The following article is from Good Housekeeping and is one ofthe MYRIAD media outlets that perpetuated (and some continue toperpetuate) the myth that intelligence is inherited from yourmother. This, and many other (usually reputable) news reportingoutlets, cited the research as published from Psychology Spot –which with a click of the link provided in their own news articlesreveals an individuals’ blog, not a peer-reviewed study.
1. Read the article below and write a few sentences about yourinitial response. I’ve told you that it’s (at best) grosslymisrepresentative of the actual science, but is it convincing toyou? Are there arguments made that seem believable because of theverbage used? Are there arguments made that tip off ascience-informed student that something is amiss?
2. AFTER you have written your initial response, read thefollowing response from a science writer at Forbes magazine.Summarize two to three of the important counterpoints shemakes.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilywillingham/2016/09/16/no-research-has-not-established-that-you-inherited-your-intelligence-from-your-mother/#66c7d826502d
New Research Confirms That Kids Get Their IntelligenceFrom Mom
One more thing to add to the \"Moms Are Awesome\"list.
In the case of your intelligence, \"I got it from my mama\"couldn't be more accurate. New research featured in PsychologySpot says people are born with conditioned genes that workdifferently depending on if they're from your mother or father —and when it comes to your intelligence, those genes are from motherdearest.
Even though people used to believe your smarts were from yourfather and mother, that's not the case. You see,intelligence genes are located on chromosome X and since womencarry two, that means children are twice as likely to get theirintelligence from mom.
And even if your father passes off a few of his intelligencegenes to you, chances are they won't have an impact on your brainsince they only work if they come from your mother. \"If that samegene is inherited from the father, it is deactivated,\" reports thestudy in Psychology Spot. \"Obviously, other genes work theopposite, are activated only if they come from the father.\"
Want even more proof? The Medical Research Council Social andPublic Health Sciences Unit in the United States did a study onmothers back in 1994 and interviewed 12,686 young people betweenthe ages of 14 and 22. Their questions focused on the children'sIQ, race, education and socio-economic status. The best predictorof intelligence? The IQ of their mother.
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/news/a40385/intelligence-genes-come-from-your-mom/
