Parent News

Get parenting
help for free.

Sign up for a free helpful parenting tips with contributions from parents, teachers, and day care professionals.


 
Parenting Articles
Parenting News
Parenting Advice
Parenting Tips
Household Hints
Contact us
Home

 
 
You are here: Parenting Magazine > Articles > Prenatal and Infant Care > Prenatal Environment Plays Important Role in Child's Intelligence

Study Says Prenatal Environment Plays Important Role in Child's Intelligence

A child's intelligence may have less to do with the genes inherited from his or her parents - and more to do with its prenatal environment - than previously believed, according to researchers from Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

In a study for the journal Nature, the researchers say the genes from a child's parents may only account for as much as 50% of intelligence - in fact, the researchers think it's more likely to be even less of a factor because of some similarities in the genes of both parents.

 

On the other hand, the researchers say their studies indicate that the quality of their stay in the womb accounts for 20% of the similarity in intelligence among twins and 5% of the similarity among siblings. Previously, scientists have not given much credence to the idea that what's described as "maternal effects" have any bearing on a child's intellect.

Generally, what all this means is that - in the view of the researchers - the argument over whether intelligence is determined by "nature," in the form of genes, or "nurture," as a result of a child's environment, goes to the "nurture" forces. But it's not quite in the way most scientists pictured it - the researchers say the maternal effects seem to play a more important role in determining intelligence than even the home environment of a child.

The researchers say the study some important implications for society at large. For instance, they suggest that one reason certain minority groups and poor people don't test as well as others may be due to inadequate prenatal care rather than some of the racial theories offered in recent years.

"It will be important to understand the basis for these maternal effects if ways in which IQ might be increased are to be identified," the Nature editors say in a synopsis of the Carnegie-Mellon study.  

Exceptionally Useful
Family Resouces


Stop Porn and Predators.

Blocks illicit, obscene and other objectionable material while limiting the time your kids spend online according to your rules. They can still search over a billion web pages and return porn-free results while you monitor activity by receiving daily e-mail reports.
 
Perfect Gift for Parents.
These make a keepsake baby gift, holiday gift, birthday or baptism gift for children ages 0-12.
 
Solve your child bedding problems. Find to perfectly fit any crib or child size bed with over 3500 bedding sets & accessories from the world's best crib bedding designers, and all at discount prices.
 
Decorating help to please a fussy teen. Trying to fix up your so they will be happy and want to keep it picked up can be a real chore. We discovered this resource for some great ideas that just might help.








Home | Articles | News | Advice | Household Hints | Tips | Homework Help | Contact us
Privacy Policy and Legal Notices

Copyright © 2004 Parent.Net All Rights Reserved.Sunday, 20-Jul-2008 16:08:54 GMT