The Stupidity of the Smart Gene
Amy He
When it comes to personal development, people often accept the limits regarding their intelligence. In the graduating class of Life Science at the prestigious University of Toronto, Tao Li confided to her professor that she didn’t think she was smart enough to pursue her education in medical school. “Many students seem more aptly comfortable in the competitive environment. However, I am doubting my ability to engage in such an intellectually demanding endeavour.” The professor immediately halted her self-deprecating sob-session and said, “You arrived to this place with your own epistemology, and the only thing stopping you from advancing is the belief in yourself.” Everyone has their own knowledge; it is the parameter of education, construction of identity, and social interaction that determine the potential of intelligence a particular person can possess. But, are some people born smarter than others? We are composed of 23 sets of chromosomes from our parents. These 23 strands intertwine, replicate, and knit us. The texture and colour of these strands define whether the outcome will be a top-notch, black cashmere from J Crew, or a substandard polyester pullover from Forever XXI. Our genetic codes underline everything, from the shape of our nose to
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From an evolutionary stand point, higher intelligence means higher survival rate. For instance, if an intelligent person was to stock up on food supply before hunger strikes, she would be able to survive and procreate. Thus, the manifestations of intelligence is a fitness indicator. Partners would have been chosen for greater intelligence, which indicates for healthy genes; a positive feedback loop of sexual selection would lead to the evolution of human intelligence. Therefore, it is logical to assume that if your parents have high IQ, you are more likely to inherit the high