Re: An IQ Gene

J. R. Molloy (jr@shasta.com)
Fri, 8 May 1998 12:30:40 -0700


If "brain training" could raise IQs,
then gorillas could do algebra by now.
-----Original Message-----
From: Anders Sandberg <asa@nada.kth.se>
To: extropians@extropy.com
<extropians@extropy.com>
Date: Friday, May 08, 1998 10:27 AM
Subject: Re: An IQ Gene

>John K Clark <johnkc@well.com> writes:
>
>> The first genetic marker has been
found for a gene that has a weak but
>> statistically real effect on IQ.
Robert Plomin of the London Institute Of
>> Psychiatry reported the results of
his 5 year study in the May 1998 issue
of
>> the journal "Psychological Science".
Plomin studied the genes of 204
children,
>> none were retarded and 51 of the kids
had an IQ of 160 or higher. He found
>> there was a relationship between high
IQ and a marker on chromosome 6 called
>> IGF2R.
>
>This isn't as exciting as it sounds,
unfortunately. The gene codes for
>an immune protein, and there are a few
other intelligence-related
>genes I have heard about which are also
immune-linked. Partially this
>is because they are easy to test for,
but I think there is a fairly
>easy explanation for the immune-IQ
correlation: if you have a strong
>immune system, you have more time and
energy in school (or elsewhere)
>where your brain will be trained.
>
>Still, it is promising. It is when we
start to find brain proteins
>linked with intelligence we should
really start to cheer!
>
>--
>---------------------------------------
--------------------------------
>Anders Sandberg
Towards Ascension!
>asa@nada.kth.se
http://www.nada.kth.se/~asa/
>GCS/M/S/O d++ -p+ c++++ !l u+ e++ m++
s+/+ n--- h+/* f+ g+ w++ t+ r+ !y