Children's Intelligence Comes From Their Mothers, Study Reveals

First Posted: Oct 09, 2016 04:55 AM EDT
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Parents often tend to argue as to whom their children get their skills and intelligence from. This never-ending catfight between parents can now be solved as a current research shows that children inherit their intelligence from their mothers.

Researchers from the University of Washington claim that children's intelligence come from their mothers. According to the study, women are more likely to transmit genes that shape the child's intelligence. The experts noted that the genes that influence the intelligence are carried on by the X chromosome and women have two of these while men have only one.

Meanwhile, a new study conducted by a team of researchers from Scotland noted that genes responsible for advanced cognitive functions are inherited from the father. However, the genes are either deactivated or remain suppressed. They stated that if ever a child inherits the smartness of the father it will remain deactivated.

The researchers also conducted an experiment with the help of genetically modified mice. They gave an extra dose of maternal genes to the mice and it developed larger brains and relatively smaller bodies. But, when the scientists gave the rats an extra dose of paternal genes it had a smaller brain and larger bodies, as reported by The Independent.Uk.

Experts concluded that the brain development comes from the mother's genes, the physical development, however, comes from the father's genes. Researchers said that genes are not the only determining factor of intelligence. Environment also can play a lead role in the child's development of advanced cognitive functions. Experts added that a child can only absorb 40 to 60 percent of the genes from thier parents, according to Genetic Literacy Project.

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