A single team of researchers from around the globe conducting two different studies has found more genes related to human intelligence and more that are associated with neuroticism. They have published separate papers outlining their work and findings in the journal Nature Genetics.
To understand how the human brain functions, scientists conduct work to isolate the genes that are responsible for individual traits and characteristics. In this new effort, the researchers searched and analyzed information found in databases to isolate genes that appear to be responsible for intelligence and neuroticism.
In the first study, the researchers retrieved information from 14 databases that held health and genetic information. The datasets, they note, contain both genetic information and intelligence test scores. By cross-referencing the data, they were able to isolate 939 genes that had not previously been associated with higher intelligence levels. They report that they also found relationships between higher intelligence and living longer without developing Alzheimer’s disease—and also having a higher risk for developing autism.
In the second study, they combed similar databases searching for information surrounding neurotic traits (excessive moodiness, anxiety and nervousness) in patient information. In so doing, they report finding approximately 500 genes that they claim can be associated with neurotic tendencies.
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