Founders | Anne Morriss Lee Silver |
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Location | |
Website |
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GenePeeks is a genetic research company that owns and runs Matchright, a simulation that determines the probability of genetic disorders being present in a child given two people's DNA.
GenePeeks simulates the combination of genetic sequences of two people and predicts potential diseases and inherited disorders to find good recipient matches for sperm donors. [1] By simulating the process of reproduction with the two DNA sequences, the company's software (called Matchright) forms a hypothetical child genome to determine the likelihood of the resulting child developing one of around 600 conditions. [1] [2] The technology is currently aimed at sperm banks; the first users will be at two fertility clinics in the United States, one of which is Manhattan Cryobank in New York City. [1] [3]
The software creates around 10,000 virtual genomes for each donor-recipient pair, and typically rules out 10-15% of donors as bad matches for the recipient. [4] Currently it only searches for single gene genetic conditions, but the company plan to expand the software to look for multiple gene diseases like diabetes and heart disease. [4]
Concern has been raised as to whether the software would allow " designer babies", but the company say that they are not intending to use the system for non-medical purposes. [4] [5]
GenePeeks was established by Anne Morriss and Lee Silver. Silver is a genetics professor at Princeton University whose work is focused on reproduction and development. [1] [4] Morriss was motivated to start the service in part by her own experience of starting a family; her son received an inherited disorder ( MCADD) after being conceived with sperm from a donor. [6] The two started GenePeeks after being introduced by a mutual friend. [4]
In January 2014 the company was issued a patent for their algorithms to simulate genetic interactions. [7]
In October 2018, Anne Morriss had left the company and the company website has since been taken down. [8] [9]