and productivity losses), and/or genetic enhancement (e.g., for intelligence and conscientiousness, thus fostering human capital, arguably the single most important factor for economic development and techno-scientific innovation).

• Major reprotech breakthroughs in recent decades include:

  • IVF (conception in the lab)

  • Cheap genetic sequencing (enabling detection of genetic conditions and creating reams of genetic data)

  • AI (enabling you to make sense of said data, including the association of multiple genes with traits such as cardiovascular disease and intelligence)

  • Gene editing

• Upcoming reprotech breakthroughs may include:

  • Artificial wombs

  • In vitro gametogenesis (IVG, creation of sperm or egg from other cells, has already been used to create offspring in mice)

  • Better understanding of associations between multiple genes and phenotypes, strengthening embryo selection for traits

• The impact of these reprotechs is summarized below:

• The current geopolitical impact of reprotech worldwide is marginal, contributing to 1-2% of births in developed countries. However, the impact in pro-reprotech nations is significant. In Denmark and Israel, IVF contributes 6-7% of all births.

• In Israel, largescale genetic testing and embryo screening has enabled a dramatic reduction of monogenic diseases like Tay Sachs and Beta Thalassemia among new generations.

• Governments in sub-replacement countries are increasingly moving to facilitate access to reprotech to increase the birth rate, as seen in the United States, France, and China.

• As reprotech develops, there may be a tipping point when mass adoption occurs due to increasing ease of use and/or genetic potency. Reprotechs are often mutual enablers of one another, as summarized below:

• Adoption of reprotech is certain to diverge depending on:

  • Nations’ unequal biotechnological capabilities (strongest in North America, Europe, East Asia, Israel, and the Arab Gulf states).

  • Nations’ differing policy goals (such as boosting birth rates and promoting genetic health) and the balancing of values such as freedom (reproductive), equality (which can motivate equal access to reprotech and/or suppression of genetic enhancement), and the sanctity of early-stage human life (often restricting use of reprotech, as in Germany).

• The possible policy approaches to reprotech are summarized below.

• In term of current trends, we can predict:

  • Mass adoption of reprotech is likely to initially occur in countries combining a heavy genetic disease load due to a history inbreeding and biotechnological capabilities. This would include Israel, the Gulf Arab states, and (at least for elites) India.

  • The U.S. is likely to continue to pioneer adoption of the most innovative reprotechs, due unmatched biotech capabilities, a critical mass of wealthy consumers, and lack of restrictive regulation.

  • Scholars like Alexis Heng Boon Chin have argued that, unless restricted, Confucian societies like China and Singapore are likely to adopt reprotech for genetic enhancement (which he calls “Confugenics”), driven by status-obsessed competitiveness. This will however very much depend on government choices (historically often restrictive).

• Even if adoption remains at a fairly modest level in absolute numbers, reprotech’s impact may become geopolitically significant if only because fertility rates are otherwise so low, especially in the most innovative and powerful countries.

• While the world is affected by many profound trends—climate change, infectious disease threats, AI, and old fashioned wars—population should not be neglected.

• When considering the future power of the U.S., the EU, China, Russia, and other polities, population trends, and increasingly reprotech, will be a critical factor. As such, scholars should further explore the current and potential impact of emerging reprotech on socioeconomic systems and geopolitics.

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Welcome to the latest issue of Repronews! Highlights from this week’s edition:

• Repro/genetics

  • NHS England to offer genotyping of every newborn baby to predict disease, “revolutionize” preventive healthcare, and build world-leading biobank.

  • “Confugenics”: Will the combination of Confucian hypercompetitiveness and costly genetic enhancement technologies further crash East-Asian fertility?

• Population Policies & Trends

  • China to roll out nationwide child subsidy of $500 a year, in addition to local government efforts.

• Further Learning

  • Almost 5000-year-old Egyptian genotyped, showed significant Mesopotamian ancestry, suggesting regional immigration patterns.

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Repro/genetics

“NHS plans to DNA test all babies to assess disease risk” (BBC)

• England’s National Health Service (NHS) plans to map the DNA of every newborn baby in the country to assess their risk of hundreds of diseases.

• The objective was set in the NHS’s plan fo the next 10 years.

• Genotyping newborns is part of a wider government drive towards predicting and preventing illness, including £650 million invested in DNA research for all patients by 2030.

• Health Secretary Wes Streeting said genotyping will enable the NHS to “leapfrog disease, so we’re in front of it rather than reacting to it.”

• The Department for Health and Social Care said that genomics and AI would be used to “revolutionize prevention,” accelerate diagnoses, and provide an “early warning signal for disease.”

• The Health Secretary said: “With the power of this new technology, patients will be able to receive personalized healthcare to prevent ill-health before symptoms begin, reducing the pressure on NHS services, and helping people live longer, healthier lives.”

• Screening newborns for rare diseases will involve sequencing their complete DNA using blood samples from their umbilical cord.

• In October, an NHS study analyzing the genetic code of up to 100,000 babies was announced, looking only for gene disorders that develop in early childhood and for which there are effective treatments. There are around 7,000 single-gene disorders.

• Newborns are currently offered a heelprick blood test that checks for nine serious conditions, including cystic fibrosis.

• Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, a geneticist at the Francis Crick Institute, said genotyping can enable predictions for developing particular diseases, such as muscular dystrophy, liver diseases and some kidney problems.

• Lovell-Badge warned the government would need to hire qualified professionals who could interpret genetic data for patients. “You need people to have conversations with individuals who might be affected by genetic disease,” he said, raising concerns about the lack of genetic counsellors.

• The new initiative will also support efforts by Genomics England to build one of the world’s largest research databases, with the goal of containing over 500,000 genomes by 2030.

“Confugenics: East Asian culture favors uptake of human cognitive enhancement and IVF genetic technologies amid demographic challenges” (MBE)

• Alexis Heng Boon Chin and colleagues write on the rise of “Confugenics,” defined as the intersection of reproductive technologies for genetic enhancement and values of Confucian societies.

• The authors explore the interaction of emerging reprogenetic technologies and East-Asian societies’ obsession with “child perfectionism” and “tiger parenting,” whereby whereby parents push their children into the competitive educational system at an early age, often paying high fees for private tuition. They argue that child perfectionism and tiger parenting discourage many families from having more children.

• The authors believe Confucian competitiveness may motivate adoption of costly reprogenetic enhancement technologies, further reducing birth rates: “The development of cognitive-enhancing brain chips, and reprogenetic technology platforms for consumer eugenics, such as germline genome editing and polygenic embryo screening, may further increase financial strain on parents, potentially accelerating demographic decline.”

More on repro/genetics:

• “New data: 1 in 31 British children now born via IVF” (PET)

• “The newly enacted Italian surrogacy law: Effects on reproductive tourism” (JARG)

• “‘Forever fertile’: Ovarian tissue cryopreservation for an extended reproductive lifespan” (JARG)

Population Policies & Trends

“China plans nationwide subsidies to boost birth rate, growth” (Straights Times)

• The Chinese government is set to provide 3,600 yuan (about $500) a year for each child born on or after 1 January 2025 until the age of 3, under a nationwide initiative.

• China registered population decline for three straight years from 2022 to 2024.

• 9.54 million Chinese babies were born in 2024, only half of the 18.8 million registered in 2016, when China lifted the One-Child Policy.

• China lost its title as the most populous nation to India in 2023. The population may drop from 1.41 billion today to 1.3 billion by 2050 and below 800 million by 2100, according to UN forecasts.

• The country has seen a sharp drop in the marriage rate, which has hit its lowest level in almost half a century.

• Many local governments have rolled out measures such as cash incentives and housing subsidies, to alleviate families’ financial burden.

• Local subsidies are sometimes quite generous. Hohhot, the regional capital of Inner Mongolia, made headlines in March for its subsidies of 50,000 yuan (almost $7000) to couples who have a second child and 100,000 yuan (almost $14,000) for a third child or more.

Genetic Studies

• “Large genetic map of Indians flags hidden disease risks” (The Hindu)

Further Learning

“Whole-genome ancestry of an Old Kingdom Egyptian” (Nature)

• Researchers have gene sequenced an adult male Egyptian, radiocarbon dated to 2855–2570 BCE. He lived a few centuries after Egyptian unification, bridging the Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom periods.

• The body was interred in a ceramic pot within a rock-cut tomb, potentially contributing to DNA preservation.

• The genome mainly corresponds to North African Neolithic ancestry, but around 20% of his genetic ancestry is more similar to eastern Fertile Crescent genomes, including Mesopotamia and surrounding regions.

• The results indicate that contacts between Egypt and the eastern Fertile Crescent were not limited to objects, domesticated animals, plants, and writing systems, but also included human migration.

• More genomes are needed to fully understand the genomic diversity of early Egyptians, especially as the genotyped man was an elite male not necessarily representative of the broader population.

