Question

Research project about( intelligence is based on environment not genetic)

includes:

1- abstruct

2- introduction

3-methods

4-results

5-discussion

6-conclusion

7- references

Answer 1

Intelligence is Based on Enviroment Not Genetic Factors

Abstract:The project titled Intelligence is based on Environment not Genetic Factors ,is a though study which answers the question Why Intelligence is not affected by inherited genes?

In this project we study the environmental factors which contribute towards a subjects intelligence.For this purpose we look a study conducte in India on 1065 schoolgoing students and compare their IQ levels .These students belong to different wealth status,social status,physical status and geograhical status (as residing in Village/Town/Cities),Education of parents and he results were compared.

In the study it was found that the student belong to a rich family ,educated parents ,living in cities and excerising was found to have an High IQ.

Introduction:It is often debated whether intelligence is significantly influenced by a person's environment or their genes.But, It is often found that the intelligence of a person is more affected by the surrounding environment rather then the gene. As it a characteristic of a person which is developed by the subject over his/her life experiances ,and not inherited by the parents.

For research purposes ,Intelligence is challenging to study, in part because it can be defined and measured in different ways. Most definitions of intelligence include the ability to learn from experiences and adapt to changing environments. Elements of intelligence include the ability to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, and understand complex ideas. Many studies rely on a measure of intelligence called the intelligence quotient (IQ).

A study was conducted in India to more explore the effects of environment on a person Intelligence

Method: In this cross-sectional observational study,1065 schoolchildren between the age of 12 and 16 years from 2 government and 13 private schools in 5 towns, 6 cities, and 2 villages across India,were recruited. All the children were administered a questionnaire consisting of various environmental factors such as parents' education, occupation, income, and the physical activity of the students. IQ scores were assessed using Ravens Standard Progressive Matrices. An approximate IQ score was calculated using the score on the Ravens test. IQ scores were divided into three groups: below normal IQ (0–79), normal IQ (80–119), and high IQ (above 120). The data were analyzed.

Results: In this study, it was observed that the environmental factors such as place of residence, physical activity, family income, parental education, and occupation of the father had an impact on the IQ of the children. Children living in cities, children having physical activity more than 5 h/weeks, children with parents having a postgraduate or graduate level of education, children whose father having a professional job, and those with a higher family income are all the categories in which the participants were found to have an average High IQ.

Discussion: As we observed in this study that most children with high IQ were residing either in cities (55.8%) or towns (42.3%) than those living in villages (1.8%), the place of residence is an important factor as it governs the opportunities available to reach the full genetic potential. A child brought up in a village setting may not get the same facilities and the same level of intellectual stimulation as compared to his/her counterparts brought up in a town or city. Similarly, physical exercise also plays an important role in acquiring high IQ as observed in the present study. There is a secretion of certain hormones in association with exercise which enhances memory. Aerobic exercise has also been associated with maintenance of executive functions.

Family income is also one of the major determinants of a child's intelligence. A higher family income implies good schooling for the child and also every possible level of cognitive stimulation can be made available to the child. In such cases, the child gets better chances to reach his/her full genetic potential in terms of intelligence. The same is true for parents' occupation and educational qualification which are mostly related. High educational qualification ensures a dignified occupation and therefore high family incomes. All these point toward more chances of children with IQ on the higher side. Another way in which occupation is important is in determining the amount of time parents spend with their children. The more family time together, more is the cognitive stimulation of children.

Thus, all these environmental factors as brought out in our study are interrelated and together play a role in determining a child's intelligence.

Conclusion: We, in the study including 1065 schoolgoing students, found that various environmental factors such as place of residence, physical exercise, family income, and parents' occupation and education influence the IQ of a child to a great extent. Hence, a child must be provided with an optimal environment to be able to develop to his/her full genetic potential.

References:

1.Article of (Archita Makharia, Abhishek Nagarajan, Aakanksha Mishra, Sandeep Peddisetty, Deepak Chahal, Yashpal Singh) with name "Effect of environmental factors on intelligence quotient of children".

2.Article "Is intelligence determined by genetics?"

3.Article "Intelligence is based on nature AND nurture: Study finds your environment plays a significant role in how smart you are"