GENES & BEHAVIOUR

‘Child Shaping’ Omega Package Introduced by Proteus
21 January 2008

	Daniel Greenwood is the manager of the 1st Proteus Clinic in the UK
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U.S. fertility company, Proteus, opened its first UK clinic today. The company offers help with IVF and surrogacy and also offers extensive genetic screening and selection services. However, the most recent and revolutionary of these is the pioneering Omega package.

The company’s normal screening process already allows prospective parents to screen available embryos for genetic dysfunction. Undesirable conditions can be identified and the embryo discarded. However, the Omega package helps to further educate their decision as to which embryo proceeds to implantation, by identifying gene spreads which indicate certain characteristics, such as intelligence.

“There are spreads and clusters of genes which can be “read” and interpreted to identify certain traits such as dexterity and all-round intelligence”, says Daniel Greenwood, Proteus spokesman. “This gives parents some indication as to which embryos are more likely to have these specific attributes”.

Whilst Proteus insists that the package is an effective way of widening choice, the project has also attracted much criticism. Martin, who with his partner Adam Neald, will be one of Proteus’ first UK customers, has voiced his own concerns over the package. “The package has been offered to us but we have yet to make a decision. My partner Adam is very keen to go ahead with the screening but I have several concerns. I thought that the whole point of having children was to love them, full stop. I don’t think it is right to manipulate or shape children before they are even born. I mean, it seems an awfully important decision to make based on, as yet, inexact science. This whole process just seems like an elaborate “pick your own baby” scheme.”

Greenwood, however, has defended the package. “Although we cannot guarantee that the results of this screening are certain, it has been proved that it does give a good indication. It’s an effective way of widening choice. This isan exciting time. Most people in this country, and in the States, are in a fortunate enough position to be able to choose most things: job, house, car, partner. Well, why not a child? All we do at Proteus is to provide people with that choice.”