In general, yes. There are genetic factors that lead to higher IQ's, but environment also plays a large role in the average to above average intelligence levels. In plain speak, just because a child is born with a higher than average IQ, doesn't mean that they will perform at higher than average levels.
If a person with a high IQ marries someone with a lower IQ, their kids could have most any IQ. The same is true for two high IQ parents (although their kids will tend to have higher IQs).
In fact, mom's side of genetics determine how brainy or clever a child is, and the father's genes make little to no difference in honing a child's intelligence. Science also supports that intelligence is a "conditioned" gene, which usually works when they are transmitted from the mother.
Intelligence has a very high heredity component, so often times the parents of smart people are smart. But this is not a necessity. Rare gene combinations can often lead to interesting results and two very smart people might have a really average child, we call this statistical regression to the mean.
Like most aspects of human behavior and cognition, intelligence is a complex trait that is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.
Early twin studies of adult individuals have found a heritability of IQ between 57% and 73%, with some recent studies showing heritability for IQ as high as 80%. IQ goes from being weakly correlated with genetics for children, to being strongly correlated with genetics for late teens and adults.
Conclusions From Genetic Studies
In conclusion, twin studies show that individual differences in human intelligence can largely (50%–80%) be explained by genetic influences making intelligence one of the most heritable traits.
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Studies have shown that first-born children are smarter than their siblings, and now we're learning that second-born children are more likely to cause trouble. A University of Edinburgh study shows first-born children have higher IQs and better thinking skills than their siblings.
A new study shows that first-born children tend to be smarter than their siblings and second-born children are more likely to cause trouble. The University of Edinburgh study reported that the oldest child tends to have a higher IQ and thinking skills than their younger siblings.
They found a one-third higher risk of autism in children whose fathers' IQ scores are 111 or higher than in those whose fathers' scores cluster around 100.
Keen observation, curiosity and tendency to ask questions. Ability to think abstractly, while showing signs of creativity and inventiveness. Early development of motor skills (e.g., balance, coordination and movement). Finds joy in discovering new interests or grasping new concepts.
Others say any child who demonstrates exceptional skills in almost any area in comparison to their peers is gifted. But regardless of the definition you use, gifted students tend to get restless and bored easily. Why? Their brains need more stimulation than they're likely getting in traditional school and play.
Giftedness can create problems and conflicts; being a gifted child can also mean difficulty socializing with age peers, thinking styles that don't always mesh well with the demands from the environment, even children who see themselves as little adults, challenging teachers and parents.
The brain's outer mantle, or cortex, gets thicker and then thins during childhood and the teen years. The study found that in kids with superior intelligence, the cortex reaches its thickest stage a few years later than in other children. Nobody knows what causes that or how it relates to superior intelligence.
Research from the National Institute of Health shows that 50 percent of intelligence comes from genetics, while the other 50 percent comes from other factors, including the child's environment. For the 50 percent that parents can control, they play a key role in supporting the cognitive development of their child.
Empirical evidence suggests that especially parental education, parental income, and maternal IQ are important predictors of intelligence. Parental education together with maternal IQ and the child's sex were found to account for 24% of the variance in IQ at age 5 [6].
Researchers have found a correlation between risk-taking and being the last-born sibling.
Although this is a robust and statistically significant finding the IQ difference is small. It means that in six out of ten cases the older sibling will have a higher IQ than the next youngest sibling.
The first born may experience certain emotions differently than the middle and youngest child or visa versa. According to Adler, the first born is more susceptible to depression because of high expectations of parents and suddenly losing the attention due to another sibling being born.
It's a world-class teacher's pet – a straight-A student that's top of the class: Singapore is officially the country with the smartest high-school kids in the world.
First, it's possible first-borns are superior in some biological sense. They are born of younger wombs or to stronger healthier mothers, whose bodies are not yet ravaged by the demands of caring for other children.
Scientists don't know exactly what causes someone to be a genius. There is probably a genetic component to your level of intelligence. Certain types of genes influence how much intellectual power you have. Your child's genetic influences affect their motivation, confidence, and other traits.
For example, if the father is an independent thinker or risk-taker, it's likely his daughter will have some of those same qualities. Other personality traits such as intelligence, empathy, creativity, and leadership skills can also be inherited from the father.