What if we could select the optimal genetic traits for our children? In this episode of Endgame, Amanda Cassatt sits down with bioethicist and philosopher Jonathan Anomaly to explore the cutting edge of reproductive biotechnology.

They dismantle the social and political taboos surrounding genetic curation, tracing everything from the uncomfortable reality of cognitive capacities and human success to the macro ethical implications of advanced embryo selection. Jonathan argues why denying genetic influence is an intellectually dangerous myth and details how decentralized biotechnology will soon allow humanity to shift from being passive victims of natural selection to becoming its active architects. This is a raw, unfiltered conversation about modern inequality, human cognitive potential, and the existential risks of trying to optimize our own species.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

04:59 What Does “Eugenics” Mean Today?

09:13 IQ, Personality & Cognitive Diversity

15:47 Are Intelligence and Personality Genetic?

18:11 Nature vs. Nurture: How Much Is Genetic?

20:35 Is IQ Really 70% Heritable?

22:50 Why IQ Matters for Embryo Selection

27:21 How Much Can Embryo IQ Actually Differ?

29:43 The Risks of Maximizing Intelligence

32:08 Should We Genetically “Optimize” Humans?

34:26 How Genetic Selection Could Change Dating

36:47 Sperm Donors, Genetics & the Future of Reproduction

39:07 Do Polygenic Embryo Scores Actually Work?

41:24 How Herasight Predicts Genetic Traits

43:46 The Genetic Data Gap Across Ancestries

46:06 IVG, Artificial Wombs & the Future of IVF

48:26 When Could “Babies From a Blood Draw” Arrive?

50:23 CRISPR, Gene Editing & Its Biggest Risks

52:52 Are We Going Too Far With Human Genetics?

55:07 Should Parents Prevent Genetic Disabilities?

56:29 The Ethics of Selecting Against Disease

57:45 The Hidden Risks of Genetic Selection

58:08 Should Genetics Be Left to the Free Market?

58:28 The Coming “Polygenic Revolution”

59:00 Can We Make Human Nature Better?

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