Science in elementary school: Generalist genes and school environments

TY - JOUR

T1 - Science in elementary school: Generalist genes and school environments

AU - Haworth, Claire M. A.

AU - Kovas, Yulia

AU - Dale, Philip S.

AU - Plomin, Robert

PY - 2008/11

Y1 - 2008/11

N2 - Using a genetically sensitive design, we investigated the etiology of academic performance in Science in elementary school, and its etiological links with other academic abilities and general cognitive ability (g). The sample consisted of over 2000 pairs of twins at 10 years of age from the Twins Early Development Study. Science performance, as rated by teachers. is moderately heritable (49%) and shows only modest shared environmental influence (27%). Our multivariate results show that Science shares genetic influences with English, Math and g. Nonetheless, Science is more than just g, as there are specific genetic and environmental influences on Science. In addition, there are common environmental influences shared by the three school subjects that are not shared with g - a school environment effect. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

AB - Using a genetically sensitive design, we investigated the etiology of academic performance in Science in elementary school, and its etiological links with other academic abilities and general cognitive ability (g). The sample consisted of over 2000 pairs of twins at 10 years of age from the Twins Early Development Study. Science performance, as rated by teachers. is moderately heritable (49%) and shows only modest shared environmental influence (27%). Our multivariate results show that Science shares genetic influences with English, Math and g. Nonetheless, Science is more than just g, as there are specific genetic and environmental influences on Science. In addition, there are common environmental influences shared by the three school subjects that are not shared with g - a school environment effect. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

KW - Genetic

KW - Twin

KW - Science performance

KW - School environments

U2 - 10.1016/j.intell.2008.04.002

DO - 10.1016/j.intell.2008.04.002

M3 - Article

VL - 36

SP - 694

EP - 701

JO - Intelligence

JF - Intelligence

IS - 6

ER -