GenePeeks

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]