More on evolution, genetics, and biotech:

• “No bones, no scales, no problem: The first lab-grown salmon sold in the U.S.” (Washington Post)

• “Fertile mice created from two fathers, via epigenome editing” (PET)

• “A new project aims to synthesize a human chromosome” (The Economist)

Disclaimer: We cannot fact-check the linked-to stories and studies, nor do the views expressed necessarily reflect our own.

Welcome to the latest issue of Repronews! This edition has been delayed due to a not insignificant piece of personal repronews: the birth of our second daughter! Everyone is well, even our sleep schedule is improving. All the same, future editions may also be less regular.

Highlights from this week’s edition:

• Repro/genetics

  • Trump administration guts CDC’s IVF team

• Population Policies & Trends

  • The Atlantic’s Faith Hill argues maximizing U.S. fertility means subsidizing IVF for all family types

• Genetic Studies

  • Korea’s Haenyo women have “unique genetic adaptations” due a lifestyle of underwater diving

  • Largest osteoarthritis GWAS ever identifies almost 1000 genes linked to the disease

• Further Learning

  • Our ancestors almost went extinct 930,000 years ago as the population collapsed to less than 1300 people

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Repro/genetics

“CDC’s IVF team gutted even as Trump calls himself the ‘fertilization president’“ (NBC News)

• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Assisted Reproductive Technology Surveillance Team has been eliminated by the Trump administration.

• The six-person team of epidemiologists, data analysts, and researchers was tasked with track IVF success across the United States.

• “The data was produced at the clinic level every year, so you could say, ‘Is this clinic successful 15% of the time, 20% of the time, 25% of the time,’” said Aaron Levine, a professor of public policy at Georgia Tech and a CDC collaborator. “You can imagine that is super valuable information for patients considering IVF, or maybe considering IVF at multiple clinics, and trying to make their choices.”

• The team tracked IVF outcomes, such as whether women gave multiple births or delivered prematurely, and did research on makign IVF more efficient, safer, and more accessible. It also provided tools to the public such as an “IVF success estimator” to allow people estimate their chances of IVF working.

• In March, President Donald Trump styled himself “the fertilization president.”

• The Trump administration has committed to imminently issuing an executive order promoting IVF.

More on repro/genetics:

• Births from IVF in the U.S. increased 4.4% between 2022 and 2023, rising to 95,860, or 2.6% of the nation’s births (ASRM)

• Misleading terminology on “restorative reproductive medicine” and “ethical IVF” being used to restrict IVF access (ASRM)

• Podcast: “What can state-funded IVF do for population growth?” (PET)

• “Healing before birth: How genetic screening is changing lives” (Forbes)

• “Communitarian ethics perspective on UK biobanking: The Newborn Genomes Programme” (JoME)

• “Silicon Valley’s consumer eugenics” (Commentary)

Population Policies & Trends

“The pro-family policy this nation actually needs” (The Atlantic)

• According to a Pew Research Center report, in 1970, 67% of Americans aged 25-49 lived with a spouse and at least one child. By 2023, that number had plummeted to 37%. The traditional family is no longer a majority in this age group.

• The Atlantic’s Faith Hill argues that defining marriage narrowly between heterosexuals “wouldn’t just be a moral mistake; it would also be a strategic one. … [I]f raising fertility rates is the goal, Trump’s team should be embracing the many kinds of families that already exist—and lowering barriers for all the people hoping to start new ones.”

• Today, the people most likely to marry in the U.S. are affluent, straight, educated, and White or Asian.

• Hill points to evidence suggesting gay couples or single parents may be more involved in their children’s lives, as their decision to become parents may be more willful and involve intentionally overcoming more obstacles.

• She calls on policymakers to subsidize IVF and other reproductive technologies, extend family leave policies to helpful relatives (such as grandparents or other carers), and finance childcare regardless of family type.

More on population policies and trends:

• “MAGA’s era of ‘soft eugenics’: Let the weak get sick, help the clever breed” (The Guardian)

• “‘A slippery slope to eugenics’: Advocates reject RFK Jr.’s national autism database” (The Guardian)

Genetic Studies

“Korea’s ‘amazing’ Haenyeo divers show unique genetic adaptations” (The Hindu)

• A new study has found evidence of both genetic adaptation and physiological changes among the Haenyeo.

• The Haenyo are unique group of women in South Korea’s Jeju Island known for diving up to 10 meters underwater and up to seven hours a day to collect shellfish.

• The researchers explored whether long-term diving practice and natural selection have shaped distinct Haenyeo genetics, particularly relative to bradycardia (the slowing of heart rate), blood pressure regulation, cold tolerance and pregnancy-related cardiovascular stress.

• With whole-genome sequencing, researchers confirmed that Jeju Islanders— both Haenyeo and non-Haenyeo— are genetically distinct from mainland Koreans. Populations began to diverge around 5,000-7,000 years ago.

• A genetic variant identified in the study is more common in Jeju residents and may reduce pregnancy-associated hypertension risks.

• This variant also correlated with changes in the expression levels of some other genes with known roles in immune modulation and hypertension. Natural selection among the Haenyeo may have targeted the variant to reduce the risk of preeclampsia in diving pregnant women.

• “The Haenyeo are amazing, and their incredible ability is written in their genes,” University of Utah geneticist and study coauthor Melissa Ilardo. “The fact that women are diving through their pregnancy, which is a really tough thing to do, has actually influenced an entire island’s people.”

• The Jeju-Haenyeo culture has been celebrated by being included in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2016.

“Almost 1000 genetic links to osteoarthritis uncovered” (PET)

• A large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) has discovered potential therapeutic targets for osteoarthritis.

• Osteoarthritis, caused by the breakdown of cartilage in joints, is the third-fastest growing health condition causing disability and is forecast to affect one billion people worldwide by 2050.

• Researchers conducted the largest ever GWAS into osteoarthritis by analyzing nearly two million genomes. This revealed 962 genetic loci significantly linked to the condition. Over 500 of these associations had never previously been identified.

• “Genetic variants associated with osteoarthritis risk are widespread across osteoarthritis patients,” said study author Dr. Konstantinos Hatzikotoulas. “Our newly gained knowledge about them can enable improved patient selection for clinical trials and personalized medicine approaches.”

• No therapies currently exist for osteoarthritis that delay or reverse disease progression, with interventions limited to pain management or joint replacement.

• The study suggests existing drugs could be repurposed to treat the condition: 10% of the genes identified as linked to osteoarthritis encode proteins targeted by existing therapies.

• Functional analyses of the genes and biological modeling are needed to determine the role these variants play in osteoarthritis development.

• Further research is also needed to identify genetic risk factors for osteoarthritis in people of non-European descent. 87% of genomes analyzed in the study came from individuals of European ancestry.

More on genetic studies:

• “Don’t need much sleep? Mutation linked to thriving with little rest” (Nature)

• “Genetics may influence age at which children first walk” (PET)

• “The heritability of IQ increases with age: A counterintuitive but highly replicable finding” (Steve Stewart-Williams)

Further Learning

“Humans ancestors nearly went extinct 930,000 years ago” (Brighter Side)

• A genetic study reveals our human ancestors survived a dramatic population collapse almost 1 million years ago.

• The population crash occurred between 930,000 and 813,000 years ago, during which an average of only 1,280 individuals survived.

• The bottleneck was associated with a 66% losss in genetic diversity, reshaping our gene pool. This included the merger of two chromosomes into our current chromosome 2, contributing to divergence from Neanderthals and Denisovans.

• The period coincides with a a gap in the African and Eurasian fossil records.

• Yi-Hsuan Pan, a genomic researcher from East China Normal University, said: “The novel finding opens a new field in human evolution because it evokes many questions, such as the places where these individuals lived, how they overcame catastrophic climate changes, and whether natural selection during the bottleneck accelerated the evolution of the human brain.”

• The bottleneck may have happened due to harsh ice ages and prolonged droughts.

• The researchers argue natural selection played a critical role in this period and the development of traits suited to extreme survival conditions, possibly speeding up brain evolution, advanced cognitive abilities, and complex social structures.

• Li Haipeng, a computational biologist at the Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, said: “Future goals with this knowledge aim to paint a more complete picture of human evolution during this period, unraveling the mystery that is early human ancestry and evolution.”

More on human nature, evolution, and biotech:

• Human nature

  • fMRI brain scans show different parts of the brain light up for Democrats and Republics when making food purchasing decisions (P&LS)

  • “How men and women rate each other on dating sites” (Steve Stewart-Williams)

  • “How much of the grade differences between boys and girls can be explained by differences in maturation?” (ScienceNorway)

  • Disability journalist S. E. Smith writes that “eliminating eugenic beliefs … may require dismantling the United States itself” (The Conversationalist)

• Evolution

  • “Convergent evolution: How complex brains developed independently in humans, birds and reptiles” (NPR/GLP)

• Biotech

  • “Argentina’s scientists create gene-edited polo ‘super ponies’” (Legal Insurrection)

  • “Inside the first European gene-edited wheat field trial” (Euronews)

  • “The US has approved CRISPR pigs for food” (MIT Tech Review)

  • Industry polls finds 80% of British Zoomers support gene-edited crops (British Sugar)

  • New European biotech act: Which way forward? (European Parliamentary Research Service)

Disclaimer: We cannot fact-check the linked-to stories and studies, nor do the views expressed necessarily reflect our own.

