Genetics affects choice of academic subjects as well as achievement.
We have previously shown that individual differences in educational achievement are highly heritable throughout compulsory education. After completing compulsory education at age 16, students in England can choose to continue to study for two years (A-levels) in preparation for applying to university and they can freely choose which subjects to study. Here, for the first time, we show that choosing to do A-levels and the choice of subjects show substantial genetic influence, as does performance after two years studying the chosen subjects. Using a UK-representative sample of 6584 twin pairs, heritability estimates were 44% for choosing to do A-levels and 52-80% for choice of subject. Achievement after two years was also highly heritable (35-76%). The findings that DNA differences substantially affect differences in appetites as well as aptitudes suggest a genetic way of thinking about education in which individuals actively create their own educational experiences in part based on their genetic propensities.
King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology &Neuroscience, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
Kaili
K
Rimfeld
King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology &Neuroscience, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
Ziada
Z
Ayorech
University of New Mexico, Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA.
Philip S
PS
Dale
King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology &Neuroscience, London, SE5 8AF, UK.|Goldsmiths, University of London, Department of Psychology, London, SE14 6NW, UK.|Tomsk State University, Laboratory for Cognitive Investigations and Behavioural Genetics, Tomsk, 634050, Russia.
Yulia
Y
Kovas
King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology &Neuroscience, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
Robert
R
Plomin
D000073978:Academic Performance; D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D001076:Aptitude; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006809:Humanities / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010811:Natural Science Disciplines / Q000193:education; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic / Q000235:genetics; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000235:genetics