Genetics and Intelligence

Google Tech Talk (more info below)
August 18, 2011

Presented by Steve Hsu.

How do genes affect cognitive ability? I begin with a brief review of psychometric measurements of intelligence, introducing the idea of a "general factor" or IQ score. The main results concern the stability, validity (predictive power), and heritability of adult IQ. Next, I discuss ongoing Genome Wide Association Studies which investigate the genetic basis of intelligence. Due mainly to the rapidly decreasing cost of sequencing, it is likely that within the next 5-10 years we will identify genes which account for a significant fraction of total IQ variation.

We are currently seeking volunteers for a study of high cognitive ability. Participants will receive free genotyping.

Speaker Info:

Steve Hsu is Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Oregon and Director of its Institute of Theoretical Science. Educated at Caltech and Berkeley, he was a Harvard Junior Fellow and Assistant Professor at Yale before moving to Oregon in 1998. He is also the founder of two Silicon Valley software startups in the area of information security. He serves as Scientific Advisor to the Cognitive Genomics Lab of BGI (formerly the Beijing Genomics Institute), one of the leading genomics research centers in the world.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• google tech talk
• genomics

[budoracle]

@lennyhome You are saying that I want to sterilize you, not me. That is what outs you as a person of lower intelligence. You put words in my mouth thoughts of genocide on scientists holding a neutral exp. These unreasonable fears which are unwarranted by the facts paint you as being a major problem to the freedom of all people. your types being too stupid to reason succumb to gov lies, supporting the very types who bring genocide of the intelligent so that they can work the dumb as slaves.

[budoracle]

@lennyhome It is you who constantly says this. Do you feel inferior because you are not as intelligent as others? These people are doing studies exploring the universe, it is YOU THAT CONSTANTLY ADDS NEGATIVE VALUE TO THIS. Some of the research that the Nazis did is still being used but most of it was done to support their political values. You are against this research because you put a negative value on it missing the point that the research is neutral. But yeah I think you are stupid

[lmaka1]

Many emotional and preconceived notions as one would expect in a topic like this; however I adjure viewers to watch this with an open mind,noting that Steve is less interested in promoting a particular view than he is in providing a landscape of the current state of research on the topic--which suggests good reason to support many of the mainstream claims of current IQ research. BTW, I was eligible to take part in this study based on the their requirements. but too apathetic to take part.

[IceFritzLanger]

@arsviatticae

Nothing wrong for me too, but they are not better than average joe =)

This uber smart think he is, that's my point .

Have a nice day.

[arsviatticae]

@chocobofarmer2021 I hate this thing called 'emotional intelligence', when dumbasses good at communication overtake really smart sociophobes in terms of career and relationships, further contributing to the importance of emotions and shit.

[arsviatticae]

@IceFritzLanger What's wrong about uber-smart men without emotions and friends? They make science instead of partying and boozing. I think it as desirable.

[arsviatticae]

lol, if I have absolute pitch recognition, so what, can I be dumb then?

[arsviatticae]

Well, being intellectually productive is not necessarily linked to a high IQ, there are many smart folks who waste their lives in a very animalistic manner.

[EltBerserker]

101 likes

it is safe... for now

[reverenceforall]

@bookbagged Not really because soon we will have the ability to map the genome of the fetus, don't you think?