(no subject)

[danaeris]

Study shows that genes can protect kids against poverty

"Results from the study show that genetic makeup does play a part in resilience. According to the statistical analysis, genes explained 70 percent of the variability in children's behavioral resilience and 46 percent of the difference in their cognitive ability."

"To determine the role of genes in buffering children against poverty, the researchers studied differences among [1116 twins living in poverty], some who were identical (sharing all genes) and others who were fraternal (sharing half their genes). If identical twins have levels of resilience similar to each other, compared to that between fraternal twins, Kim-Cohen says it would be due, in part, to genetics."

Interesting, although aspects of the study seem potentially flawed.

Comments

[dragon-spirit.livejournal.com]

At first, the headline bothered me. But in reading the article, it seems they were testing resilience, rather than propensity toward poverty.

While I agree that there were some flaws in the study, I think it's sound logic that resilience should have a genetic factor. In terms of survival of the fittest, when humans come into adverse circumstances, if they're adaptale and can even flourish, that's a gene worth passing on.

[danaeris.livejournal.com]

One of the reasons this one caught my attention is because of the dumb headline. It seemed to read to me, "gee, kids have the same genes as their family, and the family isn't poor, and the kids aren't poor, so there must be a genetic link between poverty and heredity" (which is a ridiculous and idiotic conclusion to reach). So I had to read the article if only to confirm that that wasn't what they were saying.