what makes a person smart? DNA?

Question

Many argue a persons genes define their ability to absorb information is this true? Or is it down to parenting and social issues?

Answer 1

I believe its a combination. My wife for example is very inteligent (by birth, high IQ, etc.) but because her family never encouraged her to learn anything, she has absolutely no desire to learn, thus very little knowledge about anything. However, when she decides she wants to know something she can grasp it almost instantly. The lack of intrest part of her is annoying as heck by the way.

Answer 2

DNA does play a part, but certainly isn't all of it. Environmental factors around a person when he/she is growing up also play an important role in a person's intelligence. For example, diet definately affects the development of the brain. Factors such as the type of schooling, the behavioural patterns regarding studies, work, etc. that a child may inherit from his/her parents, the types and number of books a child reads....

Answer 3

Yes, yes and yes.
All these things plus others combine to make us what we are. There is no one factor that forms us. Everything that happens in your life has an effect, but there is a basic rock bottom of the person, that comes from our genetic inheritance. But it is not all we are.
One problem however is that there are many things that can go wrong, but the factors have to all work together to get you to your full potential.
A few seconds of oxygen starvation at the wrong moment can spoil it all.
That's why we aren't so smart as we think we ought to be.

Answer 4

DNA is certainly part of the answer, but just as certainly not all of it. The form of parenting has a large effect. When I was six and had just learned to read, my father gave me two books: one was titled Science for the Junior High School, and the other was The Radio Amateurs's Handbook. I have been into science and electronics ever since.

Answer 5

I really think that it's a combination of both. For example, both of my parents got quite high grades when they were in school, and they expect me to do well as well. Curiosity and the desire to learn is also a partially inherited trait, but it is fuelled by pro-social behaviour from peers, teacher, basically environment.

Though I did inherit intelligence from my parents, I excel at different things than they did. Even psychologists aren't entirely sure how much of a person's personality traits are inherited and how much are learned. They do know that it is a combination of both, and intelligence is also one of those things that they aren't entirely sure of how it comes to be.

It really depends on the person.

Answer 6

What's your definition of smart?

Intelligence is a little bit of many things. Some is DNA. Some is how they were raised and their exposure to things. Some is even nutritionally based. And one can be intelligent (book smart) and be a moron socially and in common sense, just as vice versa may be true.

Answer 7

I don't think intelligence can be inherited. But, parents and teachers can increase the level of intelligence, plus your own desire to learn by reading books such as encyclopedias whenever you come across a word you don't understand. At 57 I am still learning, finding new things to remember that I didn't know previously.

Answer 8

both definitly

get hit by a car in the head and you definitly wont do so well.
dont do your homework = bad grades and good at scatebord
or web surfing

genetic mutation only acounts for 90 percent of the bright people
and 10 percent of the dumbest of the dumb
most dumbies ether are from acidents or malnutrition

Answer 9

Well Im sorry today it isn't even down to parenting issues....it come to that young people of today....have no wish to work, and don't know how because they are given everything without doing anything for it.

Answer 10

Nettles