Is Intelligence Hereditary?

   

This article asks the question, is intelligence hereditary (can it be passed down)? In an attempt to answer this,  scientists have studied whether intelligence is passed down through families for a long time. To do this, they studied intelligence levels based on people raised with their biological parents in comparison with their adoptive parents.  They discovered that genes play a substantial role, accounting for about half of the differences in intelligence among people. They also discovered that genes aren't the only factor in this though—environmental influences are essential for the development of intelligence too. Recent studies suggest that hundreds, maybe even thousands, of genes are involved in intelligence, but we're still far from understanding it completely. Genetic influence on intelligence seems to increase as people grow older, which may be due in part with the stages of the development of the prefrontal cortex.  Understanding the genetic basis of intelligence could help us prevent or improve cognitive problems in the future.

Reading this was rather surprising to me, especially the part that mentioned that children that are separated from their biological parents due to adoption tend to be as similar to their biological parents as those who aren't separated at all. This brings to mind an argument as old as time, is nurture or nature the biggest contributor to the way people behave? Solely based on this article, I would say the way people have a big say in the way they will turn out, but I think when it really comes down to it, we are all born with some instincts that couldn't possibly have been learned. 

Sources

1. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-intelligence-hereditary/

2. https://neurosciencenews.com/intelligence-genetics-brain-22936/ (Alternative Link & Image)