Intelligence Is Inherited From The Mother, Science Reveals
The intelligence It is one of the most recurring themes in Psychology and Mind. In addition to having an entire section dedicated to various monographs, research and theories on intelligence, today we echo a particularly interesting issue.
People who are lucky enough to be smarter than average should start thanking one other person in particular: their mothers. And, as several investigations have highlighted, It seems that mothers are the ones who transmit most of the genetic load related to cognitive abilities
This would deny many of the gender prejudices that remain quite rooted in our societies and that have cruelly accompanied women in particular for centuries. According to this information, the intelligence of the parent would not be a strong factor when predicting the intelligence of the children.
Conditioned genes, the key to everything
The scientific basis of this matter lies precisely in the existence of “conditioned genes.” These genetic components, as described by biologists who have studied them in depth, behave differently depending on whether they originate from a male or female body.
Apparently, These genes contain something like a biochemical tag that provides information about where they come from, and that even reveals to us whether or not these genes will be active in the child’s cells. Specifically, some conditioned genes are only activated if they come from the mother. If this same gene is inherited through the paternal route, it is not activated. As one would expect, there are other genes that work in reverse: that is, they are only activated if they come from the father.
Chromosome X, essential in the development of cognitive potential
It is well known that intelligence is inherited from parents to children, but there was no evidence until recently that this capacity was due to a greater extent to one of the two parents. The various studies that have revealed that children have a greater probability of inheriting their mother’s intelligence suggest that the genes related to cognitive abilities are located in the X chromosome
In fact, the data that supports this thesis comes from afar. In 1984, a study at the University of Cambridge already detected the trend. The team of researchers analyzed certain biochemical and genetic components of the brain, and concluded that the mother’s genes provide more information for the development of brain structures associated with thinking and mental operations.
To reach this surprising finding, the researchers worked with mouse embryos modified to reproduce only the genes of the mother or those of the father. However, when the scientists transferred the embryos to the uterus of a female mouse so they could continue developing, they died.
In this way, researchers realized that there are conditioned genes that only activate when they are inherited maternally, and that are essential for the development and survival of the embryo. Something different happened with embryos that were genetic copies of the parents: their genes were crucial for the growth of placental tissues. They also died.
The hypothesis was clear: if these specific genes were so extremely essential for the development (and survival) of the embryo, it would be reasonable to think that they would be genes with great responsibilities in the organic functioning of animals and human beings, and perhaps they could have a strong relationship with certain brain functions. A hypothesis that, after successive studies isolating variables, was validated.
Mice with amazingly large heads
Mice that had a higher proportion of maternal genes developed an abnormally large brain, yet their bodies were very small. In contrast, mice with paternal genes had a tiny head and overdeveloped body.
As scientists detected which genes came from the mother and which from the father, They also identified several cells that only contained maternal or paternal genes in different brain areas that govern different cognitive functions and processes, such as intelligence or memory.
The scientists did not find any paternal cells in the cerebral cortex, where the structures that allow us to have complex cognitive functions, such as intelligence, decision-making, language and other skills, are located.
New research and evidence
Over the years, the scientific community has been reviewing this curious genetic phenomenon. In fact, one of the most renowned researchers in the field of intelligence, Robert Lehrke, revealed that most of the intellectual capacity of neonates is generated in the X chromosome. He was even able to demonstrate that Women are twice as likely to inherit traits linked to intelligence by having that same ‘X’ chromosome twice.
A few months ago, another study from the German University of Ulm discovered that the genetic material involved in brain damage is closely linked to the X chromosome. In addition, they pointed out that one of the evidence of this is the fact that mental and intellectual disabilities are 30% more frequent in men.
IQ predictor
All of the previous studies are very interesting and provide specific clues to the relationship between the mother’s genes and intelligence. However, one of the most revealing studies is the longitudinal analysis carried out in the Meducational Research Council Social and Public Health Sciences Unit from the USA.
Over a long period of time, 12,000 young people between the ages of 13 and 22 were interviewed annually. By analyzing different variables about individuals, such as skin color or sociocultural and economic level, they discovered that The indicator that best predicted the intelligence of each subject was their mother’s IQ
Beyond genetics
But genetics is not the only thing that gives us data on this issue. There is other research that shows that the mother plays a fundamental role in the intellectual and cognitive development of her children, through daily stimuli. Several studies suggest that the attachment that bond of pristine trust with the mother, is closely related to future intelligence.
Attachment and its importance for the development of intelligence
Several investigations at the University of North Carolina, among many others, found that Children who successfully develop a secure attachment to their mothers are able to carry out more complex symbolic play In addition, they are more constant and have a greater tolerance for frustration.
It seems that secure attachment offers the foundations for children to grow up trusting in their possibilities, facing challenges to make efforts and solve the problems of their daily lives. It is also notable that mothers who provide this secure attachment are also those who stimulate their children more and better so that they can advance in their cognitive development.
What percentage of intelligence is inherited?
But is intelligence really inherited? In what proportion is this so? It is often said that between 45 and 55% of intelligence is written in genes This gives us to understand that there is also a significant part, approximately half, that develops if the family, social and personal conditions are good.
And it is worth remembering that intelligence is nothing other than the ability that human beings have to solve problems. There is no specific area of the brain in charge of solving problems, but rather it is our entire brain as a whole that works globally to tackle any task that requires an effort from our cognitive abilities. Furthermore, to make matters worse, we not only use rational thinking for these purposes, but heuristic thinking, intuition and emotions also come into play, which are usually more related to the genetic inheritance of the father.
Stimulate the child’s intelligence
There is no need to pay excessive attention to a child’s IQ. Intelligence is an extremely complex construct, which develops if the child’s mind is suitably stimulated, with challenges and tasks that, little by little, force him to climb his stages of cognitive development.
As parents, We must be able to understand that we can contribute a lot to our children maturing and develop more complex cognitive skills, and this must be done, let us not forget, attending to the emotional and recreational needs of the little ones in the house. Everything helps.
You may be interested in: “5 tips to nurture your child with emotional intelligence”
