Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-pftt2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-09T16:31:15.930Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Biology of Human Intelligence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

Jan A. Böök*
Affiliation:
Institute for Medical Genetics, University of Uppsala, Sweden
*
Institute for Medical Genetics, University of Uppsala, V. Agatan 24, S-752 20 Uppsala, Sweden

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The article presents a brief review of the genetic aspects of intelligence as measured by IQ tests. The results from family and twin investigations seem to agree in as much as high heritabilities for IQ can be calculated. There are, however, a large number of insecurities and sources of error which invite to criticism. Although, at present, it is justified to assume that genetic factors contribute substantially to variations in IQs, it would be premature to claim that genetic and other causes of variation could be expressed in precise figures. It seems doubtful if this situation could be further improved by continued use of IQs in genetic investigations. It should be more profitable to use other entities, such as well-defined special abilities, which could be designed directly for genetic analyses.

Type
6. Twin Studies in Human Genetics
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1976

References

REFERENCES

Akesson, H.O. 1961. Epidemiology and Genetics of Mental Deficiency in a Southern Swedish Population. Uppsala: Institute for Medical Genetics of the University.Google Scholar
Book, J.A. 1953. A genetic and neuropsychiatric investigation of a north Swedish population. Part II. Mental deficiency and convulsive disorders. Acta Genet. (Basel), 4: 345414.Google Scholar
Erlenmeyer-Kimling, L., Jarvik, L.F. 1963. Genetics and intelligence. Science, 142: 14771479.Google Scholar
Jensen, A.R. 1970. IQ:s of identical twins reared apart. Behav. Genet., 1: 133148.Google Scholar
Scarr, S. 1969. Effects of birth weight on later intelligence. Soc. Biol., 16: 249256.Google Scholar
Vandenberg, S.G. 1971. What do we know about the inheritance of intelligence and how do we know it? In Cancro, R. (ed.): Intelligence: Genetic and Environmental Influences. New York: Grune & Stratton.Google Scholar