Common set of genes influence math and reading skills in kids: Study

A new study has revealed that the same set of genes play major role in influencing the child's reading and mathematics ability.

Professor Robert Plomin from King's College London said that this was the first time that they estimated genetic influence on learning ability using DNA alone and the study does not pointed to specific genes linked to literacy or numeracy, but rather suggested that genetic influence on complex traits, like learning abilities, and common disorders, like learning disabilities, was caused by many genes of very small effect size.

While mathematics and reading ability are known to run in families, the complex system of genes affecting these traits is largely unknown. The finding deepens scientists' understanding of how nature and nurture interact, highlighting the important role that a child's learning environment may have on the development of reading and mathematics skills, and the complex, shared genetic basis of these cognitive traits.

Dr Chris Spencer from Oxford University), said that this study used the technique to help investigate the overlap in the genetic component of reading and math ability in children and the same method could be applied to pretty much any human trait, for example to identify new links between diseases and disorders, or the way in which people respond to treatments.

The collaborative study is published in the Nature Communications.