(July 2,
2012) Three genes
identified as possible markers for academic success
Researchers
have identified genetic markers that may influence whether a person finishes
high school and goes on to college, according to a national longitudinal study
of thousands of young Americans. The study is in the July issue of
Developmental Psychology, a publication of the American Psychological
Association.
“Being able
to show that specific genes are related in any way to academic achievement is a
big step forward in understanding the developmental pathways among young
people,” said the study’s lead author, Kevin Beaver, PhD, a professor at the
College of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida State University.
The three
genes identified in the study – DAT1, DRD2 and DRD4 – have been linked to
behaviors such as attention regulation, motivation, violence, cognitive skills
and intelligence, according to the study. Previous research has explored the
genetic underpinnings of intelligence but virtually none has examined genes
that potentially contribute to educational attainment in community samples,
said Beaver.
He and his colleagues analyzed data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, also known as Add Health. Add Health is a four-wave study of a nationally representative sample of American youths who were enrolled in middle or high school in 1994 and 1995. The study continued until 2008, when most of the respondents were between the ages of 24 and 32. The participants completed surveys, provided DNA samples and were interviewed, along with their parents. The sample used for this analysis consisted of 1,674 respondents.
He and his colleagues analyzed data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, also known as Add Health. Add Health is a four-wave study of a nationally representative sample of American youths who were enrolled in middle or high school in 1994 and 1995. The study continued until 2008, when most of the respondents were between the ages of 24 and 32. The participants completed surveys, provided DNA samples and were interviewed, along with their parents. The sample used for this analysis consisted of 1,674 respondents.