Welcome to the latest issue of Repronews! Highlights from this week’s edition:

• Repro/genetics

  • The BBC reports on why content creator Lucy Edwards wants to use IVF to screen out the gene that made her blind

  • PET hosts a second event on how publicly-funded IVF and other policies can boost population growth

  • An ethical framework to protect the human gene pool from damage due to chemical pollutants

• Genetic Studies

  • Twin study from Danish and Swedish data finds heritability of lifespan is over 50%, higher than previous estimates

  • Swedish twin study finds enjoyment of music is about 54% heritable and this is mostly unrelated to genes associated with broader reward sensitivity and musical skills

  • A genome-wide association study finds genes predisposing for breast-cancer risk in South African black women significantly differ from those in Europeans and West Africans

• Further Learning

  • The New Yorker discusses the importance of recognizing “human biological diversity” in child growth and medicine

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Repro/genetics

Why Lucy Edwards wants an IVF baby to screen out gene that made her go blind (BBC)

• Lucy Edwards, a blind content creator, TikTok star, and ambassador for the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), is starting IVF treatment but faced a dilemma about screening out the gene that made her blind.

• The genetic disorder in question (Incontinentia Pigmenti or IP) runs in Lucy’s female family line and causes blindness, with potential severe outcomes for male pregnancies.

• To avoid passing on the gene, Lucy and her partner Ollie have chosen pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) as part of IVF to select embryos without the genetic condition.

• Lucy acknowledges that IVF will “edit out” the gene that defines her life and identity. She and Ollie want to avoid the potential suffering and trauma associated with the gene.

• Lucy is excited about the prospect of becoming a mother, although she remains mindful of the ethical implications of her decision. Most people interacting on social media have been supportive.

“What can state-funded IVF do for population growth?” (PET)

• British fertility group PET held another event on the role of government-funded fertility treatment in addressing population decline.

• Ann Berrington, professor of demography and social statistics at the University of Southampton and director of the Fertility and Family research group, outlined some of the determinants affecting fertility behaviours.

• These include “remote” factors such as reduced child mortality, perceived economic uncertainty, and attitudes to gender roles, and “proximate” factors, such as infertility, relationship status, and use of contraception.

• She said the impact of cash incentives for children is generally small compared to cultural factors.

• Supportive family policies, as found in the Nordic countries, are necessary but not sufficient, as birthrates are still declining in these countries.

• Professor Berrington suggested:

  • Increasing gender equity in terms of sharing childcare and domestic labor more evenly between partners

  • Improving the availability of affordable housing

  • Reducing economic barriers (a Finnish study showed that childlessness is growing fastest among those with the least education)

  • Addressing “subjective economic insecurity”

  • Enhancing access to assisted conception, making it more affordable and more accessible to diverse types of families

• David Bell, emeritus professor of economics at the University of Stirling, noted that Scotland has a low total fertiltiy rate of 1.3 despite having the most generous NHS-funded IVF policy in Britain.

• He argues housing costs, the cost of childcare, career pressure, financial insecurity, student debt, individualism, reduced stigma around being childfree, desire for work/life balance, and climate fears may be undermining fertility.

• Bell called for a comprehensive approach to fertility decline, respecting individual choice and balancing that with societal needs.

• Søren Ziebe, professor of clinical embryology at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, defined fertility awareness as “the understanding of reproduction, fecundity and related risk factors, including the awareness of societal and cultural factors affecting options to meet reproductive family-planning and family-building needs.”

• Ziebe argued that need for fertility treatment could be reduced by fertility awareness and education. In Denmark, around 12% of women do not become mothers. Many are “childless by circumstance” and would like to have children. He said 11% of children born in Denmark are conceived at a fertility clinic and this may rise further with increased government funding.

• Zeibe said even if Denmark’s generous funding were extended across Europe, it is unlikely that it could compensate for projected population decline. Fertility treatment can only be a part of the solution to population decline.

• Satu Rautakallio-Hokkanen, director-general of Fertility Europe and contributor to the Economist Impact report Fertility Policy and Practice: A Toolkit for Europe, shared patient perspectives on fertility treatment and population growth.

• Around 20% of people of reproductive age face infertility for medical and/or social reasons, such as lack of a partner, one’s economic situation, or state restrictions (such as lack of access to donor gametes for same-sex couples).

• Most Finns want a family size of 2 children and only 13% of adults want to remain child-free. However, by age 45, 30% of men and 20% of women are childless. There is a gap between the families people want and what they are having.

• To support fertility, a 2024 report from Finland’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Health suggested fertility awareness in schools, reproductive health counselling and services, investing in fertility treatments and prevention of mental health problems, and supporting family-friendly workplaces and work/life balance.

• Professor Roger Gosden, a visiting scholar at William and Mary (Virginia), discussed “the Infertility Trap” whereby population decline from low birthrates becomes harder to reverse (a concept developed by John Aitken).

• Gosden faulted Elon Musk, who has strongly expressed support for pronatalism, for cutting U.S. federal funding for fertility research. This includes cutting funding for clinical trials in humans for the drug called Rapamycin, which may protect egg quality in later life an d thus prolong fertility.

• He noted that use of ICSI, a treatment for male infertility, may be passing on genetic mutations affecting sperm quality, leading male descendants to also require ICSI to conceive.

“Genetic engineering, chemical exposure, and the germline: An ethical synthesis” (Hastings Center)

• Anne Le Goff and Hannah Landecker argue that widespread concerns about intentional modification of the heritable human genome should also inform accidental heritable modifications due to pollutants such as chemicals.

• They write: “whether the impact of human technological activity on enduring shifts in human heredity occurs via purposeful genetic modification or nondirected changes that undermine genome stability, the result is irreversible genetic change in future generations. This article argues that the robust ethical reflection developed by the bioethics community to address human heritable genome editing can be used as a resource to address understudied questions of moral responsibility for anthropogenic insults to the germline.”

• The authors outline a “future-oriented ethical framework” for germline responsibility in a time of concern about industrial chemicals.

More on repro/genetics:

• “First baby born following womb transplant in UK” (PET)

• “Polygenic scores could ‘turn the tide on prostate cancer’” (PET)

• Podcast: Genetics II: Discusses genes’ influence on personality, environmental factors, and recent science (ASRM)

Genetic Studies

“Heritability of human lifespan is about 50% when confounding factors are addressed” (bioRxiv)

• Ben Shenhar and coauthors at the Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel), the Karolinska Institute (Sweden), Westlake University (China), and Leiden University (Netherlands) estimate the impact of genes upon lifespan.

• Twin studies have typically suggested genes explain 20-25% of lifespan variation, but the authors argue these do not exclude extrinsic mortality (death caused by factors outside the organism’s control).

• Using historical twin datasets from Sweden, Denmark, and the Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging (SATSA) study, the authors argue extrinsic mortality drives down measured lifespan correlations among twin pairs.

• In the SATSA cohort, heritability climbs across birth cohorts as extrinsic mortality falls.

• Excluding extrinsic deaths and analysing survival from age 15 leads to an estimated heritability of lifespan of 54%, similar to most complex traits.

• The authors “challenge the consensus that genetics has only a minor effect on lifespan, showing that genetic variation explains about half of human lifespan differences. Our results support renewed efforts to uncover the molecular and genetic mechanisms of aging and translate them into clinical benefits.”

“Scientists find genetic basis for how much people enjoy music” (PsyPost)

• Giacomo Bignardi and coauthors at the Max Planck Institute (Netherlands), the Karolinska Institute, Barcelona University, and McGill University, have published a twin study in Nature Communications estimating how much people’s enjoyment of music is influenced by genetic factors.

• The researchers found that over half the variation in people’s sensitivity to musical pleasure is related to genetic differences.

• These genetic influences seems mostly unrelated to broader reward sensitivity or basic musical skills like pitch or rhythm perception.

• The findings suggest music enjoyment is not simply a byproduct of general brain function, but may instead have distinct biological roots.

• Music is a universal human behavior playing an important role in emotion, culture, and social bonding, but its origins remain elusive.

• The researchers used data from the Swedish Twin Registry, a large database including thousands of adult twins, to analyze responses from over 9000 individuals who had completed the Barcelona Music Reward Questionnaire (BMRQ), a survey measuring how much pleasure people experience from music.

• The questionnaire assesses five areas: emotional reactions to music, using music to regulate mood, seeking out new music, enjoying movement related to music (like dancing), and the pleasure of social bonding through music.

• The researchers also gathered data on participants’ basic music perception abilities (such as pitch and rhythm discrimination) and their general sensitivity to rewarding experiences.

• The researchers found that identical twins were significantly more similar in how much they enjoyed music compared to fraternal twins.

