In recent studies, Dr. John Vincent has been researching the genetic causes behind intellectual disabilities. According to this article although there may be other causes behind intellectual disabilities in children such as trauma in the womb, but genes are one of the main sources. Dr. Vincent performed these studies on families where the popular culture includes intermarriage between first cousins. Such inbreeding could produce a larger likely hood that the children of these couples will receive defective recessive genes. Although this decreased cognitive development is extremely common within inbreeding families, it is also found in non inbreeding situations. This and other research has shed light on just how many genes can and do affect the inheritance of intellectual disabilities. This supporting article discusses a study that researches the affects METTL23 gene has on cognitive development.
I think that this research will be very beneficial for scientists in the field of cognitive studies. Research has been done to prove just how much traumatic injuries can affect brain development and functioning but more research needs to be performed to see just how genes affect the brain. The research could open many more doors for scientists to genetically test parents prior to having children. Since the brain development is such a vital part of growing up it is important to be aware of possible troubles. Genetic testing can help parents know the risk of their child inheriting such detrimental genes. I am in full support of parents being pre-tested before having children in order to understand the risk of having a child.
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