Kids Inherit Their Smarts from Mom, According to Science

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Updated: Sep. 17, 2016

It’s official! Science says children derive their intelligence primarily from their mothers, and I can already hear moms everywhere nodding in agreement. Research published in Psychology Today reveals that a whopping 77% of intelligence is inherited from the maternal side. (Yikes, sorry dads.)

The study highlights that “intelligence genes are located on the X chromosome,” which offers an interesting insight. For those who might be scratching their heads, women have two X chromosomes, while men carry just one. This genetic setup means moms are nearly twice as likely to pass on their smarts to their kids. Dads, on the other hand, contribute through the XY chromosome, which mainly influences physical traits. This might explain why little Timmy struggles with both math and gym class—just kidding! It’s really just math… or maybe gym.

On a brighter note for fathers, the research was conducted on mice, so the results indicating that mice with an extra X chromosome developed larger brains may not apply directly to humans. There’s still a glimmer of hope that we dads play a part in our kids’ academic victories.

Currently, my kids are in the adorable but “too young to be anything but silly” phase, so I’m happily conceding that my wife is responsible for our five-year-old’s fear of tissues. It’s quite clear to everyone that they inherited their good looks from me, though—no arguments there!

Yesterday marked my ninth wedding anniversary, which has long since dashed any hopes of being the “smart” one in our relationship. I’m more than willing to hand over the credit for our kids’ intelligence to my wife and mothers in general. If marriage has taught me anything, it’s that my wife is always right. But now I’m starting to wonder if that’s because she’s the one who controls the intelligence gene pool!

If this research holds true, we men should thank our mothers for passing on their brilliance. And let’s be honest; women can take the blame for our biggest blunders too. If our intellect is a reflection of our mothers, then when I can’t find my keys—even though they’re right there on the counter—it’s not my fault. Mom should’ve given me better smarts!

But maybe I’m being a bit dramatic. The study states that only about 40-60% of intelligence is hereditary, and surely some of that must come from dads as well. The rest is influenced by environment, stimulation, and personal traits. Considering my six-year-old is already a sarcastic little rascal like his old man, I suspect I’m playing a significant role there. But then again, who knows? I’m just a caveman who might not be the sharpest tool in the shed.

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Summary

Research indicates that children primarily inherit their intelligence from their mothers, with genetics playing a significant role. The discussion touches on the implications for fathers and humorously acknowledges the balance of traits passed down from both parents.