At a time when gender discussions are on the agenda, studies report that children’s intelligence comes from their mothers.
The topic, which is new – in the research of scientists around the world – comes with some controversy, as we still live in a sexist society.
However, it has already been proven that a child’s intelligence genes come from the mother and not the father.
Likewise, there are genes that are only active if they have been contributed by the father.
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Conditioned genes – What are they?
The so-called conditioned genes are those that have different behaviors depending on whether they come from the genetic load of the mother or the father.
Basically, some genes only become active in the child if they came from the mother or vice versa.
When it comes to cognitive abilities, the genes that matter are those of the mother.
This makes it clear that the father’s intelligence genes are not relevant to the son.
The genetic dominance of mothers in their children’s intelligence is due to the fact that the genes for cognitive abilities are located on the X chromosome.
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Studies that reached this conclusion
As we have already explained, this is not a recent topic in science, in 1984 there was already a team from the University of Cambridge developing a study that reached this conclusion.
In this study, a team carried out an analysis of genetic and biochemical components present in the brain.
It was observed that most of the structures that make it possible to articulate thoughts and mental operations had come from the mother.
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Tests with laboratory mice
The development of this research took place with mice and made a very interesting discovery possible at the time: father and mother offer specific conditioned genes.
So that they could understand the issue of genes, scientists modified mouse embryos so that some only had the genetic load of their mothers and others only that of their fathers.
When implanted in the mother’s uterus, the embryos that were the mother’s copy did not complete their development and died.
The embryos that were copies of the parents managed to develop, showing tissue and placental growth, but ended up dying as well.
With this, researchers understood that both father and mother offer their children essential genes for their development.
While the mother offers the genes for intelligence, the father offers the genes that enable the child to grow.
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Proportion of body and head size
The embryos that had the maternal genes developed a very large brain and a small body while the embryos that had the paternal genes developed a larger body and a tiny head.
Once scientists were able to unravel which were maternal cells and which were paternal cells, they were able to understand where each type was concentrated in the brain.
The cerebral cortex (which has cognitive structures that allow making decisions, developing language and intelligence) was dominated only by cells from the mother.
No cells from the father were observed in this region. Observing that the intelligence genes are on the X chromosome, it is natural to say that women have twice the chance of inheriting these genes than men who have only one X chromosome.
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Brain damage
Another interesting study in this area was developed at the University of Ulm, in Germany.
Researchers realized that men statistically (30% more) have problems linked to brain damage since the genetic material for intelligence comes from the X chromosome.
This would be the reason for more cases of disabilities and mental damage in men.
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Such IQ of the Mother, Such IQ of the Son
Still in this area of research – the genetic origin of individuals’ intelligence – we can mention research carried out by Medical Research Council Social and Public Health Sciences Unit in the USA in which 12 thousand young people aged between 13 and 22 were monitored.
These people were interviewed and among all the data collected (skin color, economic level, place of origin, etc.) the preponderant factor for determining IQ was that of the mother.
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The role of the mother goes beyond genes
Scientists are categorical in stating that mothers play a crucial role in the intelligence of their children – and it is not just in the transmission of genes.
Raising close to the mother helps children develop self-confidence, and the sentimental bond with the mother promotes cognitive skills.
Having a stable relationship with their mother provides children with a healthy emotional foundation as well as the confidence to become more intelligent.
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Not all intelligence is an inheritance
As scientists warn, 45% to 55% of an individual’s intelligence is in their genes and the other half must be developed.
Another essential point is that intelligence does not only concern rational thinking, but also emotional capabilities, some of which are contributed by the father.
It’s also good to know that you shouldn’t just focus on a person’s IQ to know how intelligent they are, as human beings’ problem-solving ability is stimulated and developed every day in the face of life’s situations.
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