Explain to me your own decision to do this – to use Orchid’s technology on yourself.
I mean, I started the company because I wanted to test my own embryos.
Because of your mother or because of your personality?
Both. Reproduction is one of the most fundamental things in life. It’s like dying, paying taxes and, you know, people have kids.
You always knew you wanted to have children.
Oh yeah. Yes.
How old were you when you thought, “I should be able to sequence my embryos”?
I don’t think it was because of the sequencing of my embryos special. I have always had an interest in genetics. I have always had an interest in fertility and reproductive technology.
Even as a teenager?
I remember one of my applications for the Thiel fellowship definitely had a version of Orchid in it.
That was the case over a decade ago, and many expectant parents still rely on the same genetic testing we did back then.
I would think it would be negligent to use old technology. Because by definition you are missing hundreds of things that could have been detected. Parents who are not told that this new technology exists are doing themselves a great disservice and are likely to file a lawsuit if their child contracts an illness.
Do you think this is a legitimate lawsuit?
Naturally. If your doctor doesn’t tell you that there is a way for you to examine your child to make sure he or she doesn’t have a condition that would be either life-threatening or life-changing for him or her, then that has already happened. [Parents have been suing physicians for failing to perform genetic tests since the late 1980s.]
How much does an orchid screening cost?
It costs $2,500 per embryo.
And you would probably examine several embryos. What about families who can’t afford it?
We have a philanthropic program that people can apply to and we are happy to take on as many cases as possible.
Your clientele at the moment may be leaning more towards wealthy optimizers – people who really care about numbers.
I think you are right. I mean, I don’t know.
Do you ever worry about that? Giving people like, more Things to worry about?
No no no. I think it’s the opposite. For the vast majority of our patients, it reduces worry.
There must be exceptions.
There are some people who, I agree, are kind of worried. And I just don’t think they should do genetic testing.
Oh yeah?
I mean, everyone is different. It’s just that I want to expand the selection. You can choose your partner. You can decide when and whether you have children. This is your child, so to speak. Why would you censor information about it?
But this still makes many people very uncomfortable. There is often fear of anything that touches reproduction. Are we, I don’t know, afraid of playing God or something?
Every other time we study something, we develop – we develop insulin, right? We say, “That’s great!” It’s not like you’re playing God there. But that’s actually you, isn’t it? You create something that didn’t exist before.