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Specific IQ genes Still Elusive, New genetic research Finds
By alicia chang and Malcolm ritter
aP Science Writers
loS angeleS (AP) — Scientists who hunt for “intel-
ligence genes” used to think there were fewer than half a
dozen of them.
In recent years, they determined there may be at least
1,000 - each with just a tiny effect on the differences in peo-
ple’s IQ. A study released Tuesday found new evidence that
many genes play a role in intelligence, but scientists still
couldn’t pinpoint the specific genes involved.
“It’s been kind of a shock to the system that it hasn’t
worked,” said psychologist Eric Turkheimer at the
University of Virginia, who had no role in the study. “We
can’t find the effects of any individual genes that are large
enough to seem worth worrying about.”
Previous work involving twins and adopted children has
found that genes have a significant influence on differences
in IQ scores, producing about half the difference between
adults in general. The influence of genes on IQ appears to
grow from childhood to adulthood.
Scientists have come to realize that, as with height, dif-
ferences in intelligence come not from a few genes, but
rather the overall effect of many genes, each with only tiny
influence. That makes them hard to tease out.
The new DNA study, reported online Tuesday in the jour-
nal Molecular Psychiatry, came to similar conclusions.
Many genes work together to shape intelligence much like
the different instruments of an orchestra that play in sync.
Unless there’s a soloist playing, it’s often difficult to deci-
pher the contributions of individual instruments.
As important as genes are in determining intelligence,
they don’t act alone and the role of one’s upbringing and
experiences cannot be ignored.
So why do researchers care so much about the relation-
ship between genes and intelligence?
Our memory, reasoning skills and thinking abilities tend
to decline as we age, some faster than others.
Understanding the genetics of intelligence may someday
help researchers gain a better handle on mind-robbing dis-
eases such as Alzheimer’s.
The new work was done by I.J. Deary of the University of
Edinburgh in Scotland and colleagues in several countries.
The team wanted to find out “whether genetic differences
that we could test on people’s DNA could explain some of
the reasons that people have different intelligence test
scores,” Deary said in an email.
Researchers didn’t ID any genes affecting IQ. But they
estimated that they found a genetic influence that accounts
for at least 40 percent to 50 percent of the differences on
intelligence test scores in the 3,511 unrelated adults in their
Scientists have come to realize
that, as with height, differences
in intelligence come not from
a few genes, but rather the
overall effect of many genes,
each with only tiny influence
study who were tested on knowledge and problem-solving
skills.
They focused on more than 500,000 places in the partici-
pants’ DNA, looking for evidence that IQ-influencing genes
lay close to those places. They concluded that the overall
effect was coming from many scattered genetic differences,
each of only small influence.
The latest work adds to evidence that even the most pow-
erful of these has only weak influence. Deary said that
future studies will probably need to involve millions of peo-
ple to detect the genetic effects.
Robert Plomin of the Institute of Psychiatry in London,
who’s looked for intelligence-related genes for 15 years but
I
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SUB-BIDS REQUESTED
Sound Transit U250
University of Washington Station
OREGON UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
NOTICE OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT
CONTRACT OPPORTUNITY
high Speed Internet
$10 a month for
low-income kids
didn’t participate in the new study, isn’t surprised by the lat-
est findings.
“We’ve got a century of twin and adoption studies,” such
as those comparing twins reared in different families, that
support the notion that about half of IQ differences come
from DNA, he said.
Plomin said this doesn’t mean half of a person’s intelli-
gence is due to genes nor does such a genetic influence
imply that a person’s intelligence is fixed.
Turkheimer, the Virginia psychologist, thinks other types
of research such as brain scans might have better luck in
understanding what intelligence is.
Those methods are better than “pinning your hopes on
adding together a bunch” of small effects from individual
genes, he said.
John Olsen, of Orange, Calif., who was adopted at birth,
attributes his brainpower to his genes. As a kid, he always
wondered where his inquisitiveness came from. School
bored him and there were no lively debates at the dinner
table growing up.
