Empirical distributions from studies on giftedness by Terman, Weiss
and others and data of social mobility can be explained by the
existence of a major gene with an allele frequency of about 0.20, that
in the homozygous state is the prerequisite to have an IQ of 130 or
higher. Under the assumption of about 10% misclassification of
genotypes by overlapping distributions, family data are in agreement
with Mendelian segregation at such a major gene locus.
Elementary cognitive tasks, highly correlated with IQ, are not
distributed normally. On the absolute scale of short-term memory
capacity (measured in bits, see www.volkmar-weiss.de/publ9-e.html or
www.volkmar-weiss.de/publ10-e.html), defined as the product of memory
span and mental speed , the heterozygotes are intermediate between the
homozygotes.
Where there are major genes, there must be an underlying biochemical
code, which can be discovered. To this aim enzyme polymorphisms and
other genetic polymorphism, responsible for the regulation of brain
energy metabolism and correlated with IQ and social status and with
at least one common allele of a frequency of about 0.20 in Eurasian
populations, are the target of research since 1994.
Click to 'Major genes of general intelligence'
www.volkmar-weiss.de/majgenes.html , 'he advent of a molecular
genetics of general intelligence'www.volkmar-weiss.de/intellig.html ,
and 'highly gifted
males have gifted relatives' www.volkmar-weiss.de/table.html .
Can you suggest candidates for this searched major gene locus of
general intelligence?
If you have difficulties with these URLs, try first
www.volkmar-weiss.de and www.volkmar-weiss.de/englisch.de .
Feel free to set links to these papers, if you like.
PD. Dr. Dr. Volkmar Weiss
Leipzig, Germany