Scientific Racism’s Secret Backers: How Tech Wealth and Stolen Bio-Data Fuel a Discredited Pseudoscience

Sat Aug 29 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The contemporary landscape of reproductive medicine is witnessing the rapid commercialization of polygenic embryo screening (PES), a controversial technology that allows prospective parents to genotypically analyze and prioritize IVF-created embryos based on polygenic risk scores (PRSs). Driven by several well-funded US-based startups, this emerging industry offers to estimate the likelihood of chronic disease liabilities as well as quantitative, non-disease traits like eye color, height, and predicted intelligence. For instance, Orchid Biosciences markets whole-genome embryo sequencing at $2,500 per embryo to assess genetic predispositions to multi-gene health conditions like schizophrenia and cardiovascular diseases. In parallel, Nucleus Genomics has heavily marketed a $30,000 “IVF+” package to screen for over 2,000 traits, leveraging a high-profile New York City subway advertising campaign featuring slogans like “Have Your Best Baby” and “IQ is 50% Genetic”. The most controversial player in this market, Heliospect Genomics, charges wealthy couples up to $50,000 to screen up to 100 embryos for predicted intelligence and other behavioral traits using specialized algorithms. Continue reading →