Am I Being Scammed?

[Anonymous]

I found a company that is charging 40k to predict IQ for embryos based on DNA data. They are telling me that the best existing genetic scores for IQ can explain 8% of the variance between people. In my situation, they are claiming this will on average increase my kids expected IQ by 2-3 points. Does this sound legit and is it worth paying for assuming that this service works?

[Anonymous]

40k is a lot for 2-3 points, which is basically noise.

[Anonymous]

That feels like it should be illegal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That feels like it should be illegal.

Maybe in Europe, but no laws against this in the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:40k is a lot for 2-3 points, which is basically noise.

Yup, even if true it's a really poor sales job! At least promise 10 points!

Sounds like a total scam, BTW. I can't imagine DNA info is enough to give this level of detail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I found a company that is charging 40k to predict IQ for embryos based on DNA data. They are telling me that the best existing genetic scores for IQ can explain 8% of the variance between people. In my situation, they are claiming this will on average increase my kids expected IQ by 2-3 points. Does this sound legit and is it worth paying for assuming that this service works?

This is a joke rights 2-3 points? You’ve got to be joking or a troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I found a company that is charging 40k to predict IQ for embryos based on DNA data. They are telling me that the best existing genetic scores for IQ can explain 8% of the variance between people. In my situation, they are claiming this will on average increase my kids expected IQ by 2-3 points. Does this sound legit and is it worth paying for assuming that this service works?

This is a joke rights 2-3 points? You’ve got to be joking or a troll.

No I’m serious. Not sure if it’s worth 40k (assuming it works). That’s only a year of private school so it’s worth considering.

[Anonymous]

Am I Being Scammed?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

a fool and his money are easily parted

[Anonymous]

I paid about that to determine the sex of my embryos. Worked and worth it. Probably would’ve paid extra for a couple of extra IQ points but not $40k. They say IVF babies may be inferior since the sperm which created them never won the race to the egg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:a fool and his money are easily parted

Agreed

[Anonymous]

I lost a few IQ points just reading this

[Anonymous]

It’s the perfect scam. There is absolutely no way to know what the child’s IQ will be so of course this magic 8 ball can predict a higher score. Spend that money OP, it’s totally worth it.

[Anonymous]

Yes. 100% scam

[Anonymous]

so normal PGS on a batch of embryos is $5-8,000.

1) you're talking about trusting a unknown startup with a critical medical test that you cannot do-over, at a cost 5-9 times what a regular PGS should be

2) if you're considering this on already extant embryos, you are likely going to kill the whole batch with the thaw/sample/freeze process. people only consider doing this when there is a deadly genetic issue that they are trying to avoid.

3) economic status is still the best predictor of success. invest the $40k now in a 529, provide love and support to whatever kids you get.