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Genotype by Environment Interaction in Adolescents’ Cognitive Aptitude

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Abstract

In a replication of Turkheimer, Haley, Waldron, D’Onofrio, Gottesman II (2003, Socioeconomic status modifies heritability of IQ in young children. Psychological Science, 14:623-628), we investigate genotype–environment (G × E) interaction in the cognitive aptitude of 839 twin pairs who completed the National Merit Scholastic Qualifying Test in 1962. Shared environmental influences were stronger for adolescents from poorer homes, while genetic influences were stronger for adolescents from more affluent homes. No significant differences were found between parental income and parental education interaction effects. Results suggest that environmental differences between middle- to upper-class families influence the expression of genetic potential for intelligence, as has previously been suggested by Bronfenbrenner and Ceci’s (1994, Nature-nurture reconceptualized in developmental perspective: a bioecological model Psychological Review, 101:568-586) bioecological model.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA

    K. Paige Harden & Eric Turkheimer

  2. University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA

    John C. Loehlin

Authors
  1. K. Paige Harden
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  2. Eric Turkheimer
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  3. John C. Loehlin
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Correspondence to K. Paige Harden.

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Edited by Stacey Cherny

 

 

Appendix A Response categories and frequencies for parental education and income scales
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Harden, K.P., Turkheimer, E. & Loehlin, J.C. Genotype by Environment Interaction in Adolescents’ Cognitive Aptitude. Behav Genet 37, 273–283 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-006-9113-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-006-9113-4

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