• The researchers estimated that about 54% of the variation in music enjoyment could be attributed to genetic factors.

• After accounting for genes related to basic music skills or general pleasure-seeking behavior, nearly 40% of the variation in music enjoyment could be traced to genetic factors unique to music enjoyment itself.

• The genetic contributions to music enjoyment were not uniform. Each of the five aspects of musical enjoyment—emotional response, mood regulation, music seeking, sensory-motor pleasure, and social bonding—had only partly overlapping genetic influences.

• For example, the researchers found that the pleasure people get from the social aspects of music (e.g., bonding at concerts or group singing) was more strongly related to genes involved in basic music perception than other facets were. This could reflect the social bonding function of music in human evolution.

• The study did not find evidence for a single overarching genetic factor influencing all facets of music enjoyment equally. Each facet had its own combination of genetic influences, suggesting that the ability to enjoy music is built from several distinct components. Musicality may not be a single trait, but a complex set of abilities and experiences.

• “These findings suggest a complex picture in which partly distinct DNA differences contribute to different aspects of music enjoyment,” said Bignardi. “Future research looking at which part of the genome contributes the most to the human ability to enjoy music has the potential to shed light on the human faculty that baffled Darwin the most, and which still baffles us today.”

  

“GWAS identifies common variants associated with breast cancer in South African black women” (Nature Communications)

• Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have characterized the contribution of common genetic variants to breast cancer-risk in people of European ancestry.

• This GWAS explored the genetic contribution to breask-cancer risk in black South Africans, with data from 2485 women with breast cancer and 1101 controls.

• Two novel risk loci were identified. These did not replicate in breast cancer GWAS data from populations of West Africa ancestry, suggesting genetic heterogeneity in health risk factors in different African populations.

• A European ancestry derived polygenic risk model for breast cancer explained only 0.79% of variance among these South African women, highlighting how different populations have different genetic influences on disease risk.

• The authors conclude: “Larger studies in pan-African populations are needed to further define the genetic contribution to [breast cancer] risk.”

More on genetic studies:

• “Scientists warn African DNA is missing from the global genome map” (RFI)

• “Correcting for volunteer bias in GWAS increases SNP effect sizes and heritability estimates” (Nature Communications)

Further Learning

“Medical benchmarks and the myth of the universal patient” (New Yorker)

• Manvir Singh argues WHO global child growth standards, largely based on people of European descent, can be incorrect for other genetic groups. He asks whether “universal” health metrics should be replaced by standards recognizing “human biological diversity” and “the different shapes of different populations.”

• The author’s daughter was classified as “wasted” (malnourished) by WHO standards, despite appearing healthy and thriving.

• Evolutionary anthropologist Herman Pontzer found that children of the Daasanach ethnic group in Kenya, who tend to be tall and lanky, were flagged for malnutrition, despite having normal behavior and health.

• Singh recommends Pontzer’s Adaptable: How Your Unique Body Rally Works and Why Our Biology Unites Us for providing “an engrossing, richly informative exploration of human biological diversity.”

• Singh argues the “universal” benchmarks can mislead health assessments and policy interventions. He cites discrepancies in child growth and malnutrition estiamtes across different regions.

• “Take the so-called South Asian Enigma: India, Bangladesh, and Nepal exceed most sub-Saharan African countries on key health and development indicators, but their populations still fail to measure up (literally) to those in sub-Saharan Africa or the African diaspora. For instance, Haiti’s infant-mortality rate is almost twice that of India’s, and its per-capita GDP is 30% lower, yet only 6% of Haitian children are assessed as severely stunted, compared with 14% of Indian children.”

• Singh writes: “We’ve entered the age of neurodiversity, precision medicine, and ‘bio-individuality,’ but we still assume that malnutrition looks the same in Cologne as it does in rural Kenya. Is it time to move beyond the model of the universal patient?”

• The article highlights the importance of considering genetic and environmental factors in health standards, pointing out that human physiology is more diverse than commonly assumed by global health organizations.

More on human nature, evolution, and biotech:

• “List of useful terms” (Not With a Bang): discusses concepts such as the Baby Boom Pattern, the Industrial Revolution Pattern, Everything Breaks in 1971/1973, the Great Awokening / Smartphones Pattern, J. D. UNwin’s Marriage Taxonomy, the Hajnal Line, Coffee Salon Demographics, the East Asian Exception, Clarkian Selection, Cognitive Capitalism, Nonlinear Ethnic Niche, the Signaling Theory of Education, and the Economist’s Fallacy

• How CRISPR could enable safer food (Food Poisoning News)

• “International bioethics, Ubuntu and HIV testing in Sub-Saharan Africa: an evaluation of Zambia’s HIV testing policy” (JoME)

• “The table of Homovictimus: Artificial meats, biopolitics, and digital domination (SSRN)

Disclaimer: We cannot fact-check the linked-to stories and studies, nor do the views expressed necessarily reflect our own.

The National University of Singapore (NUS), Oxford University, and the University of Exeter are coorganizing a study called Tinker Tots, asking the public about which embryos they would prioritize for implantation when undergoing IVF.

Tinker Tots offers a simple game asking participants which embryos they would choose based on their genetic likelihood of developing certain traits and conditions, such as reduced heart disease risk, physical aptitude, higher musical ability, or IQ.

When I played the game, I was offered the chance to choose between two different embryos six times according to their sex and the same two traits, and then in the seventh round to choose up to three from all the previous embryos for implantation.

The idea is to determine how participants weigh up the trade-offs of choosing between traits (e.g., I had to choose between embryos with varying likelihoods of becoming creative and of developing bipolar disorder), and what this says about their underlying social and personal values.

At the end you get a summary of your results comparing how your choices compare with other participants.

You are also invited to participate in a survey to share your views on embryo selection in general (including whether and how this can be ethical).

Professor Julian Savulescu, one of the study’s principle investigators, says: “We’re asking people to really think: What do you value in a child? What kind of future are you imagining when you make these choices?” The researchers hope the findings will help inform future guidelines on use of genetic information in IVF.

Participate in the Tinker Tots study here!

There’s also a summary video:

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Welcome to the latest issue of Repronews! Highlights from this week’s edition:

• Repro/genetics

  • Recent developments on Germany’s restrictive abortion law

• Population Policies & Trends

• Genetic Studies

  • GenomeIndia genotypes over 10,000 Indians from 85 populations, opening way to better understanding of gene-disease associations

• Further Learning

  • U.S. national security commission calls for $15 billion public investment in biotech, warns China is achieving “dominance” in field which could lead to “enhancing cognitive capabilities” and “dramatically extending human life”

  • The genetics of the “obstetrical dilemma”: Study explores genetic associations between pelvic shape, head size, and outcomes for births and women’s health.

  • Colossal Biosciences has created gray wolves with 20 gene edits to look like the extinct dire wolves

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Repro/genetics

“Reproductive self-determination and regulation of termination of pregnancy in Germany” (JoME)

• Termination of pregnancies is generally illegal in Germany, but exempt from punishment during the first 12 weeks following mandatory counseling.

• After 12 weeks of pregnancy, abortion may be allowed for a poorly defined “medical-social indication,” which includes when there is a danger to the mother’s life or health.

• A federal Commission on Reproductive Self-determination and Medicine has issued recommendations to clarify and liberalize abortion rules in Germany. These are unlikely to be adopted by the new centrist coalition government.

More on repro/genetics:

• Alexis Heng Boon Chin and Sayyed Mohamed Muhsin, “Unequal access to reprogenetic cognitive enhancement due to consistently high costs” (JoME)

• “Influence of parental age on chromosomal abnormalities in PGT-A embryos: exponentially increasing in the mother and completely null in the father” (JARG)

• ASRM Today podcast: “Genetics” (ASRM)

• Fertility Europe’s spring 2025 meeting in Brussels (Fertility Europe)

• Dr. Pete Mills, “23 and me: A Salutary Tale” (PET)

• “U.S. government cuts key fertility treatment monitoring team” (PET)

• “New IVF add-ons information website launches” (PET)

• Film: “The Ethics of IVF Embryos: Science, Choice, and Family” (Museum of Science)

• “Chinese scientist ostracized over gene-edited babies seeks comeback” (WSJ)

Population Policies & Trends

Genetic Studies

“Genome study: 180 million genetic variants found in 9,772 individuals” (The Hindu)

• The GenomeIndia project has genotyped 10,074 healthy and unrelated Indians from 85 populations (32 tribal and 53 non-tribal populations). These include Tibeto-Burman, Indo-European, and Dravidian groups.

• The genome sequence data has been deposited in the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC).

• The preliminary findings have identified 180 million genetic variants. Some variants are associated with diseases, some are unique to India, and some are unique to particular communities or small populations.

• “We are now trying to find out the implications of these variants,” said Dr. Kumarasamy Thangaraj of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB). “We are looking for variants which are functionally relevant—related to diseases, those associated with therapeutic responses or no responses, and those that are causing adverse effects to therapeutic agents.”

