Does your children's intelligence inherit from you or from him?

Does your children's intelligence inherit from you or from him?

A new study has found that a mother's genes determine how smart her children are, and that the father makes a difference, according to the British newspaper, The Independent.

The results of the study suggest that mothers are more likely to pass intelligence genes to their children because they carry two X chromosomes, while men have only one X chromosome. Scientists also now suspect that genes for advanced cognitive functions inherited from the father may be automatically deactivated.

Scientists believe that the category of genes known as “adaptive genes” does not work unless it comes from the mother in some cases and from the father in other cases, and then it is likely that intelligence is among the adaptive genes, which must come from the mother.

Big brains and small bodies

Laboratory studies of genetically modified mice found that mice with an overdose of maternal genes developed larger heads and brains, but smaller bodies, while mice that received an overdose of paternal genes had smaller brains and larger bodies.

The researchers identified cells containing only the maternal or paternal genes in six different parts of the mice's brains that control different cognitive functions, from eating habits to memory.

Language, thinking and planning

Cells with parental genes accumulate in parts of the limbic system, which are involved in functions such as sex, food, and aggression. But the researchers found no parental cells in the cerebral cortex, where the most advanced cognitive functions, such as language, thinking and planning, occur.

To rule out the possibility that the findings might not apply to humans, researchers in Glasgow used theories from rat studies to apply to humans to explore intelligence during interviews with 12686 14- to 22-year-olds annually as of 1994. Although several factors are considered, From participants' education to race and socioeconomic status, the researchers discovered that the best predictor of intelligence was a mother's IQ.
genetics vs environment

But research also shows that genetics is not the only determinant of intelligence, as the genetic factor is limited to between 40 and 60%, while a similar percentage is linked to the environment, which shows that mothers also play a very important role in this non-genetic part of the body. Intelligence. Some studies suggest that a secure bond between mother and child is closely related to intelligence.
Emotional bond with the mother

Researchers at the University of Washington have found that a secure emotional bond between mother and child is essential for the development of certain parts of the brain. After analyzing the way a group of mothers related to their children for seven years, researchers concluded that children who were emotionally supported and had their intellectual needs met had an average of 10 percent larger hippocampus than children who grew up emotionally away from their mothers. The hippocampus is an area of ​​the brain associated with memory, learning, and response to stress.

sense of safety

A strong bond with the mother is believed to give the child a sense of security allowing him to explore the world and be confident in solving problems. Dedicated, attentive mothers also tend to help children solve problems, and further help them achieve their potential.

The role of parents

There is no reason why fathers cannot play as big a parenting role as mothers. And the researchers suggest that a whole host of other gene-specific traits, such as intuition and emotions, that can be inherited from the father are also key to unlocking potential intelligence.