It is gradually clear that 52 "intelligence gene" has 20% influence on human IQ difference

Even though human beings are similar in appearance, there is a difference in "intelligence" born from the work of the brain. The cause of the difference in intelligence is not yet clearly understood even for people living in the same place, but according to a certain research result, the existence of 52 genes related to the difference is highlighted.

In 'Enormous Success,' Scientists Tie 52 Genes to Human Intelligence - The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/22/science/52-genes-human-intelligence.html

This research was conducted by a joint research team between Europe and the United States, and from the research results of 80,000 people, it is understood that 52 genes seem to be related to intelligence. Until now, scientists have said that the results of this research are "epoch-making", even though it is not well understood whether genes exist in the background of determining intelligence.

However, it is also a fact that this gene does not determine intelligence at this time. Its influence is negligible, and it is understood that intelligence is affected more by the "environment" where the person lives.

In the science of the past 100 years, in intelligence-tested tests, it has been done in a form to ask questions to the subjects. There are quite a lot of test items, and there are deviations in the results, but it is known that people with high intelligence tend to have good results in all tests, while low people tend to be low overall.

What is affecting intelligence in the brain is not yet clarified in the current science. One related item is also seen as "the volume of the brain", that is, the size of the brain, but in reality people with high intelligence are present even for people with small brain volumes.


Daniel · Posseuma researcher at the Netherlands · neurogenomics cognitive research center has conducted research in this field from the 1990's and studied about "the efficiency of signal transmission in the brain or the acceptor's work is bad" Was it influenced by doing that? "

In examining the relationship between genes and intelligence, the most useful example is a twin case with identical twins born from the same egg. Compared with years brothers, identical twins show similar intelligence from previous studies, but it can not be said that genes are still affecting intelligence. Although the research team conducted related investigation, the situation that the result which was hardly aimed could not be obtained continued.

In such a case, the research team said that it conducted a survey on database of 138 cases of past research cases of over 78,000 people. Mr. POSTZUMA thought that "I would not do anything", but from this point it is said that the results of showing that 52 genes are related to intelligence was highlighted. Of these 12 genes were known, the remaining 40 were said to have been confirmed for the first time.


Until now, the influence of genes on intelligence has been regarded as unknown, but the result of this time highlighted the relevance to that result, and in the sense that multiple researchers are "epoch - making" It shows the view that there is something. However, the fact that the difference in intelligence explained by this gene is limited to about 20% of the whole is also a fact.

"Intelligence gene" 52 pieces are specified, 20% of IQ difference is explained 1 International research photograph 1 international news: AFPBB News

This time it became a clue to recognize the relationship between genes and intelligence, but researchers said that "the way to go is still long" and further research is required. It is also becoming clear that there is an association with autism, so that further clarification is awaited.

The paper published by the research team can be viewed on the site of science magazine "Nature Genetics".

Genome-wide association meta-analysis of 78,308 individuals identifies new loci and genes influencing human intelligence: Nature Genetics: Nature Research