“I was a bit of a challenge,” he recalled. “I was very curi-
ous and like a lot of intelligent people always asked,
`Why?’”
In his late 20s, Olsen took a genius test and scored high
enough to get accepted into Mensa, the high IQ group. A
telephone call from a long-lost aunt several years ago led to
a reunion with his biological mother.
Olsen soon discovered his mother had the same curiosity
and liked to ask probing questions. He also learned his
maternal grandmother was fond of one-line comebacks and
“was wickedly smart till the day she died.”
The Oregon University System (OUS) is accepting
sealed bids for a public improvement project at
University of Oregon until 11:00 AM, Pacific Time, August
23, 2011 for the Prince Lucien Campbell Hall Brick
Veneer Replacement project located on the campus of
the University of Oregon, in Eugene, Oregon. The project
includes: Complete removal of existing brick veneer sys-
tem; including copper weep flashings, veneer ties, and
shelf angels back to existing concrete structural wall.
Install new waterproofing on existing concrete wall, new
shelf angles with self adhered flexible weep flashings,
new seismic veneer ties, and new brick veneer.
A mandatory pre-bid conference and examination of
the site and conditions will be conducted at 10:00 AM,
August 11, 2011. Bidders shall meet with OUS
Representative at the main entrance to the PLC plaza on
the east, off the Memorial Quad for that purpose.
Attendance will be documented through a sign-in sheet
prepared by the OUS representative. Prime bidders who
arrive more than 5 minutes after start of time of the meet-
ing (as stated in the solicitation and by the OUS repre-
sentative's watch) or after the discussion portion of the
meeting (whichever comes first) shall not be permitted to
sign in and will not be permitted to submit a bid on the
project.
Bids will be opened and publicly read aloud on August
23, 2011 at 11:15 AM, at University of Oregon Faclities
Services at 1295 Franklin Blvd. Eugene, Oregon, 97403
by the OUS representative David Ward.
Bids will be received on a lump-sum basis for all of the
work.
Bid packets may be downloaded at no charge from:
OUS website: https://secure.ous.edulbapp/bopps/index/
Soderstrom Architect's FTP site: ftp.sdra.com usemame:
PLC; password: Soderstrom01234; (login usemame and
password are case sensitive)
All bidders must comply with requirements of the prevail-
ing wage law in ORS 279C.800 through ORS 279C.870.
All bidders must be registered with the Construction
Contractor's Board at the time of bid submission. No bid
will be considered unless fully completed in the manner
provided in the "Instructions to Bidders" upon the Bid
Form provided and accompanied by Bid Security. OUS
encourages bids from Minority, Women, and Emerging
Small Businesses.
OREGON STATE BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION By:
Francis Dyke, Vice president for Finance and
Administration, Director Facilities and Services
Bid Package #UWST-06.A:
Architectural Metals
Bid Package #UWST-06.B:
Doors, Frames and Hardware
Bid Package #UWST-06.C:
Storefronts and Glazing
Bid Package #UWST-06.D: GWB
Systems, Insulation and Fireproofing
Bid Package #UWST-06.E:
Ceiling Systems
Bid Package #UWST-06.F:
Painting and Coatings
Bid Package #UWST-06.G: Tile
Bid Package #UWST-06.H:
Overhead Coiling Grilles
Bid Package #UWST-06.I:
Misc. Specialties and Equipment
PRE-BID MEETING:
August 10, 2011 at 2:00pm
BIDS DUE:
September 9, 2011 at 2:00pm
HOFFMAN
CONSTRUCTION
COMPANY OF
WASHINGTON
Bid Phone: (206) 286-6697
Fax: (206) 286-7523
1505 Westlake Ave N, Suite 500
Seattle, WA 98109
LIC # HOFFMCC164NC
We are an equal opportunity employer and request
sub bids from all interested firms including disad-
vantaged, minority, women, disabled veterans and
emerging small business enterprises.
Other Subcontracting Opportunities - Internet
http://www.hoffmancorp.com
8-10-11
8-10-11
august 10, 2011 The Seattle Skanner Page 7