title: Reading and Generalist Genes.
abstract: Twin-study research suggests that many (but not all) of the same genes contribute to genetic influence on diverse learning abilities and disabilities, a hypothesis called generalist genes. This generalist genes hypothesis was tested using a set of 10 DNA markers (single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs]) found to be associated with early reading ability in a study of 4,258 7-year-old children that screened 100,000 SNPs. Using the same sample, we show that this early reading SNP set also correlates with other aspects of literacy, components of mathematics, and more general cognitive abilities. These results provide support for the generalist genes hypothesis. Although the effect size of the current SNP set is small, such SNP sets could eventually be used to predict genetic risk for learning disabilities as well as to prescribe genetically tailored intervention and prevention programs.
authors.affiliation: Social, Genetic, and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London.
authors.forename: Claire M A
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Haworth
authors.forename: Emma L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Meaburn
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Harlaar
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Plomin
references.citation: Br J Educ Psychol. 2004 Sep;74(Pt 3):323-42
references.pmid: 15296543
references.citation: Science. 1994 Jun 17;264(5166):1733-9
references.pmid: 8209254
references.citation: Mol Psychiatry. 2008 Jul;13(7):729-40
references.pmid: 17684495
references.citation: Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet. 2007;8:57-79
references.pmid: 17444811
references.citation: Br J Educ Psychol. 2003 Mar;73(Pt 1):3-14
references.pmid: 12639274
references.citation: Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet. 2005 Jan 5;132B(1):109-25
references.pmid: 15700344
references.citation: Science. 2007 Jun 1;316(5829):1331-6
references.pmid: 17463246
references.citation: Nat Rev Genet. 2005 Feb;6(2):95-108
references.pmid: 15716906
references.citation: Nature. 2007 Jun 7;447(7145):661-78
references.pmid: 17554300
references.citation: Psychol Bull. 2005 Jul;131(4):592-617
references.pmid: 16060804
references.citation: Monogr Soc Res Child Dev. 2007;72(3):vii, 1-144
references.pmid: 17995572
references.citation: Mind Brain Educ. 2007 Mar;1(1):11-19
references.pmid: 20383259
references.citation: Science. 2006 Mar 17;311(5767):1544-6
references.pmid: 16543431
references.citation: Twin Res Hum Genet. 2007 Feb;10(1):96-105
references.pmid: 17539369
references.citation: Am J Hum Genet. 2007 Jan;80(1):91-104
references.pmid: 17160897
references.citation: J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2005 Oct;46(10):1030-8
references.pmid: 16178925
references.citation: J Child Neurol. 2004 Oct;19(10):836-9
references.pmid: 15559900
references.citation: Science. 1994 Oct 14;266(5183):276-9
references.pmid: 7939663
references.citation: Trends Cogn Sci. 2006 May;10(5):198-203
references.pmid: 16580870
references.citation: Twin Res Hum Genet. 2007 Feb;10(1):106-17
references.pmid: 17539370
references.citation: Am J Pharmacogenomics. 2005;5(6):345-55
references.pmid: 16336000
references.citation: Trends Cogn Sci. 2006 Jun;10(6):250-7
references.pmid: 16675285
references.citation: Dev Sci. 2007 Jan;10(1):19-23
references.pmid: 17181694