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emphasising the health benefits ANALYSIS Achievement genes
of low-carbon activities like
cycling instead of driving, or
insulating draughty homes,
might be a better way to go.
Few of us discuss climate
change with friends – perhaps
that’s why many politicians
underestimate concern on the
topic, and the level of support
for renewable energy. Getting
the conversation going is the
first step to meaningful action.
Most important of all is
connecting with public values
across the political spectrum. ROGER ASKEW/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
Avoiding wastefulness in energy
use, improving health outcomes,
conserving green spaces, creating
a sense of pride in rebuilding
energy infrastructure, and So is it case closed?
fostering a sense of responsibility Can genes predict your Not necessarily. Intelligence genes
for future generations are all ways might influence what university
of talking about climate change you go to in other ways, for instance
that are more likely to resonate future university? by affecting how impressive an
than guilt-laden messages about application you write and how well
self-sacrifice. you do at interview.
Once the public is engaged in a
meaningful conversation about Clare Wilson Could a genetic test tell you which Isn’t the whole concept of IQ falling
our responsibility to consider university your child could get into? into disrepute anyway?
how we eat, travel and live in a A LARGE study of twins has found Fortunately not. The same team There is a shameful history of using
changing climate, skipping the links between genes and what also looked at the DNA of a different IQ tests to justify racist and sexist
steak and chips might not sound university you end up attending, 3000 people and could only identify up attitudes without taking societal
such a radical proposition. ■ but the relationship isn’t simple. to 5 per cent of the genes that seemed inequalities into account. But that
to be linked to the university attended. doesn’t mean the tests themselves
Adam Corner is research director at Is there an “Oxbridge gene”? That means we are a long way from are flawed. Countless studies have
Climate Outreach, Europe’s leading Hardly. A study of 3000 pairs of UK being able to make genetic predictions found that people with higher IQ on
climate communication organisation twins has found that, like intelligence, about university acceptance. average do better at school, get better
your chance of going to a prestigious jobs and earn more money in life.
university is partly heritable. If your How much of a person’s intelligence Whatever it measures, it is something
automate the process of making twin gets into the University of Oxford, is determined by their genes? interesting, says Stuart Ritchie, also
a game, will the companies that say, you are more likely to join them if Previous research suggests between of King’s College London, who wasn’t
employ them simply lay off they are your identical twin, with whom 50 and 80 per cent of the variation in involved in the research.
excess staff until those left are you share all your DNA, than if they are people’s IQ is inherited. As intelligence
working 100 hours again? your fraternal twin, sharing only half. affects school exam results, which in Does this mean our fate is
Researchers have to be cautious The work suggests that 57 per cent of turn influence university admissions, determined at birth after all?
about the kind of work they are the “quality” of your university is down it is unsurprising that genes may be Not at all. If half the variation in
doing, and consider whether to your genes, says study author Ziada linked to university destination too. intelligence or university destination is
it is serving workers, or profit Ayorech of King’s College London But the team tried to eliminate down to genes, the rest must be down
projections. As Rockstar Games (Scientific Reports, doi.org/cvwf). the effects of intelligence from the to environment. That could include
begins to plan its next epic, we analysis by removing the impact of how much encouragement children
should reflect on what research What do they mean by “quality”? exam results on university entrance, get, the wealth and education of their
can do to make sure the future of The team used university league using statistical techniques. When parents, and what school they go to.
the creative industries is one that tables as a measure of quality. they did this, they found that genes Initiatives like free preschool education
works – not overworks. ■ Some might argue that this doesn’t were still behind 47 per cent of can help level the playing field.
account for the possibility that the variation in university quality, And, of course, going to any
Michael Cook is a senior research different institutions could suit suggesting they do affect university university isn’t the right choice for
fellow at the MetaMakers Institute different people for reasons other destination in ways other than by everyone, including plenty of
at Falmouth University, UK than their academic prestige. shaping your intelligence. intelligent people. ■
27 October 2018 | NewScientist | 25
