Natural Selection Breeds Out Education Genes From Gene Pool

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Researchers have found that genes that genetically predispose people to have higher education has been in decline for several decades now, and its effect over time might have serious impact on educational attainment in the long run.

The study was conducted by deCODE, a genetics firm based in Reykjavik and the researchers used a database of 130,000 people in Iceland to compare how gene variants that can affect educational attainment manifest in the population in the long run the Guardian reported. What they found is that the genes that predispose people to get higher education had a shallow decline from 1910 to 1975.

Most people seeking higher education tend to have families later, if they do choose to have one at all. However, the study also suggested that the education genes are also linked to fertility, which means lack of time is not just the only reason those with the genes are contributing less to the gene pool, according to Science Alert. Simply put, people who are genetically predisposed to have higher education are also predisposed to have fewer children.

It's worth noting that the overall effect is quite small. The researchers found a drop in IQ for only 0.04 points every decade. But the impact in the long run can be serious since the cumulative effect over centuries can be dramatic, according to the researchers.

However, other scientists are countering the conclusion from the study. Genetics is only one of the factors that influence education, and a minor one at that. "The education we have, when we have children and how many, is largely socially and environmentally determined. It overrides the genetic effect," said Melinda Mills, a professor from Oxford University.

Despite the influence of genetic factors, changes in the educational system such as increased access and quality of education can negate natural selection at play, according to Kari Steffanson, the lead researcher for the study.

Find out more about the study of natural selection and how it affects education genes here: