Difficulty in identifying genes 'smart'

According to a New Scientist report in the UK, scientists still have a hard time determining which genes are supposed to determine human intelligence.

The team led by Robert Plomin of the London Institute of Psychiatry conducted intelligence-based research through tests of both language and behavioral abilities of 7,000 children to 7. Then they took DNA samples. of these children surveyed genetic differences between children who scored high and those with lower grades.

(Photo: AFP) The results showed that there are 37 variants of 6 genes that can play a decisive role in the intellectual differences of children . However, the single effect of each gene is very vague. This group of genes only accounts for 1% of the intellectual differences.

Previous studies on twins and adopted children show that about 50% of intellectual differences lie in the factors of nurturing - caring, social circumstances and then genetics.

According to New Scientist magazine, although the relationship between genes and intelligence is still vague, this 50-50 ratio should also be taken into account. It can be understood that an intricate element such as intelligence is the product of a combination of gene groups and not just an independent gene that plays a decisive role.

Gary Marcus, a New York University psychologist, told New Scientist: 'Intelligence is a way of showing brain activity and at least half of the genome in the human body for activity. this action. This also means that if you want to create a human brain, you need thousands of genes to work together. '