Embryo Selection For Higher IQ Kids Getting Close

Long time brain genetics researcher Robert Plomin and his colleagues are getting much closer to identifying genetic variants that cause IQ differences. The title of their latest paper signals an impressive accomplishment: Common DNA Markers Can Account for More Than Half of the Genetic Influence on Cognitive Abilities. Note that they haven't actually identified the genes or genetic variants causing differences in IQ. Rather, they've discovered genetic variants "in the neighborhood", figuratively speaking. Lots of genetic variants vary together. They used 1.7 million known variants and discovered variants that correlate with differences in IQ. What is very important here: To boost offspring IQ we do not need to know the specific genetic variants that cause IQ differences. The "in the...
Source: FuturePundit - Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Authors: Source Type: blogs