Robert Plomin has proved a genetic influence for UK A-Level (exam) results.
He uses the statistical method of comparing identical and fraternal twins to demonstrate that genetics accounts for twice the variation in exam achievement than different schools.
Plomin is keen to stress that individual genes effects are very very tiny, this is a 'whole genome' comparison.
"In 1995 Plomin launched the biggest longitudinal twin study in the UK, the TED study of ten thousand pairs of twins which continues to this day. In this study and in his other work, he's shown consistently that genetic influences on intelligence are highly significant, much more so than what school you go to, your teachers or home environment. If only the genetic differences between children were fully acknowledged, he believes education could be transformed and parents might stop giving themselves such a hard time."
He uses the statistical method of comparing identical and fraternal twins to demonstrate that genetics accounts for twice the variation in exam achievement than different schools.
Plomin is keen to stress that individual genes effects are very very tiny, this is a 'whole genome' comparison.
Interviewed for BBC radio's Life Scientific : http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06j1qts
"In 1995 Plomin launched the biggest longitudinal twin study in the UK, the TED study of ten thousand pairs of twins which continues to this day. In this study and in his other work, he's shown consistently that genetic influences on intelligence are highly significant, much more so than what school you go to, your teachers or home environment. If only the genetic differences between children were fully acknowledged, he believes education could be transformed and parents might stop giving themselves such a hard time."