• Researchers will construct a panel of variants to correlate with diseases in the Indian population.

• Dr. Thangaraj said: “Some of the variants may be associated with individuals susceptible to infectious diseases, while some variants might be responsible for resistance to infectious diseases. It is also possible that some variants will be associated with adaptations to particular environments such as high altitudes and low oxygen concentration.”

• Information on variants associated with specific diseases can be used to develop low-cost diagnostic kits and for personalized medicine. “In-depth analyses of 9,772 diverse genomes along with the blood biochemistry and anthropometry data will improve disease diagnostics, predict the genetic basis of drug responses, and kickstart precision medicine efforts in India,” the authors write.

• The GenomeIndia is a collaborative effort of 20 institutions.

Further Learning

“Understanding the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology report” (CSIS)

• The National Security Commission for Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB), a bipartisan advisory group mandated by the U.S. Congress, has released its final report of recommendations on how to maintain U.S. leadership in biotech.

• The report stresses the importance of biotech to defense, manufacturing, food, and health. It warns that China “is quickly ascending to biotechnology dominance, having made biotechnology a strategic priority for 20 years.”

• The report asks: “What would it mean for world order if China developed biological means for dramatically extending human life or enhancing cognitive capabilities? … What would the implications be for global security if an adversary engineered pathogens and used them against us?”

• The authors make recommendations:

  • To prioritize biotech nationally.

  • To mobilize the private sector and scale U.S. products.

  • To maximize the benefits of biotech in defense.

  • To out-innovate strategic competitors.

  • To build the biotech workforce.

  • To mobilize together with allies and partners.

• The Commission recommends the U.S. government streamline regulation of biotech and dedicate at least $15 billion over the next five years to encourage private investment in biotech.

• “The advancement of U.S. biotechnology requires a balanced approach, fostering competition without picking winners, while also leveling the playing field by blunting China’s non-market actions,” the authors write. “While ingenuity thrives on free enterprise, the pressures of quarterly earnings can discourage companies from making bold technological leaps.”

“The genetic architecture of and evolutionary constraints on the human pelvic form” (Science)

• The “obstetrical dilemma” is a hypothesized conflict between the optimal pelvic structure for bipedalism and what is required for successfully birthing large-brained infants.

• Since divergence from the chimpanzee lineage, human pelvic canal dimensions have shrink to support bipedal locomotion, while human brain size expanded.

• The study used X-ray scans and genetic data from 31,115 people from the UK Biobank to determine associations between genetics and pelvic traits.

• The results show all pelvic proportions are highly heritable (~32% to 48%) with 180 independent loci identified.

• Narrower birth canals were linked to an increased risk of emergency cesarean sections and obstructed labor, suggesting childbirth imposes selective pressure to widen the birth canal.

• Larger birth canals were associated with reduced walking pace, a decreased risk of back pain, and an increased risk of hip osteoarthritis, suggesting mixed effects on locomotor efficiency. Larger birth canals were associated with higher risk of genital prolapse and incontinence (pelvic floor disease).

• Infant and adult head widths were genetically correlated with maternal birth canal widths, supporting coevolution of the human brain and pelvis.

“Colossal’s new wolves are cute, but are they dire?” (MIT Tech Review)

• The media have enthusiastically reported on Colossal Biosciences’ supposed resurrection of the dire wolf, a species which went extinct 13,000 years ago.

• In fact, the pups have wolf DNA with 20 genetic edits to have some dire-wolf traits, such as larger facial features.

• Gray wolves and dire wolves split off as separate species millions of years ago and their genetic differences run into millions of letters of DNA.

• Colossal has cloned several red wolves, an endangered American species.

• The “dire wolves” are a misleading marketing coup for Colossal. The pups do show the potential effectiveness and potentially safety of mutiple gene edits to bioengineer animal phenotypes beyond the possibilities of traditional breeding.

More on human nature, evolution, and biotech:

• “What your job says about who you are: Mapping personality across 263 occupations” (Steve Stewart-Williams)

• David Sun, “Arctic instincts: The personality of East Asians” (Aporia)

• “What makes us human? Milestone ape genomes promise clues” (Nature)

• AI x Biotech: Its Cybersecurity Implications (Konrad Adenauer Foundation)

• Podcast: “‘Big Pharma’ owns the FD? Challenging a cherished MAHA myth” (GLP)

• “50-year-old bioweapons treaty is dangerously flawed, researchers say” (Science)

Disclaimer: We cannot fact-check the linked-to stories and studies, nor do the views expressed necessarily reflect our own.

• Repro/genetics

  • A systematic review finds higher risks of congenital anomalies for ART-conceived children, although there are many confounding factors

  • “Sex is for fun, and embryo screening is for babies”: The New York Times reports on Orchid Health and companies offering polygenic embryo selection

  • Alexis Heng Boon Chin raises concerns about cognitive enhancement technologies in Singapore’s hypercompetitive culture

• Population Policies & Trends

  • Cremieux and Robin Hanson’s proposals to boost fertility in rich countries

  • UK fertility group PET discusses whether fertility treatments are a solution to stem population decline

• Genetic Studies

  • DNA from skeletons from era of the “green Sahara” shows an ancient population shared culturally but did not mix genetically with others

  • Nature discusses how bankrupt 23andMe’s genetic database of 1.5 million people could continue to benefit scientific research

• Further Learning

  • David Sun presents evidence that East Asian psychology evolved due to their ancestors’ prolonged life in arctic conditions

  • Rhiannon Handcock argues that targeting low-heritability traits is worthwhile in animal breeding

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Repro/genetics

“Congenital anomalies observed in children conceived through ART: A systematic review and meta-analysis” (JARG)

• Paripoorna Bhat and colleagues review 113 studies on the association between assisted reproductive technology (ART) and congenital anomalies in newborns.

• The review compares the incidence of congenital anomalies in ART-conceived children and those conceived naturally.

• The study finds that ART-conceived children have a marginally higher risk compared to the control group.

• Cumulatively slightly higher risk was found found for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI; used to treat male infertility), Day 3 transfer, and fresh embryo transfer (ET), rather than those conceived via IVF, Day 5 transfer, or frozen embryo transfer (FET).

• Overall, the incidence of congenital anomalies was 2.48% for naturally conceived children and 3.45% for ART-conceived children.

• ART’s increased risk is partly due to selection effects: ART is more likely to be used by older mothers and people with infertility and subfertility, who may have health conditions, lifestyle factors, or genetic predispositions making congenital anomalies more likely.

• The authors call for more studies investigating why particular procedures are associated with slightly increased risk and mitigating confounding factors.

• The authors conclude that it is essential to educate patients to make informed and “align the positive impact of ART with the identification of adverse outcomes for the sake of future generations.”

• Researchers have previously cautioned that ART may increase mutational load by bypassing natural mechanisms that select viable sperm. ART may also lead to epigenetic disruption, though there is no conclusive evidence of a strong link with elevated risk of disease in adulthood.

“This baby was carefully selected as an embryo” (New York Times)

• The New York Times reports on Orchid, a company providing polygenic embryo selection against many common diseases.

• Orchid Founder and CEO Noor Siddiqui said she was motivated by her mother’s loss of vision due to a random genetic mutation to prevent “genetic misfortunes.”

• Siddiqui foresees comprehensive embryo screening replacing traditional reproduction, saying: “Sex is for fun, and embryo screening is for babies.”

• Orchid and similar companies screen for risks like obesity, autism, and possibly intellectual ability and height, enabling both genetic health and enhancement.

• The U.S. for the most part does not restrict embryo selection and has become a global hub for cutting-edge reproductive services.

• Some companies have marketed embryo selection for IQ. The distinction between preventing disability and selecting for intelligence (enhancement) is blurry.

• Proponents of polygenic embryo testing, like bioethicist Julian Savulescu, argue that parents have a duty to provide their children with genetic advantages, which could enhance human capabilities and lower healthcare costs.

“Caveats on human cognitive enhancement technologies based on the sociocultural context of Singapore” (JoME)

• Alexis Heng Boon Chin, a Singapore fertility consultant, highlights possible negative effects of allowing technologies for cognitive enhancement in Singapore.

• He argues that in “a hypercompetitive shame-based Confucian society” like Singapore, the autonomy of cognitively enhanced children “would likely be curtailed by the heavy-handed ‘tiger-parenting’ approach of their parents, who, after investing so much money in enhancing their cognitive ability, would have ‘heightened’ expectations of their academic performance.”

• He argues that cognitive enhancement may not necessarily improve the future prospects and life success of children if this further exacerbates an unbalanced job market with an oversupply of university graduates.

• If cognitive enhancement is expensive, this could further aggravate socioeconomic disparities as well as further accelerate accelerate demographic decline due to the heavy financial burden on prospective parents.

• Chin concludes that “Singapore must carefully consider these caveats before permitting such cognitive-enhancing technologies.”

