Recently, the information that scientific studies had proven that intelligence was genetically inherited from the mother took over the internet, however, there is disagreement on the part of the scientific community regarding the validity of this statement.
The studies that indicated that intelligence would come from the mother are based on analyzes that relate human intelligence to the X chromosome, therefore, as women have two of these chromosomes (XX) and men only one (XY), the chances of intelligence of the child coming from the mother would be doubled, increasing the influence of the woman’s genetics on the child’s cognitive abilities.
However, according to geneticist Susana Massarani , there is no single factor responsible for intelligence and the associations made with the X chromosome are unfounded.
“ The news about intelligence being inherited from the mother is based on old research and not on current information about intelligence. Intelligence is a polygenic and multifactorial characteristic involving genes throughout the human genome and not just in sexual chromosomes, not to mention environmental factors, diet, intellectual formation, etc. ”.
“ Enormous GWAS (genome-wide association studies) studies demonstrate numerous genes associated with cognition and intelligence globally located on autosomal chromosomes, that is, chromosomes that are not sexual like the X and Y chromosomes .”
” It is known that in women one of the X chromosomes is inactivated by the imprinting process and thus both X chromosomes are not functional at the same time. If this were to occur, it would lead to an increase in the expression of genes that cause damage or the unviability of the embryo. We also know that numerous conditions of cognitive and intellectual deficit are associated with changes in the X chromosome, which conflicts with this statement ” explains geneticist Susana Massarani
“ So far, scientific advances have made it possible to understand that the assessment of intelligence is quite complex and depends on a huge number of genes and the conditions of the environment in which the individual lives, if someone carries the best “versions” of the genes associated with intelligence and has not been maintained in excellent conditions in utero and later in life, it may not develop its maximum intelligence potential ” He concludes.
About Susana Massarani
Susana Massarani is a geneticist, molecular biologist and microbiologist, works at the first digital clinic in Brazil, Clínica DNA Massarani, Scientific Member and Lecturer at the Instituto de Nutrição Cérebro Coração INCCOR-RJ and has a postgraduate degree in clinical prescription with a focus on Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics.
