Tinker Tots: A citizen science project to explore ethical dilemmas in embryo selection
When choosing an embryo for implantation during in vitro fertilization (IVF), would you consider its chances of developing a health condition? What about traits like creativity, intelligence, or physical fitness?
Tinker Tots is an interactive research project designed to explore how people make these difficult choices. By taking part, you help researchers understand how different genetic possibilities influence decision-making—while also gaining insight into your own and other people's values.
Understanding decision-making in embryo selection
Advances in preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) now allow parents undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) to receive probabilistic information about an embryo's likelihood of developing certain traits and medical conditions.
This technology raises important questions: How do people interpret and use this information? What traits or risks do they prioritize? How do ethical, social, and personal factors shape these choices?
To answer these questions, researchers from the University of Oxford, University of Exeter, and the National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine have developed Tinker Tots.
In this online study, participants are presented with hypothetical embryo selection scenarios. Each embryo has a unique genetic profile, with different chances of developing certain conditions (e.g., heart disease, schizophrenia) or traits (e.g., high IQ, musical talent). Participants must decide which embryo they would choose to implant, helping researchers uncover underlying patterns in human values and decision-making.
"This is a study about what people think is good in life and what they value in their children. It will inform medical research, the regulation of reproduction and the choices people have when deciding to bring a child into the world," said Prof. Julian Savulescu, a Principal Investigator of the project.
A thought-provoking experience
Tinker Tots is open to anyone. Some may see it as an opportunity to reflect on their values. Others may be interested in the science behind genetic selection. Whatever the motivation, every choice made in the study helps researchers understand how people evaluate genetic information when faced with real-world trade-offs.
"Tinker Tots is designed as a tool for scientific research and for people to engage with important ethical questions in an accessible and thought-provoking way," adds Dr. Edmond Awad, Lead Researcher of the project
How it works:
- Make choices—Users navigate rounds of embryo selection dilemmas, choosing between embryos with different predicted attributes.
- Compare probabilities—Each round presents hypothetical genetic probabilities, prompting users to weigh and prioritize traits and conditions.
- Reflect on values—At the end of each session, users receive a summary of their choices and what other people have chosen, offering insights into their preferences and decision-making patterns.
- Explore further—Users can play multiple sessions to see how their choices evolve when faced with new attributes.
- Contribute to research—Every decision made helps researchers better understand how people interpret genetic information and make ethical trade-offs.
Tinker Tots is part of the ANTITHESES Discovery Research Platform for Transformative Inclusivity in Ethics and Humanities Research.
