I have a hard time accepting that there are smart genes that some people are born with that gives them an advantage over other people. If there is a genetic component then it is a genetic susceptibility. It still requires a environmental exposure to activate and express that gene. So ultimately it is the environment that is the main determinant not the genetics. Which is the case for the vast majority of chronic disease.
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I disagree. I am of the opinion that genetical predisposition defines an individual frame with an upper and lower limit. Then environmental factors (parents, teachers, training, motivation, health, ...) decide which level within this frame will be reached.
Let me give you a simplified example.
The 'genetical frame' of person A reaches from IQ 90 to IQ 110.
The 'genetical frame' of person B reaches from IQ 100 to IQ 120.
In case Person A reaches his upper limit he can be more intelligent than person B (who stays for example at his lower limit because of a negative environmental impact).
I see no difference between 'intelligence' and any other skill. If I practice I will improve in boxing ... but even if I practice my whole life I would never beat Mike Tyson because of his superior predisposition ("boxing ability frame"). :)
By the way do you presuppose that a higher IQ must be an advantage from an evolutionary point of view? Do intelligent people for example in average have more descendants than less intelligent people ...?
I agree that intelligence is a skill. If you don't practice critical thinking it will not come as easily when trying to solve a problem.
I think that people all have the same potential for intelligence at conception but their environments start limiting them even before birth. However people born with genetic abnormalities such as Down's Syndrome I would agree don't have the same intelligence frame as the average person. If there is a genetic component it will manifest right away.
It is well know that early exposure to lead lowers a child's intelligence. What is not as well known is that a baby will get a portion of it's mothers heavy metal load. So if a mother has a higher burden of mercury and lead their child will be less likely to have a higher IQ. Flouride, Aluminum, vaccine injury all can lower your intelligence. Also how you treat your brain during puberty while it is rewiring is a big factor in intelligence. I am scared for all the kid on medication like Ritalin while undergoing puberty. Think about all the people who "fried their brain" from drug use. Their decreased IQ is a result of environmental exposure.
There are also multiple forms of intelligence IQ only captures a couple of them.
The emotional environment is a huge factor for cognitive development.
I would say that higher IQ is a negative factor from a evolutionary point of view since higher IQ individuals tend to delay having kids when in college and will tend to make sure to use birth control and not have accidental pregnancies. Not a lot of intelligence required to have sex.