More on repro/genetics:

• “Ethicists call for international limits on number of children per sperm donor” (PET)

• “Quality of life, spiritual needs, and well-being of people affected by infertility and its treatment” (JARG)

• “Fertility regulator survey reveals widespread use of IVF add-ons” (PET)

• “For a rights-based approach to fertility and demography – policy statement by Coalition for Fertility” (Fertility Europe)

Population Policies & Trends

“Fertility policy for rich countries” (Cremieux Recueil)

• Blogger Cremieux presents the “Hanson Scheme,” inspired by economist Robin Hanson, to raise fertility in wealthy countries.

• The scheme would incentivize childrearing by enabling parents to claim a portion of their chilren’s tax payments.

• The scheme also suggests universal provision of fertility services such as IVF.

“Is fertility treatment a solution to population decline?” (PET)

• The British fertility group PET held an event gathering experts to discuss whether fertility treatments can help tackle global population decline, which poses socioeconomic challenges due to aging societies and shrinking workforces.

• Professor Geeta Nargund, discussed the Economist Impact report Fertility Policy and Practice: A Toolkit for Europe, to which she contributed. The report’s expert panel found that the greatest impact on fertility would likely be from improving the availability, accessibility and affordability of childcare, with joint second place for workplace policies and assisted conception policies.

• The evidence reviewed suggested that improving access to assisted conception could raise the total fertility by 0.04 points, while also reducing social stigma, improving wellbeing and achieving equity for people affected by infertility.

• Public funding of IVF has a good return on investment, considering the projected economic activity of each extra person born throughout their lifetimes.

• Professor Bart Fauser, Scientific Director of the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS), discussed the IFFS consensus document on declining global fertility rates.

• The IFFS document argues that having a family (if you want to) is a human right, so countries should adopt family-friendly policies and make fertility treatment more accessible (including for same-sex couples and single people).

• Professor Fauser warned that because IVF is not always successful, assisted conception cannot entirely compensate for reductions in birthrate caused by people choosing to have children later in life. There also needs to be education to ensure people understand their chances of becoming parents as they age.

• Dr. Chris Skedgel, Director of the Office of Health Economics, said addressing infertility is an opportunity to increase births while helping people achieve their desired family. According to the WHO, one in six couples are affected by infertility. Dr Skedgel estimated that providing access to fertility treatment might address 10% of the fertility gap.

• Dr. Paul Morland, a demographer, broadcaster, and author of books including No One Left: Why the World Needs More Children, said biological infertility was responsible for a small share of declining births.

• He attributed declining births to estrangement between men and women, family-unfriendly cities, and the “propaganda of anti-natalism.” He suggested governments and societies need to build a “pro-natal” culture, citing the example of Israel.

• Dr. Morland also argued that immigration is not a solution insofar as most countries not have subreplacement fertility and called inviting immigration of the most educated or qualified people from other countries a form of “biological imperialism.”

• Addressing a question from the audience, Dr. Morland the claim that pronatalism is inherently “far-right” can be countered by pointing out that population decline is a global issue and not limited to white populations.

• PET now has a section of its website dedicated to population decline news.

Genetic Studies

“Skeletons from ‘green Sahara’ offer genetic peek at a lost human population” (Science)

• 7000 years ago, the Sahara was a lush savanna, home to large animals and human populations.

• Archaeologists previously struggled to test theories about the people of this “green Sahara” due to DNA preservation issues.

• A recent study extracted DNA from two mummified women buried in a Libyan cave, marking the first ancient genomes from the Sahara.

• The genetic data revealed an unknown population, distinct from both sub-Saharan Africans and Levantines.

• These ancient Saharans did not show significant gene flow from nearby populations, challenging previous hypotheses about migration.

• Pottery found suggests contact with other North African groups, but no genetic mixing.

• The women’s mitochondrial DNA traced their lineage to an early African population that had migrated to Europe but is now extinct.

• Further research is needed, but political instability in the region makes further excavation difficult.

“23andMe plans to sell its huge genetic database: Could science benefit?” (Nature)

• The company 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy and plans to sell its assets, including a vast genetic database of 15 million people which has enabled over 250 scientific studies.

• Researchers hope that the new owner will continue to offer and even optimize access to the valuable dataset for scientific research and improved collaborations.

• 80% of 23andMe customers consented to have their genetic data used for research.

• Some customers are worried that a change in ownership could lead to privacy breaches, such as insurance companies or law enforcement accessing data.

• A 2008 federal law prevents health insurers from using genetic data to adjust premiums, but life insurers may still use it.

• 23andMe plans to secure a buyer that aligns with its privacy values and research mission, with an auction potentially starting on 14 May.

More on genetic studies:

• “60 genes linked to congenital heart disease identified” (PET)

• “Parental income moderates the influence of genetic dispositions on political interest in adolescents” (Politics & the Life Sciences)

• Podcast: “Is there a genetic basis for fairness?” (Aporia)

Further Learning

“Arctic instincts? The late Pleistocene Arctic origins of East Asian psychology” (APA PsycNet)

• David Sun explores the hypothesis that modern East Asian populations inherited and maintained extensive psychosocial adaptations evolved during their ancestors’ prolonged life in the arctic and subarctic.

• The study presents the first cross-psychology comparison between modern East Asian and Inuit populations, using the latter as a model for paleolithic Arctic populations.

• Both East Asians and the Inuit exhibit high emotional control / suppression, ingroup harmony / cohesion, unassertiveness, indirectness, self and social consciousness, reserve / introversion, cautiousness, and perseverance / endurance.

• These same traits have been identified by decades of research in polar psychology (psychological research on workers, expeditioners, and military personnel living and working in the Arctic and Antarctic) as being adaptive for, or byproducts of, life in polar environments.

• Sun suggests the proposed Arcticist traits in modern East Asian and Inuit populations “primarily represent adaptations to arctic climates, specifically for the adaptive challenges of highly interdependent survival in an extremely dangerous, unpredictable, and isolated environment, with frequent prolonged close-quarters group confinement, and exacerbated consequences for social devaluation / exclusion / expulsion.”

• The article concludes with a reexamination of previous theories on the roots of East Asian psychology, mainly that of rice farming and Confucianism.

• He notes that rice farming also extends to Indian, north Italian, Iranian, and Malay populations with markedly different psychologies.

• Sun finds non-Confucian East Asian populations, such as pastoralist Mongolians, similarly value emotional suppression.

• He argues that Confucian, Daoist, and other East Asian value systems built upon and resonated with this pre-existing Arcticist psychology: “Confucianism contains major Arcticist themes of emphasizing emotional restraint, self-control, social harmony, self and social consciousness, social adaptability, perseverance / hard work, modesty / humility, cautiousness/risk aversion, and a practical / atheoretical epistemology. Scholars sometimes colloquially misattribute ‘Confucian’ traits among East Asian populations to have originated from the influence of Confucius, but Confucianism is commonly noted in Classical Chinese studies as just his rearticulation, theoretical systemization, and revival of the previous dynasties’ social values, rituals, laws, and aesthetics.”

• Sun also has an X thread summarizing the article.

“Is focusing on low-heritability traits valuable when making breeding decisions?” (Farmers Weekly)

• Animal evaluation scientist Rhiannon Handcock argues that even low-heritability traits should be targeted through animal breeding.

• Traits with higher heritability improve faster through selection, while lower heritability traits improve more slowly.

• Breeding Worth (BW), an index used to economically rank cattle, focuses on both high and low heritability traits, including economically important but slower-improving traits.

• Low-heritability traits like fertility and survival improve slowly but are critical for herd productivity and wellbeing.

• High-heritability traits such as liveweight and milk production respond more quickly to selection, showing faster genetic gains.

• Handcock argues that low-heritability, traits like fertility can significantly impact farm outcomes, with small genetic improvements accumulating over generations.

More on human nature, evolution, and biotech:

• “Mitochondria transplants could cure diseases and lengthen lives” (The Economist)

• “Humans may not have survived without Neanderthals” (BBC)

• “How Europe aims to woo US scientists and protect academic freedom” (Nature)

• “A brain drain would impoverish the United States and diminish world science” (Nature)

Disclaimer: We cannot fact-check the linked-to stories and studies, nor do the views expressed necessarily reflect our own.

Welcome to the latest issue of Repronews! Highlights from this week’s edition:

• Repro/genetics

  • The European fertility policy landscape: All 27 EU countries now support IVF, but access and scale of reimbursement vary widely

  • Ovelle: A fertility startup pioneering a new approach to human IVG

• Population Policies & Trends

  • The Guardian reports on the uneasy coalition between techno-natalists and traditional-family conservatives in the U.S.

• Genetic Studies

  • Nature study explores the complex and changing interplay of genes and socioeconomic status throughout history

• Further Learning

  • U.S. bioeconomy could contribute $416 billion annually by 2030

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Repro/genetics

“How are fertility treatments handled around the EU?” (Euronews)

• TV channel Euronews has produced a video and interactive infographic exploring different policies on fertility treatments throughout the European Union.

