Dichotomania Distorts Genetic Risk

Medical and commercial genetics often convert continuous traits into binary 'disease' labels using arbitrary thresholds; when embryo selection nudges a trait slightly, modelers can present large relative risk reductions even though individuals experience negligible clinical change. This statistical sleight‑of‑hand (which the author calls 'dichotomania') systematically misleads consumers and policymakers about the real value of selecting embryos by polygenic scores. — If regulators, clinicians, and prospective parents accept threshold‑based risk claims without scrutiny, embryo selection could be normalized on a false basis, shaping reproductive choices and inequality while producing little health gain.