Birthmarked (Emanuel Hoss-Desmarais, 2018)
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Birthmarked (Emanuel Hoss-Desmarais, 2018)
Most research on individual differences in performance on tests of cognitive ability focuses on general cognitive ability (g), the highest l
Highlights
Specific cognitive abilities (SCA) are 56% heritable, similar to g.
Some SCA are significantly more heritable than others, 39% to 64%.
Independent of g (‘SCA.g’), SCA remain substantially heritable (∼50%).
SCA do not show the dramatic developmental increase in heritability seen for g.
Genomic research on SCA.g is needed to create profiles of strengths and weaknesses.
Abstract
Most research on individual differences in performance on tests of cognitive ability focuses on general cognitive ability (g), the highest level in the three-level Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) hierarchical model of intelligence. About 50% of the variance of g is due to inherited DNA differences (heritability) which increases across development. Much less is known about the genetics of the middle level of the CHC model, which includes 16 broad factors such as fluid reasoning, processing speed, and quantitative knowledge. We provide a meta-analytic review of 747,567 monozygotic-dizygotic twin comparisons from 77 publications for these middle-level factors, which we refer to as specific cognitive abilities (SCA), even though these factors are not independent of g. Twin comparisons were available for 11 of the 16 CHC domains. The average heritability across all SCA is 56%, similar to that of g. However, there is substantial differential heritability across SCA and SCA do not show the developmental increase in heritability seen for g. We also investigated SCA independent of g (SCA.g). A surprising finding is that SCA.g remain substantially heritable (53% on average), even though 25% of the variance of SCA that covaries with g has been removed. Our review highlights the need for more research on SCA and especially on SCA.g. Despite limitations of SCA research, our review frames expectations for genomic research that will use polygenic scores to predict SCA and SCA.g. Genome-wide association studies of SCA.g are needed to create polygenic scores that can predict SCA profiles of cognitive abilities and disabilities independent of g.
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Evolution doesn't stop above the neck.
my mom got sent a test for seeing if I have ADHD (we've talked about testing me for a while now, and I've finally warmed up to the idea) and I really just kinda wanted to tell someone bcs I'm kinda nervous about it.
also is there a such thing as entire families having ADHD?? cause after hearing the symptoms and taking an online test (not yet the more "official" one) I'm wondering if my parents and brother (even some extended family members) also have it and/or some form
Sent April 9, 2024
ADHD is highly heritable, so I would not be surprised if a family had multiple people who met the criteria and many others who came close.
Followers, how many people in your family have been diagnosed with ADHD? How many probably meet the criteria but aren’t diagnosed? How many have a bunch of traits but don’t quite hit the diagnostic threshold?
-J
As a kid, I used to say I was 3rd generation old, blaming this for my aches and pains, which most people would just laugh off. But I was actually on to something! Getting pregnant older increases the risk of genetic mutations, a thing that my sister and I definitely have. Her differences are incredibly rare, while mine are more common but also more painful.
My great grandma had my grandpa when she was 43 and my great grandpa was 54 (in 1921!). Then my parents had me when my mom was 40 and my dad was 43. So if me and my sister's genes are a little wonky. Like. Duh.
This isn't to say older adults shouldn't have children, but it's important to know the risks and be on the lookout for potential symptoms of genetic disorders in your kids. Some mutations are harmless, even beneficial, but some are debilitating and/or life-threatening.
If your child tells you they're in pain or is enough of an outlier to suffer socially, seek medical attention. Don't tell them to stop being dramatic, to stop lying, or to suck it up. There might be something actually wrong, and gaslighting your child won't stop the pain. It'll just teach them that their pain doesn't matter, and that you can't or won't help them. Don't tell your kid to keep their pain a secret.
Natural Selection Vocabulary
Artificial Selection -- humans changing a species by breeding for certain traits
Heritability -- ability of a trait to be passed down from one generation to the next
Natural Selection -- mechanism by which individuals inheriting beneficial adaptations produce more offspring than others
Population -- all individuals of a species in an area
Fitness -- ability to survive and produce offspring
Variation -- difference in physical traits of an individual compared to others in its group
Adaptation -- feature that allows an organism to better survive
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Abdel Abdellaoui, David Hugh-Jones, Kathryn E. Kemper, Yan Holtz, Michel G. Nivard, Laura Veul, Loic Yengo, Brendan P. Zietsch, Timothy M. Frayling, Naomi Wray, Jian Yang, Karin J.H. Verweij, Peter M. Visscher
ABSTRACT
Human DNA varies across geographic regions, with most variation observed so far reflecting distant ancestry differences. Here, we investigate the geographic clustering of genetic variants that influence complex traits and disease risk in a sample of ~450,000 individuals from Great Britain. Out of 30 traits analyzed, 16 show significant geographic clustering at the genetic level after controlling for ancestry, likely reflecting recent migration driven by socio-economic status (SES). Alleles associated with educational attainment (EA) show most clustering, with EA-decreasing alleles clustering in lower SES areas such as coal mining areas. Individuals that leave coal mining areas carry more EA-increasing alleles on average than the rest of Great Britain. In addition, we leveraged the geographic clustering of complex trait variation to further disentangle regional differences in socio-economic and cultural outcomes through genome-wide association studies on publicly available regional measures, namely coal mining, religiousness, 1970/2015 general election outcomes, and Brexit referendum results.
By: Arvita N. Sihaloho Abstract Selection of the population F3 and F4 by method single seed descent was to obtain information about the genetic diversity character agronomy and yield components. Th…
By: Arvita N. Sihaloho Abstract Selection of the population F3 and F4 by method single seed descent was to obtain information about the genetic diversity character agronomy and yield components. Th…