According to a study by the University of Southern California, the level of education is linked to 1271 genetic variants. The team of doctor Daniel Benjamin has analyzed the DNA of more than a million people. He thus identified genes related to neurocerebral development and communication between neurons.

The level of education depends largely on psychological and cultural factors. However, it seems that genetics also plays a role. A 2016 study published in Nature had analyzed the genome of 294,000 subjects. He thus identified 74 genes related to the level of schooling. Many of these are expressed mainly in neuronal tissues and regulate the development of the nervous system. Nevertheless, it did not answer a question: where does genetics end and education begins?

The first fact that emerges is that the level of education has a component of familiarity. The children of graduates are more likely to graduate. Merit can be partly of hereditary cognitive abilities, but the effect of education can not be neglected. The study in question then examined how much the innate component is strong and which genes are involved.

At first the team examined the genome of 1.1 million people and identified 1271 genes. All genes work in the neurodevelopment process and determine how neurons communicate with each other. In particular, they are relevant for the production of neurotransmitters and synapses, which connect neurons and transmit nerve signals.

Later, researchers focused on the correlation between genes and mathematical abilities. This secondary study has unveiled hundreds of possible genetic associations, which will however be examined.

Source: lescienze.it