Do Genetics Play a Role in IQ?

Intelligence quotient IQ is the measure of intelligence. The study of intelligence is sometimes a tough one as a person may score zero in mathematics and still be a very intelligent artist who just lacks an aptitude to maths. Intelligence quotient testing usually involves a test on the ability to solve problems, understand complex ideas, abstract thinking, plan, reason, etc.



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Also, a lot of factors play a major role in intelligence, some of which include environment, education, nutrition, etc. Though the current study of genetics as a factor in intelligence has a 50% effect for the gene as an influence in genetics.

Though in some study of intelligence, the genetic factor may have about 50% influence on the outcome of the result. Though scientifically speaking, the result is still inconclusive as the
genetic factors have not been traced to any gnome in the gene that affects the IQ of individuals.

Since intelligence is said to be strongly influenced by environment. Here parenting is said to have a major influence on IQ. Some proponent that a particular parent's IQ plays a major role.

Is there a correlation between the IQ of offsprings dependent on who their parents are? Is little John very good in mathematics because both parents are professors of mathematics with three advanced degrees under their belt?

Since intelligence is said to be strongly influenced by environment. Here parenting is said to have a major influence on IQ. Some proponent that a particular parent's IQ plays a major

Intelligence from a mother?

Since women have two X chromosomes, they are more likely to pass intelligence to their children.
Some group of scientists says your clever gene is on the X chromosome which would be invalid when it comes from the father.
This is due to a particular set of the gene called conditional gene. A gene which is said to work if it comes from a particular parent. So the intelligence gene is said to work only if it comes from the mother.



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Some researchers in Glasgow interviewed 12,686 young people, age range from 14 and 22 annually from 1994. Factors such as race, education, socio-economic standing were taken into consideration but the mothers become the determining factor of IQ after the research.

As I mentioned early, genetics plays about 50% role in IQ determination, the environment, and other factors have a role too to play.

Beyond the genetics, mother-child bond plays a major role that ultimately determines a child’s intelligence.

Researchers at the University of Washington found a 10 percent larger hippocampus (area of the brain associated with learning) than average during a seven-year period of children with mothers who emotionally support them compared to the ones with mothers who cared less.

How about the fathers?

Fathers do have a large role to play as IQ still has half of its traits from the non-genetic point of determination. The mothers may have a larger responsibility to a child's IQ by virtue of genetics as research had found out.

It is possible a larger number of genes are involved making no particular gene the main determinant of IQ. But some are of the opinion that this may, in fact, may not be true.

One author who felt strongly on some the research wrote a book about it. He is Harvard paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould. The book is titled The Mismeasure of Man.

The book is a critique of the biological determinism in research which is

co-opted in the service of racism, misogyny, homophobia and economic repression. Intelligence research, not surprisingly, has always been one of the worst offenders.

Conclusion

Mothers are the more of primary people that raise a child at the stage of his major brain developmental stage. So it stands to reason that smart mothers should raise smart kids. So mothers with higher IQ stands more chance of raising a higher IQ child/children than if the reverse is the case.

Moral of the story? Always date/marry a smart woman <3

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Refs:1,2.

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authored by: @greenrun