'Intelligence Gene' Identified by British Scientists; Can Help Improve Mental Ability

• comments
• 
• 

British scientists have discovered the "intelligence gene" to which they say can determine how smart a person is. They are looking at the clusters of genes to determine how to improve mental ability.

The gene networks called M1 and M3 can determine human intelligence and these clusters have been discovered by researchers from the Imperial College London. According to the researchers, the genes may be studied and manipulated to improve mental ability, and thus intelligence.

"We know that genetics plays a major role in intelligence but until now haven't known which genes are relevant. This research highlights some of the genes involved in human intelligence, and how they interact with each other," said lead author Dr. Michael Johnson, via Daily Mail. "What's exciting about this is that the genes we have found are likely to share a common regulation, which means that potentially we can manipulate a whole set of genes whose activity is linked to human intelligence.

"Our research suggests that it might be possible to work with these genes to modify intelligence, but that is only a theoretical possibility at the moment—we have just taken the first step along that road."

The research was published online in the journal Nature Neuroscience. For the study, the researchers analyzed brain samples from epileptic patients who have been operated for neurosurgery. They looked at the thousands of human brain genes and compared the results with data from people with autism spectrum disorder, people who have taken an IQ test and those with intellectual disability.

They found that some genes are linked to human intelligence. According to Medical Xpress, the same set of genes that are mutated can cause impaired cognitive intelligence and epilepsy in other people. The researchers used computer analysis to identify the gene networks M1 and M3. They found through the study that further research can help them understand the human brain in all its facets which could lead to the potential discovery of treatments for neurodevelopmental diseases or cognitive impairments.

Telegraph reports that intelligence can be passed down to children by up to 65 percent. It was previously believed that intelligence is dependent upon the formation of the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain responsible for memory, thought, language, attention and perceptiveness. Meanwhile, home and school environment can contribute to intelligence by up to 21 percent. The statistics were taken earlier this year after analysing the genetic information from 12,500 twins by a team at King's College London.