Exploring the Inheritance of

Intellectual Abilities

Name:
Skarleht Molina

Level: EAP 3B

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• Do you think that IQ is related to our
parents?

• Psychologists recognize that

intelligence complex trait shaped by
both genetic and environmental factors.

• Intelligence: the ability to learn, reason,

and solve problems. (Gottfredson,
1994).

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 Outline.
• Why intelligence is
genetic.

• Intelligence is related
to education.

• Real-life example.

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 The Minnesota Twins Study
Bouchard (1979)
• Set out to study the similarities and
differences between twins (identical and
fraternal)
• Identical twins' IQs are more similar than
those of fraternal twins.
• The relationship between IQ in identical
twins can be over 80%, while it is closer to
50% in fraternal twins.

“The Jim Twins” (1979)

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 Heritability (McGue et al., 1993)

• Heritability:
• Siblings reared together have IQs that are
more similar than those of adopted children
raised together
• The relationship IQ between siblings can be
over 40%, while it is less than 30% in
adoptive siblings

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 (The Source of Intelligence, n.d.)
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 Influent of Education
• The relation between intelligence test scores
and years of completed education might
suggest that prolonged education has a
beneficial effect on intelligence (Strenze,
2007)
• Selection process ——>more intelligent
children progress further in education (Deary
& Johnson, 2010).

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 The Genius Girl Adhara Perez
(Rao,2023)
• 11 years old and has a higher IQ than Einstein
162 points
• Degree in systems engineering from CNCI
University
• Industrial engineering with a specialization
in mathematics from the Technological
University of Mexico.

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 Conclusion

• The Minnesota Twins Study has indeed contributed valuable

insights into the role of genetics in determining intelligence
• Genes contribute significantly to individual differences in
intelligence.
• Environmental factors also can contribute to the overall
development of cognitive abilities
• This makes us wonder how much of who we are is predetermined
by our genes, and to what extent environmental factors can shape
our destinies.

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 Reference List:
• Gottfredson, L. (13 de December de 1994). Mainstream science on intelligence. Wall Street Journal.
• Plomin, R., & Von Stumm, S. (2018). The new genetics of intelligence. Nature Reviews, 148-159.
• Rao, L. (2023). This Mexican girl, 11, has higher IQ than Einstein, to receive master’s degree. Hindustan Times.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/mexican-girl-adhara-p-rez-s-n-with-higher-iq-than-albert-einstein-haw
king-masters-degree-nasa-101683552247500.html
• Strenze, T. (2007). Intelligence and socioeconomic success: A meta-analytic review of longitudinal research.
Intelligence, 35, 401–426.
• Deary, I. & Johnson, W. (2010). Intelligence and education: Causal perceptions drive analytic processes and
therefore conclusions. International Journal of Epidemiology, 39, 1362–1369.
• The Source of Intelligence. (n.d.). Openstax.org. https://openstax.org/books/psychology/pages/7-6-the-source-of-intelligence
• McGue, M., Bouchard, T. J., Jr., Iacono, W. G., & Lykken, D. T. (1993). Behavioral genetics of cognitive ability: A life-span
perspective. Nature, nurture & psychology (pp. 59–76). https://doi.org/10.1037/10131-003

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