genetics Adam Florance
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Education genes
The latest research by the Social Science Genetic Association Consortium (SSGAC) has confirmed that our genes can affect our educational attainment by as much as 20% and those same genes appear to be associated with conditions like schizophrenia, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, bipolar disorder and dyslexia.
linked to neuroticism
P
on this sort of work,” said anthropologists Anne
“Policymakers and funders should pull the plug Buchanan and Kenneth Weiss of Pennsylvania
ublished in Nature, the SSGAC study
State University in response to the study. “We gain
analysed the genomes of nearly 300,000 people in
little that is useful in our understanding of this sort
the world’s largest study of its type, identifying 74
of trait by a massively large genetic approach in
genes that can influence how long an individual
normal individuals.”
will pursue formal education.
The study’s authors agree with their critics
Professor Peter Visscher from the Queensland
that when it comes to determining educational
Brain Institute at the University of Queensland
attainment, factors such as health, parenting and
was one of hundreds of scientists worldwide
access to quality schools have a far larger impact
who contributed to the SSGAC research. He
than genetics. Of particular interest is some Swedish
noted, “Educational attainment is a complex
data covering a period when there was a large-scale
phenomenon, and mostly influenced by social
overhaul of the country’s educational system,
and other environmental factors, but we knew that
resulting in far better academic outcomes across
genes play a role too.”
the population.
The known associations between educational
“Crucially, this latest finding does not show
attainment and health outcomes were a deciding
that your educational attainment is something
factor in pursuing this line of research, which
determined at birth. There are many other factors
has already caused some controversy. Professor
that come into play,” said Professor Visscher.
Visscher explained that the findings of this research
The 74 genetic markers uncovered by this
are “a tiny piece of the puzzle as to why some people
research comprise a mere 0.43% of the total genetic
complete more years of education than others... But
contribution to educational attainment. But their
it’s an intriguing piece of the puzzle and definitely
apparent correlation to a variety of psychiatric
opens new doors for research.”
conditions may be useful in establishing future
The study’s authors have been at pains to
research.
downplay any determinative role that their findings
“These tiny genetic differences may ultimately
could lead to, but critics say that such broad-based
help to understand why some people are more
research is not useful in understanding normal
susceptible to early cognitive decline than others,”
individuals and could be used inappropriately.
said Professor Visscher.
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LAB+LIFE SCIENTIST - June 2016 | 17