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Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences Intelligence Genes Estimated IQ's of Famous Geniuses |
Intelligence Genes Many scientists from around the world have researched on the genetic basis of intelligence. Through advancing technology and the mapping of the Human Genome they have come close to pinpointing a group of genes responsible for intelligence. But one must take into account that these studies are done on the basis that intelligence can be measured by IQ, which contradicts what many eminent scientists believe, including Harvard University's Howard Gardner and Steven Jay Gould. A group of scientists joined together to look for the genes that are responsible for intelligence. They began by looking on the long arm of Chromosome 6, a specific chromosome that was mapped completely by the Human Genome Project. They selected a group of individuals with high IQ's and compared them to people with average IQ's. In order to compare the two groups they looked at the differences between 37 different genes on the long arm of Chromosome 6. They found that one gene on Chromosome 6, IGF2R, showed a difference between the two groups. This gene has at least seven different alleles and two of these alleles were more frequently obtained. Allele 5 was more common in extremely high IQ groups (46% had at least one IGF2R Allele 5) than in the average IQ group (only 23% had at least Allele 5). Although the findings may seem trivial to those of us not in the research world, it shows clear differences between individuals with higher and average intelligence. More research will allow scientists to pinpoint exactly which gene or set of genes is responsible for intelligence. The study is important because it demonstrates that the influence of genetics on human cognition is based on many factors. The research was done in order to find the subtle genetic differences that might have some influence on intelligence. It was also one of the first attempts to directly isolate genes that differ between groups rather than based on family resemblances. The problems with the study was that the differing allele could only account for a 2% variance in IQ, or about 4 points. It is also possible that the gene used, IGF2R, may not be a functional gene on the chromosome. Another gene on that chromosome could actually be responsible for the variation. Since only a portion of the chromosome has been mapped, to verify that IGF2R is the right gene, the entire chromosome needs to be mapped. The previous research project was conducted by Michael and Karen Korney (Penn State University), Nicole Seese (Penn State University), Mike Owens (University of Wales), J. Daniels (University of Wales), Peter McGuffin (University of Wales), Lee Thompson (Case Western Reserve University), Douglas Detterman (Case Western Reserve University), Camilla Benbow (Vanderbilt), David Lubinski (Vanderbilt), T. Eley (Kings College London), and Robert Plomin (Kings College London). The paper written about the study: A quantitative trait locus associated with cognitive ability in children. Psychological Science, 9, 159-166, (1998). |