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Advances in human genetics have pushed technologies once limited to laboratories into the consumer market, including at-home DNA tests and embryo selection tools.
Experts say these products promise insight into health risks and future traits, but warn their accuracy remains limited and regulation remains unclear.
These concerns were outlined by experts in interviews with Live Science, where biomedical ethics researcher Daphne Martschenko and sociologist Sam Trejo discussed the science behind these technologies and their potential social consequences in their book "What We Inherit".
Scientists can now analyze a person’s DNA from a simple sample and estimate the likelihood of certain diseases or traits. But experts say most human characteristics depend on many genetic factors, each with only a small influence.
Researchers have identified genetic regions linked to health conditions and social traits, but they still do not fully understand how these genes shape outcomes. Martschenko described polygenic scores, which estimate the likelihood of traits based on genetic data, as a “black box predictor.”
The researchers also challenge what they call the “destiny myth,” the belief that DNA determines life outcomes in fixed and predictable ways. They say genetics interacts with environmental and social factors rather than acting alone.
Companies now sell direct-to-consumer genetic tests for traits ranging from health risks to intelligence, athletic ability, and facial attractiveness. Experts warn that many of these claims rely on limited scientific evidence.
Martschenko said companies often exaggerate the role of DNA in their marketing. Trejo also pointed to a lack of transparency in how firms analyze genetic samples or which data they use.
Most human traits involve thousands of genetic variants, yet some tests examine only a small number of markers. According to Trejo, “some of them have accuracy that’s close to zero” for certain traits, but are still sold to consumers.
Genetic testing for specific inherited diseases tends to be more reliable because these conditions have clearer genetic causes.
Polygenic embryo selection allows parents undergoing in vitro fertilization to compare embryos based on predicted genetic traits before choosing one for implantation.
Trejo said the process involves testing embryos and selecting the one believed to have the “best” or “healthiest” genetic characteristics, but he emphasized that current effectiveness remains limited.
Even when parents choose the embryo with the highest genetic score, the expected change in traits is often small. The technology’s accuracy depends on how strongly genetics influences a trait and how many embryos are available for selection.
Researchers also note limits in existing genetic data. Trejo said many prediction models rely on samples from specific populations, meaning “there’s very limited portability of these products to other ancestries.”
The authors say genetic technologies may offer benefits, particularly in medical care, but require stronger regulation to prevent misuse. Martschenko said researchers and policymakers must work together to ensure these tools “maximize good and minimize harms.”
They also urge consumers to understand how genetic tests work and recognize their limits before using them, arguing that informed public discussion will shape how these technologies affect society.
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