sophie

Hi ya all,

I'm fairly new to this discussion forum but I wanted to propose the topic of genetic intelligence.

HERE GOES : Does any of the learned and knowledgeable many who occupy this part of cyberland have an idea of what is "genetic intelligence"?

Philosoft

Sophie, if you don't mind terribly, I'm going to toss this over to Science & Skepticism, for want of better answers there.

Elvithriel

I never heard that term before. Maybe it has something to do with Genetic Algorithms.

Majestyk

I think it is similar to the concept of "hereditary knowledge".

God Fearing Atheist

Maybe the degree to which g is heritable? The amount of variance genes play a role in?

The weighted mean correlation between the IQs of MZ twins reared apart (rMZA), which is, by the way, a direct indication of broad heritability, is +.75...buy full adulthood, +.80.

The average correlation of IQ between full siblings reared together is +.49, based on over 27,000 sibling pairs.

For full siblings reared apart, the correlation is +.24 for preadolescents and +.47 for adults.

The IQs of unrelated persons who were reared together correlate +.25 in childhood and -.01 in adulthood.

% variance = r^2 x 100, so, genes probably explain about 70% or so of the difference between peoples IQ.

-GFA

sophie

Human intelligence is intelligence which evolves with the evolution of the personal human mind. Genetic intelligence is that which exists apriori due to the emergent qualities of the complete genetic state.

It may be argued by hard science that all intelligence is genetically provided. If any hard core scientist tries to argue human intelligence on a purely genetic basis, I would have to give a firm nod to experience as a simultaneous factor in rendering the mind an intelligent source.

Arguably genetic intelligence is an intelligence-in-itself designed to boost the human ego past babying.

Max Demian

Both "human intelligence" and "genetic intelligence" exist to pass on information from generation to generation. I would say that the brain evolved when DNA could not hold all the information that could and should be transferred to the next generation. When that wasn't enough, humans 'invented' the spoken, and then the written word.

sophie, would you agree that the brain exists to relay information that cannot be transferred via replication of DNA?

sophie

If genetic intelligence does not exist then the argument of the effect of clean drug free pregnancies yielding healthy babies would not be as strong as previously thought.

If genetic intelligence does exist then it would be even healthier to inform aspiring parents about the natural benefits of allowing the genetic course to run smoothly without much interference. In other words if pregnant mothers hamper their pregnancy, it would seem as if their children may be mentally handicapped due to the downgrading of their genetic intelligence. This may be in addition to their children having physical deformities.

sophie

Hi Max,

you claim, both "human intelligence" and "genetic intelligence" exist to pass on information from generation to generation. I would have to agree this seems to be a function of human existence except when one generation is unable to fulfill its obligation. There seems to be something amiss here because of the fork between man and woman then the reunion. If man solely existed as a single species then I would give your premise an OK. This not being the case I see arguments in favour of your premise and my ignorance leading the cause against your premise being totally valid.

Max you questioned, sophie, would you agree that the brain exists to relay information that cannot be transferred via replication of DNA. I would have to respond yes, but in a limited domain of discourse.

ps418

There is no such thing as 'genetic intelligence,' any more than there is genetic height. Like every other phenotype, 'intelligence,' by which I think we mean the set of cognitive abilities recruited by intelligence tests, is subject to both genetic and environmental influences. The broad conclusion that individuals differ WRT intelligence because of both genetic and environmental differences was established long ago. Literally no one today is arguing that individual differences in intelligence are solely the result of genetic differences, though the heritability of 'g' is indeed fairly high (see Bouchard and McGue, 2003, for a review).


I admit to not understanding what you're saying here. But let me clarify something. It makes absolutely no difference how much or how little individual differences in intelligence are influenced by genes -- bombarding a fetus with chemicals like alcohol and cocaine will adversely affect their cognitive development. A drug-free pregnancy will not itself make a child brilliant, but a drugged pregnancy can definitely make a child's life miserable.

Patrick

Bouchard and McGue, 2003. Genetic and environmental influences on human psychological differences. Journal of Neurobiology, 54: 4-45.