US Firm Patents DNA-Analysis Tool for Planning

US Firm Patents DNA-Analysis Tool for Planning

Genetics has been awarded U.S. patent , so that people can be based on what they want to pick the offspring of sperm and egg donor DNA analysis tool. But this week , "New Scientist" inquiry, issued a denial that it plans to use the technology, any more than as an attractive way to allow customers to see what kind of qualities , their children may inherit .

Refused to reflect the customer's angry response , Mountain View, California last year , bills itself as the democratization Genomics , 23andMe Company, its first patent granted . But it may also reflect the accusations , this genetic shopping comes dangerously close to eugenics - or may not like publicity .

Neanderthal heritage

23andMe sequence DNA saliva samples for customers to pay $ 99 . It said it was " committed to helping individuals understand their own genetic information " in the human chromosome 23. Currently, the company told its 400,000 customers, if they have an increased risk of various diseases , where their ancestors came from , and how Neanderthals , they are.

In return , customer surveys , allowing the company to do research various characteristics , such as the risk of disease associated DNA sequences. Its first patent , covering the discovery last year with Parkinson 's disease -related gene diagnosis and therapy applications .

There are also concerns that the company would monopolize the outbreak of the genetic test was negative .

"There is a requirement that they be open, transparent and businesses need to find new revenue-generating tensions between the " King's College London, Stuart Hogarth said.

Drinking water

September 24 issue of the new U.S. patent covering methods of DNA analysis successor company 23andMe 's web site calculators, interactive features work . This allows the calculation of the probability of two clients , their children will have a certain phenotype, or the expression of genetic characteristics , generated by a variety of possible combinations , their genes.

It covers six characteristics: eye color ; hard or sticky earwax ; muscle fibers whether sprinting or endurance -oriented events ; bitter taste perception ; lactose tolerance and whether future generations will be refreshed when they drink. 23andMe company spokesman Donald Cutler said: " It's all just part of a child's fun ."

However, the U.S. patent describes how to use the process as "Give gametophyte Selector" , allow the recipient to " [ OK ] donors in the number of" a preferred donor. For example, a woman can use it to select the sperm donor genes , combined with her , is most likely to produce a certain phenotype, in her baby. Suggested a range of colors from the eye phenotype lifetime risk of diabetes .

Eugenics concerns

Be able to choose the preferred donor ethicists worry. Harvard's Michael Sandel said that although the disease screening is moral , and other characteristics of DNA to select close to the edge of eugenics .

Lori Andrews , Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago Kent College of Law in the Legal and Technical Experts say that sperm and egg donors have been screened genes known medical risk.

But the researchers have so far been found only weak specific DNA sequences and phenotypic correlation between , such as intelligence, influenced by many genes. " Do we really have the ability to predict life and other traits through genetic tests prove it ? " Asked Andrews .

If not, choose a variety of traits related genes on the basis of donor sperm or eggs that can improve the false expectations. If the results are expected baby lack of parental characteristics, Hogarth said , there may be disappointed. This raises the specter of responsibility.

This may explain why the company says it now has no plans to use the patent beyond the inheritance calculator - only phenotype completely controlled by one or two genes .

Cutler said the company plans five-year change, because it applied for a patent . He could not say how they might change in the future, genetic researchers hope that , when found to be more reliable between genes and phenotype association.