According to researchers, the intelligence of children is determined by the intelligence of the mother. It makes absolutely no difference how intelligent or unintelligent the father is. This is because the intelligence gene lies on the X chromosome, which is present in twice the amount in females that it is in men.
This means that women are more likely to pass on their intelligence gene to their children than men are.
Studies of genetically modified mice showed very clearly that mice with more of their mother’s genes naturally developed bigger brains and heads, while their bodies were smaller. That exactly the opposite was true for mice with more of their father’s genes – they had smaller brains and bulkier bodies.
They also found that there were six key parts of the brain that were only developed from either maternal or paternal genes, there was no mix.
Once the theory was developed through the use of laboratory mice, the theory was then tested with humans, and it was found that IQ from the mother was still the best way to predict the intelligence of the child.
However, genetics is not the only area where mothers play a key role in intelligence. Many studies have found that a strong emotional bond between mother and child can really help to increase the intelligence of the child, helping key areas of the brain to grow.
Researchers in Washington found that children with emotionally and intellectually supportive mothers had up to a 10% larger hippocampus, an area responsible for memory and learning, than other children.
This is not to say, however, that fathers are not an integral part of child development. Research has shown that children with an involved father are much more likely to be emotionally secure, more confident in exploring their surroundings and develop better relationships later in life.
Research also shows that fathers are more likely to spend more time actively playing with their children, and this can help children to develop skills in emotional regulation.
As well as this, there is some evidence to show that fathers also play a role in educational development, as they produce a more active style of parenting that is associated with verbal skills and academic achievement.
So we cannot say that fathers don’t play a role in their children’s intelligence just because their genes are not the prominent players in the child’s brain.
Parents create an environment for their children to learn and grow, and this is one of the most important factors when it comes to emotional and intellectual intelligence.
Creating a stimulating and open home for your children can be one of the biggest contributors to intelligence, emotional stability, and successful relationships as the child grows up, no matter whose intelligence gene is present in the key parts of the brain.
References:
View Comments
This ("intelligence gene lies on the X chromosome") seems, at least on the surface, to be an extremely dubious claim. To say something as complex as inherited intelligence is attributed to one or a few genes in a single chromosome, would fall into the category, "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence". To give a least one example why I think this claim is very flawed - is Wolfgang Mozart (by any measure a musical genius - and at least some level, a manifestation of intelligence). It is said that Mozart's father was also a musician - although not of the caliber of his son.