Kids Inherit Intelligence From Their Mom…. Apparently

Kids inherit intelligence from their mothers and their dad’s genes make no difference, according to science.

So, good news for those of you with clever-clogs mothers and dads with an IQ deficit, according to research published in Psychology Spot.

Interviews have been done annually upon nearly thirteen thousand 14 to 22-year-old participants from 1994 and found that the best predictor of intelligence was the IQ of the mother.

But here’s where things get a little complex… 

Mice studies have corroborated the evidence, in which investigated a type of ‘conditioned’ gene that is only activated if they come from the mother or the father.

 It is believed that cleverness is one of these conditioned genes that is exclusively influenced by the mother.

Researchers found that genetically modified mice with more paternal genes developed smaller brains and bigger bodies, while the modified mice with maternal genes developed bigger brains and smaller bodies.

Comparatively, no female cells – only male – were found in the limbic system which controls sex functions, as well as food and aggression.

While this research may compound the importance of specific hereditary traits in mothers and fathers, the influence of nurture rather than nature is still significant.

So, don’t blame it on your dad’s genes if you think you’re not the smartest crayon in the box.

There’s also some great news for older siblings across the world; your annoying younger brothers and sisters may have youth on their side but you’ve got brains.

According to economists from the University of Edinburgh, eldest siblings in the family have the tendency to score higher on IQ tests than their brothers and sisters from as early an age as one.

Researchers believe that the difference could be that parents stimulate their firstborns more than their siblings in their early weeks.

Scientists in this research believe that they may have explained the ‘birth-order effect’, which sees older siblings do better in later life than their younger brothers and sisters.

To get to the bottom of this mystery, Scientists observed 5,000 kids from pre-birth until they were 14 based on their family background and economic conditions, and they were also assessed every two years on reading and picture vocabulary.

Researchers then analyzed how the behavior of parents affected their child’s IQ score, by applying statistical techniques to prove that such acts as drinking and smoking during pregnancy could seriously harm the child both mentally and physically

Mothers tend to be less careful with their later-borns than their first, who received less mental stimulation than their older sibling. In addition, mothers also take part in fewer activities such as reading, crafts and playing musical instruments while having later-born children.

While this research may compound the importance of specific hereditary traits in mothers and fathers, the influence of nurture rather than nature is still significant.