Nucleus claims Vitruvian model can optimize embryo IQ by 14 points, draws FDA criticism
shae_mcl · x · 2026-09-20
Nucleus Genomics announced Vitruvian, a set of "genetic optimization models" claiming to optimize embryo DNA for 14 IQ points — nearly a standard deviation. The company says models were trained on 1M+ people, validated across 40,000+ siblings, and use 7M+ genetic markers, citing Nick Bostrom's Superintelligence and arguing genetic optimization follows a scaling law.
Max Hodak sharply criticized the announcement, questioning why the FDA hasn't acted: "is misrepresenting statistics to patients for marketing just legal now?" The claims lack peer review, and polygenic embryo IQ prediction efficacy is far below the marketing framing.
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