Embryo Selection and Frontier Genomics with Dr. Alex Young – #111

Dr. Alex Young, a statistical geneticist and assistant professor in the Human Genetics department at UCLA, joins Steve Hsu to discuss the cutting edge of genomic prediction. They cover his research on polygenic embryo screening in IVF (including the ImputePGTA method), family-based DNA analysis, missing heritability, and the implications of polygenic scores for traits like education and disease. Alex also discusses his recent battles with cancer. https://x.com/AlexTISYoung Chapter Markers: 00:00 Alex Young Bio 05:35 Biobank Era Genetics 09:48 Missing Heritability Debate 26:17 Embryo Selection Controversy 49:31 Embryo Selection Backlash 52:42 Mexico City Admixture Study 59:12 Censorship Via Data Access Control 01:04:01 Battle with Cancer and Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA) Music used with permission from Blade Runner Blues Livestream improvisation by State Azure. – Steve Hsu is Professor of Theoretical Physics and of Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering at Michigan State University. Previously, he was Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation at MSU and Director of the Institute of Theoretical Science at the University of Oregon. Hsu is a startup founder (SuperFocus.ai, SafeWeb, Genomic Prediction, Othram) and advisor to venture capital and other investment firms. He was educated at Caltech and Berkeley, was a Harvard Junior Fellow, and has held faculty positions at Yale, the University of Oregon, and MSU. Please send any questions or suggestions to [email protected] or Steve on X @hsu_steve.