2017-03-19 13:40:03
Science has confirmed that from a genetic point of view, intelligence is a complex trait. This means that it does not depend on one gene, or a few, but depends on the competition of many genes, each of which exerts a small effect. There is no “intelligence gene”, but there is “intelligence genes”.
One of the most surprising revelations is that the percentage of intelligence that is heritable increases with age. Thus, studies indicate that while the heritable part of intelligence is only 20% in childhood, this percentage increases to 60% in adulthood. It is not easy to understand why, but the truth is that numerous studies confirm this point. It is as if throughout life the genes that affect intelligence manifest themselves more strongly as we develop as people.
A very surprising fact revealed by intelligence studies is that the level of intelligence of couples also shows a strong positive correlation. In fact, couples agree more on their level of intelligence than on other personality traits. This means, for example, that the level of intelligence in couples of men and women is more similar than height, weight, or personality type. Thus, the level of correlation for intelligence is 40%, while that of height and weight is only 20% and that of general personality, only 10%.
Since intelligence is a trait that is positively selected for in mating, the children of intelligent women are more likely to have intelligent fathers as well. Since the influence of genes on intelligence is very high, as we have already said, this means that these children will have above average intelligence. The opposite phenomenon will happen with the children of less intelligent parents.
More information on Jorge Laborda’s Blog: Genetics of intelligence differences
References:
R. Plomin and I.J. Deary. Genetics and intelligence differences: five special findings. Molecular Psychiatry (2015) 20, 98–108.
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