• In the EU, 25 million people face infertility.

• Since Poland’s liberal-conservative government recently restored public funding for IVF treatment, all 27 EU countries support IVF. However, conditions and waiting times for IVF vary significantly across countries.

• Only 5 out of 27 EU countries offer full funding for up to six IVF treatments, according to the European Atlas of Fertility Treatment Policies 2024.

• After six treatments, Austria, Denmark, Estonia, and France are the only countries offering partial payment or reimbursement.

• 15 EU countries do not have a waiting list for IVF. In the 12 countries with waiting lists, fertility treatment can take up to a year.

• Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Malta, Romania, Slovakia, and Sweden have waiting lists that can take between six and 12 months.

• According to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), the average cost of an IVF cycle in Europe is between €4,000 and €5,000.

• State-organized fertility education programs in schools are only provided in France, Germany, and Latvia.

• “IVF may seem like a trend for many, following the motto: ‘Career first, then children,’ but for many couples, assisted reproduction is the only way to have a desired child, regardless of age and life plans,” said Christina Fadler, board member of Fertility Europe.

• “Same-sex female couples have it particularly hard,” she added. “Irreparably damaged or blocked fallopian tubes, endometriosis, or PCOS are the only reasons to be eligible for publicly-funded treatment—it often takes years to get a diagnosis and access to the IVF fund.”

• All EU countries allow heterosexual couples to have access to fertility treatment with their own gametes or with donated sperm.

• Germany and Luxembourg are the only countries that do not allow heterosexual couples to access IVF with donated eggs.

• Female couples can receive fertility treatments with donated sperm in 15 EU countries and fertility treatments with donated eggs in 13 countries.

• Single women in Austria, Czechia, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia cannot access IVF with sperm donation.

Fertility startup Ovelle is exploring a new approach to IVG (Ovelle)

• Ovelle is a new company dedicated to solving in vitro gametogenesis (IVG)—turning ordinary somatic cells into viable human eggs in the lab.

• Travis Potter and Merrick Pierson Smela founded Ovelle in the belief IVG can empower parents to have healthy children on their terms and timeline.

• In 2016, Japanese scientists successfully converted mouse skin cells into fertile eggs in a dish, giving rise to healthy pups. Yet translating this IVF breakthrough to humans has proven challenging.

• Almost all current efforts to solve human IVG still rely on replicating ovarian signaling pathways. This approach mimics nature and worked in mice. But it has not translated well so far from mice to humans. Ovelle says the signaling method has struggled because it’s slow, difficult to control precisely, and expensive.

• Instead of focusing on signaling pathways, Ovelle is manipulating gene expression through transcription factors and RNA-binding proteins.

• By systematically screening pools of transcription factors identified from the scientific literature, scRNA-seq atlases, and computational modeling, Pierson Smela and his colleagues at the Church Lab used this approach to achieve a series of breakthroughs: first creating ovarian granulosa-like cells, then germline cells, then inducing meiosis from human stem cells.

• Ovelle believes this systematic approach can lead to swifter breakthroughs. Most biological research still relies heavily on the slow work of educated guessing and iterative experimentation. By contrast, systematic pooled screening methods explore larger biological spaces to find which factors drive cells to new states.

• Pierson Smela was able to induce meiosis in stem cells in just 12 days. Traditional signaling-based methods take at least three months to reach an earlier stage.

• Speed matters because it enables more experiments per unit time equals faster progress. Faster iteration means solutions are reached sooner.

• Speed may also enable affordability as shorter timelines mean fewer resources spent on costly cell cultures and laboratory procedures.

• It also means Ovelle may be able to deliver healthy eggs to prospective parents within weeks rather than months.

• Ovelle also argues transcription factors offer much finer control over cell fate, enabling reliable production of high-quality eggs. Potter says: “This is, as I can attest as a current parent, by far the most important thing: We as parents will do anything to make sure our kids have the best chance of being healthy and happy.”

More on repro/genetics:

• “23andMe’s DNA database is up for sale. Who might want it, and what for?” (Washington Post)

• Loren Johnston, “Trump and MAGA want to make eugenics great again” (Portland Press Herald)

• “At meeting on guardrails for gene editing of human embryos, some call for a dead end” (STAT)

Population Policies & Trends

“The rise of pronatalism: Why Musk, Vance and the right want women to have more babies” (Guardian)

• The Guardian asks whether the movement uniting family-values conservatives and techno-natalists in the U.S. will hold.

• While techno-natalists endorse using IVF and othe reprotechnologies to raise the birth and foster genetic health or even enhancement, religious conservatives may oppose IVF if this means discarding unused embryos.

• In January, a U.S. Department of Transportation memo instructed the agency to prioritize projects that “give preference to communities with marriage and birth rates higher than the national average.”

• The Guardian writes: “In signing his pro-IVF executive order, Trump appears to be siding with the ‘tech right’ (and the broader electorate, among which IVF remains extremely popular). When Musk recently brought his son X Æ A-Xii to the Oval Office, Trump called the four-year-old a ‘high-IQ individual’.”

• Lyman Stone, a conservative demographer, said: ‘“Pronatalism has to be disciplined by a commitment to human liberty and human flourishing … People have a right to have the families they want to have, and for some people, that means no family. The focus of pronatalism, in my view, generally is not and certainly should not be on family gigantism, and instead should be on helping young people overcome the barriers and obstacles to romantic and family success in their life.”’

• Stone advocates for more support to help young people get married earlier, such as by improving mental health services to creating better childcare programs. “Pronatalism is not just a fiscal program. It’s a program of restructuring society in a way that treats family goals as worthy, worth supporting, and socially important,” Stone said.

• Brad Wilcox, a University of Virginia sociology professor and author of the book Get Married: Why Americans Should Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families and Save Civilization, argues for policies supporting family formation such as expanding the child tax credit and converting federal land into affordable housing.

• “We’re living in a moment where—I would say, unfortunately—marriage and parenthood have become ideologically polarized,” Wilcox said.

• A 2023 Gallup poll found that 47% of Americans think an ideal family has one or two children, while only 2% said families should have zero.

• A Pew poll that same year found that 47% of American adults under 50 say they are unlikely to ever have children. Of those, nearly 60% say they don’t want kids. Nearly 40% said they couldn’t afford to have kids or that the “state of the world” had convinced them not to.

More on population policies and trends:

• Arwa Mahdawi, “The anti-women ‘fertilization president’ who wants to have it both ways: Trump’s executive order supposedly expanding IVF access offered nothing concrete beyond a weird nickname for himself” (Guardian)

Genetic Studies

“Socio-economic status is a social construct with heritable components and genetic consequences” (Nature Human Behaviour)

• Abdel Abdellaoui and colleagues discuss the relationship between genetics and socioeconomic status (SES) across history.

• Most hunter-gatherers societies were relatively egalitarian. With the Neolithic shift ~12,000 years ago, societies grew larger and more stratified. In civilizations, people are born into or sorted into different levels of SES.

• SES clusters in families and geographically, and is robustly associated with genetic effects.

• The authors hypothesize that SES is a dynamic social construct that involves genetically influenced traits that help in achieving or retaining a socio-economic position, and can affect the distribution of genes associated with such traits.

• Social stratification results in people with differing traits being subject to different environmental exposures, which can result in evolutionary selection

  pressures through differences in mortality, reproduction and non-random

  mating.

• Historically, there was a positive relationship between wealth and fertility, which became negative after the Industrial Revolution. In some high-income countries, the relationship is becoming positive again.

• Heritability of SES can increase as societies become more meritocratic. Among European women, the heritability of educational attainment rose from 5% (1900–09) to 58% (1980–89).

• Genomics research is increasingly able to reveal the genetic consequences of the way societies have been organized.

More on genetic studies:

• “Less than 2% of human genomes analyzed so far have been those of Africans: Africa Cancer Atlas aims to fill the research gap” (Guardian)

• “A geographic history of human genetic ancestry” (Science)

Further Learning

U.S. bioeconomy could be worth $416 billion by 2030 (BIO)

• A report released by the US biotech association (BIO) estimates that the U.S. bioeconomy could contribute $416 billion to the U.S. economy annually by 2030.

• Biotech for food, agriculture, and manufacturing currently has a direct contribution of $210 billion to the U.S. economy, with an indirect impact of $830 billion, supporting roughly 430,000 jobs.

• The report does not cover biotech’s direct contributions to the human health sector.

More on human nature, evolution, and biotech:

• The Journal of Medical Ethics’ latest issue explores African bioethics:

  • Kenneth Boyd, “Out of Africa and into the future” (JoME)

  • Kirk Lougheed, “Capacity for life force, communality, and the scope of cross-cultural bioethics: Additional thoughts on African Life Force and the permissibility of euthanasia” (JoME)

  • Nancy Jecker and Caesar Alimsinya Atuire, “Emergent personhood: Reply to critics” (JoME)

Disclaimer: We cannot fact-check the linked-to stories and studies, nor do the views expressed necessarily reflect our own.

