Poverty Can Suppress Genetic Potential in Children

In a recent research it has been highlighted that poverty might influence how children achieve their genetic potential.

Using 750 sets of twins as subjects, psychologists at the University of Texas found that growing up poor can suppress a child's genetic potential to excel cognitively even before the age of two.

Immediate Steps Sought for Saving Poor Children Dying of Neglect
Well known religious statesman Rajan Zed stated in Nevada (USA) that world should take urgent steps to save the poorest children dying of neglect and failed government policies.

They also explained that 50 percent of the progress wealthier children show on mental ability tests between 10 months and 2 years of age could be attributed to their genes.

But children from poorer families, who already lag behind their peers by that age, show almost no progress attributable to their genetic makeup.

Researcher Elliot Tucker-Drob, however, does not suggest that children from wealthier families are genetically superior or smarter. Instead, they simply have more opportunities to reach their potential.

Women Suffer More Due to Poverty Than Men
Poverty has impacted women more severely than men, the representatives of women's leadership from 22 countries have said in a joint statement.

"You can't have environmental contributions to a child's development without genetics. And you can't have genetic contributions without environment," he said.

"Socio-economic disadvantages suppress children's genetic potentials," he added.

Smoking Parents Raise BP Risk in Kids
A new study has revealed that children whose parents smoke have higher blood pressure than those with non-smoking parents.

These findings go to the heart of the age-old debate about whether 'nature' or 'nurture' is more important to a child's development.

They suggested that the two work together and the right environment can help children begin to reach their genetic potentials at a much earlier age than previously thought.

The researchers looked at test results from twins who had taken a version of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development at about 10 months and again at about 2 years of age.

The test asked children to perform tasks such as pulling a string to ring a bell, putting three cubes in a cup and matching pictures.

The study findings suggested that socio-economic disparities in cognitive development start early.

"For children from poorer homes, genetic influences on changes in cognitive ability were close to zero. For children from wealthier homes, genes accounted for about half of the variation in cognitive changes," said Tucker-Drob.

The study also noted that wealthier parents are often able to provide better educational resources and spend more time with their children but does not examine what factors, in particular, help their children reach their genetic potentials.

Tucker-Drob said he is planning follow-up studies to examine that question.

The study is published in the journal Psychological Science.

Source-ANI