Genes more important than socioeconomic status in determining IQ
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014 09:37 AM

Scientists have long tried to discover the forces that shape a child's personality and intellect later in life - does nature or nurture have a more profound influence? Increasingly, research has pointed to nature, or rather, genes, as the element that has the greatest impact on intelligence. This throws a wrench in many parenting techniques, such as reading to kids or having them listen to classical music. While doing such things for kids helps keep their minds sharp, they don't determine IQ. Researchers from King's College London, which is a world leader in the research of genes and environment, and other universities teamed up to investigate whether socioeconomic status plays a role in the development of IQ. The study revealed that it is not as important as genes.

Why status would matter
Socioeconomic status is often linked to opportunity. A family from a privileged background can afford to offer their children access to books, programs and schools thought to give kids the best chance at success down the road. Families from a disadvantaged background cannot offer such options to their children. For this reason, people thought IQ scores could be linked to socioeconomic status. 

To determine whether this is the case, researchers used a method called Genome-wide Complex Trait Analysis. GCTA allows scientists to see patterns in genes that ultimately lead them to conclusions. Basically, researchers learned that while IQ and status are related, it's not a causal condition - genes associated with childhood IQ are likely also associated with family socioeconomic status. The difference in semantics is slight, but the implication is impactful. 

Conclusions
Researchers discovered that by age 7, "94 percent of the correlation between family SES and children's IQ is mediated genetically," according to the study. By age 12, 56 percent of the correlation was moderated by genes. Scientists know that the environmental factors most people consider influential on personality or IQ, such as parenting style, don't impact intelligence. Rather, most researchers in the field of genetics, environment and IQ agree that some mystery environmental factor exists. However, this "nonshared" environment isn't well defined, and researchers are still trying to understand it.

For now, the study recommends that policymakers think of genes when discussing socioeconomic status and IQ.

What it means for parenting
Although genetics set a pretty clear course for children's intellect, parenting styles and decisions aren't superfluous. Reading to young kids can aid in making familial attachments and create a comfortable and safe environment.