Welcome to the latest issue of Repronews! Highlights from this week’s edition:

• Repro/genetics

  • Tsvi Benson-Tilsen explores the concept of “genomic liberty”: the scope and ethical limits of freedom to shape one’s children’s genomes.

  • Since CRISPR: A review of a decade of public engagement studies on human germline gene editing.

  • Blanca Rodríguez López argues that the availability of genetic enhancement technologies “does not limit reproductive freedom in any important sense.”

• Population Policies & Trends

  • Out of many, fewer: Economist David H. Solomon finds that in the U.S. “racial and ethnic diversity is robustly associated with lower birth rates.”

  • Iran’s pronatalist policies restrict abortion and is driven by fears that population decline is a threat to national security.

• Genetic Studies

  • The genetics of same-sex sexual orientation: What we know so far.

• Further Learning

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Repro/genetics

“The principle of genomic liberty” (LessWrong)

• Tsvi Benson-Tilsen of the nonprofit Berkeley Genomics Project argues for a principle of “genomic liberty.” This sets out morally acceptable bounds for parents’ freedom to shape their children’s genomes without violating the rights of others (including their children’s rights).

• Benson-Tilsen defines genomic liberty as human parents’ “natural right—a negative right against infringement on liberty by the state and society—to freely choose the genomes of their human children, in whole or in some aspects.”

• He proposes five components of genomic liberty:

  • Non-intervention liberty: Parents have a very strong right to not genomically intervene on their child, in whole or in any aspect.

  • Propagative liberty: Parents have a strong right to propagate their own genes and their own traits, in whole or in some aspects.

  • Typicalization liberty: Parents have a strong right to move their future child closer to the median value of one or more traits.

  • Beneficent liberty: Parents have a strong right to make well-informed genomic choices that a reasonable person would agree are aimed at giving their child a life of well-being.

  • Altruistic liberty: Parents have a strong right to make well-informed genomic choices that a reasonable person would agree are aimed at giving their child a life that would contribute to the well-being of others.

• However, potentially legitimate restrictions on genomic liberty could include:

  • Genomic choices that are clearly prospectively very unsafe.

  • Genomic choices that remove a core aspect of human nature.

  • Genomic choices with extreme negative externalities on other citizens.

  • Nonconsensual use of someone’s DNA.

  • Genomic alterations chosen by parents who are severely mentally unsound.

  • Genomic choices that would severely permanently impair the child’s ability to communicate their state of mind.

• Benson-Tilsen has previously written a detailed guide on “Potential perils of germline genomic engineering.”

A decade of public engagement regarding human germline gene editing: A systematic scoping review (EJHG)

• Wendy Geuverink and colleagues review 31 public engagement studies on human germline gene editing (HGGE) since the discovery of CRISPR in 2012.

• The review explores 1) Engagement of underrepresented groups, 2) Values that have been reported, and 3) The objectives of public engagement.

• The studies generally focus on the general public, tend to focus on (lack of) acceptance of HGGE rather than what values should guide policymaking, and typically do not explore how public attitudes should translate into practice.

• The authors conclude that co-created efforts are needed to engage underrepresented groups, yield values rather than acceptance levels, and make explicit how engagement might result in societal impact.

“Liberal eugenics, coercion, and social pressure” (Enrahonar)

• Blanca Rodríguez López discusses the claim that the availability of genetic enhancement technologies is “a form of eugenics that limits parental freedom.” She finds that such enhancement “does not limit reproductive freedom in any important sense.”

• She argues that just because enhancement technologies may change social values and individual preferences, this does not represent a violation of individuals’ autonomy: “All change shares this characteristic. Some people embrace it wholeheartedly because they are better off in the new situation. For others the change is not welcome, as they preferred the old situation, and may be reluctant, but this is hardly a good reason not to introduce the change.”

• Rodríguez López concludes: “According to the liberal view of the state, only a real and present danger to other citizens can justify curtailing freedom. And the fact that some people would prefer that the possibility [of reproductive genetic enhancement] be offered hardly qualifies as real and present danger.”

More on repro/genetics:

• Finland reinstates fertility treatment coverage, but only for medical reasons, excluding fertile single women and same-sex couples (Helsinki Times)

• “Tennessee Senate passes bill to protect access to IVF” (PET)

• “Just the facts: The safety of IVF” (ASRM)

• Does non-genetic embryo selection even work? (HRO)

• “Reproductive choices in hemoglobinopathies: The role of PGT” (Genes)

• Anne-Sophie Giraud “Un-knowing the embryo: The moral labor of doing preimplantation genetic testing in France” (Medical Anthropology)

• Indian experts suggest genetic counseling, family tree mapping to address rare diseases (The Hindu)

• Ji-Young Lee, “Ethics of pronatalism: A reply to critics” (JoME)

• DNA testing site 23andMe files for bankruptcy protection, CEO resigns (BBC)

Population Policies & Trends

“E pluribus, pauciores (out of many, fewer): Diversity and birth Rates” (SSRN)

• David H. Solomon, a professor at Boston College’s Carroll School of Management, finds that in the U.S. “local measures of racial and ethnic diversity are robustly associated with lower birth rates.”

• A one standard deviation decrease in “racial concentration” (having people of many different races nearby) or increase in “racial isolation” (being from a numerically smaller race in that area) was associated with 0.064 and 0.044 fewer children, respectively, after controlling for many other drivers of birth rates.

• The “racial isolation” effects hold within an area and year, suggesting these are not proxies for omitted local characteristics.

• The pattern holds for many racial groups and in many different years of U.S. census data (including before the Civil War).

• Solomon finds that: “Diversity is associated with lower marriage rates and marrying later.” He relates these patterns to “homophily” (the tendency to marry people of the same race), as the effects are stronger in races that intermarry less and vary with sex differences in intermarriage.

• Solomon concludes: “The rise in racial diversity in the U.S. since 1970 explains between 20% and 44% of the decline in birth rates during that period.”

“National security and pronatalism in the ‘Family and Youthful Population’ Law in Iran” (Social Sciences)

• Ladan Rahbari examines the historical relationship between Islamic Shi’a jurisprudence and the Islamic Republic of Iran’s reproductive policies.

• With the total fertility rate falling to less than 1.7 in 2021, Iran adopted a Family Protection and Youthful Population Law which further restricts women’s access to abortion.

• Abortion in Iran is legal in cases where the mother’s life is in danger or when the fetus has severe abnormalities.

• Rahbari argues that Iranian reproductive policies are influenced not only by religious authorities and pronatalist patriarchal rationales, but also by anxieties about a population crisis considered a threat to the country’s national security.

More on population policies and trends:

• “Dr. Jonathan Sher, “Worries about a ‘baby bust’? Then prevent pregnancy ‘wastage’”: Argues pronatalists should do more to ensure more pregnancies lead to healthy births (PET)

• Noah Carl and Bo Wineguard present evidence that high population density does not significantly lower fertility (Aporia)

• Yiping Cai and Bohong Liu, “From birth control to pronatalism: Population policy and women’s reproductive rights in China since the 1980s” (JGLR)

Genetic Studies

“The genetics of same-sex sexual orientation: What we know so far” (Steve Stewart-Williams)

• A recent paper by Thomas Felesina and Brendan Zietsch summarizes scholarly findings on the genetics of same-sex sexual orientation.

• Same-sex sexual orientation is about 30% heritable, making it among the least heritable psychological traits.

• The environmental component is almost certainly not the social environment or nurture in the traditional sense, but rather biological factors such as atypical prenatal hormonal exposure.

• The heritability of same-sex sexual orientation is the product of many gene variants of small effect (consistent with the Fourth Law of Behavior Genetics).

• Gay men and lesbians have fewer offspring than their straight counterparts.

• The persistence of genes predisposing to same-sex sexual orientation is an evolutionary puzzle. Perhaps these variants confer a reproductive advantage in straight people.

• Same-sex sexual behavior is fairly common in other animals, but exclusive same-sex sexual orientation is rare or entirely absent.

More on genetic studies:

• “Improving accuracy and precision of heritability estimation in twin studies: Reassessing the measurement error assumption” (bioRxiv)

• “Programmable stem-cell-based embryo models created using epigenome editing” (PET)

• “Hutus and Tutsis and genetics” (Clear Language, Clear Mind)

Further Learning

More on human nature, evolution, and biotech:

• Review of Henry Gee, The Decline and Fall of the Human Empire: Why Our Species is on the Edge of Extinction (Forbes)

• Nanette Ryan and Julian Savulescu, “The ethics of Ozempic and Wegovy” (JoME)

• “As the Trump administration withdraws support for biotechnology innovation pushed by former president Biden, Europe is poised to seize the initiative” (European Biotechnology/GLP)

• “Trump turbulence stalls large pharma and biotech deals, bankers say” (Reuters)

Disclaimer: We cannot fact-check the linked-to stories and studies, nor do the views expressed necessarily reflect our own.