Scientists fail to find intelligence genes
Source: Agencies |
August 10, 2011, Wednesday
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SCIENTISTS hunting for intelligence genes have found that hundreds with only slight individual effects are involved.
They once thought that fewer than half a dozen were responsible, but more recently they have determined there may be at least 1,000 - each with just a tiny effect.
A study released yesterday has found new evidence that many genes play a role, but scientists still cannot pinpoint the specific genes involved.
The new work was done by Professor Ian Deary of the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and colleagues in a number of other countries.
Deary said the team wanted to find out "whether genetic differences we could test on people's DNA could explain some of the reasons people have different intelligence test scores."
Researchers did not identify any genes affecting intelligence, but they estimate they found a genetic influence accounting for at least 40 percent to 50 percent of the differences in intelligence test scores in more than 3,500 unrelated adults.
Previous work involving twins and adopted children has found that genes have a significant influence on IQ scores, producing about half the difference between adults in general. The influence of genes appears to grow from childhood to adulthood.
Scientists have come to realize that, as with height, differences in intelligence come not from a few genes, but rather the overall effect of many genes, each with only a tiny influence.
The new DNA study, reported in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, came to similar conclusions - many genes work together to shape intelligence.
As important as genes are in determining intelligence, they do not act alone, and the role of one's upbringing and experiences cannot be ignored.
Researchers are interested in the relationship between genes and intelligence because our memory, reasoning skills and thinking abilities tend to decline as we age, some faster than others. Understanding the genetics of intelligence may eventually help researchers to understand the degenerative mechanics of diseases such as Alzheimer's.
Psychologist Eric Turkheimer, of the University of Virginia, who had no role in the study, said: "It has been kind of a shock to the system that it has not worked. We cannot find the effects of any individual genes that are large enough to seem worth worrying about."
They once thought that fewer than half a dozen were responsible, but more recently they have determined there may be at least 1,000 - each with just a tiny effect.
A study released yesterday has found new evidence that many genes play a role, but scientists still cannot pinpoint the specific genes involved.
The new work was done by Professor Ian Deary of the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and colleagues in a number of other countries.
Deary said the team wanted to find out "whether genetic differences we could test on people's DNA could explain some of the reasons people have different intelligence test scores."
Researchers did not identify any genes affecting intelligence, but they estimate they found a genetic influence accounting for at least 40 percent to 50 percent of the differences in intelligence test scores in more than 3,500 unrelated adults.
Previous work involving twins and adopted children has found that genes have a significant influence on IQ scores, producing about half the difference between adults in general. The influence of genes appears to grow from childhood to adulthood.
Scientists have come to realize that, as with height, differences in intelligence come not from a few genes, but rather the overall effect of many genes, each with only a tiny influence.
The new DNA study, reported in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, came to similar conclusions - many genes work together to shape intelligence.
As important as genes are in determining intelligence, they do not act alone, and the role of one's upbringing and experiences cannot be ignored.
Researchers are interested in the relationship between genes and intelligence because our memory, reasoning skills and thinking abilities tend to decline as we age, some faster than others. Understanding the genetics of intelligence may eventually help researchers to understand the degenerative mechanics of diseases such as Alzheimer's.
Psychologist Eric Turkheimer, of the University of Virginia, who had no role in the study, said: "It has been kind of a shock to the system that it has not worked. We cannot find the effects of any individual genes that are large enough to seem worth worrying about."
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