Genetic Aspects of Intelligence

Lewontin, R. C.

doi:10.1146/annurev.ge.09.120175.002131

Cited by 71 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…However, this does not eliminate biases due to shared environment primarily because the recorded indicators of environment may not fully account for environment-sharing relevant to expression of the trait. This issue has famously plagued research on quantitative traits of humans for many decades (Lewontin, 1975;Keller, 2010). On the other hand, if genetic and environmental effects covary, techniques to account for effects of environment may 'overcorrect' and produce underestimates of genetic variance.…”

Section: Empirical Study Of the Quantitative Genetics Of Fitness And mentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative genetic study of the adaptive process

Shaw

2013

Heredity

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The additive genetic variance with respect to absolute fitness, V A (W), divided by mean absolute fitness, W, sets the rate of ongoing adaptation. Fisher's key insight yielding this quantitative prediction of adaptive evolution, known as the Fundamental Theorem of Natural Selection, is well appreciated by evolutionists. Nevertheless, extremely scant information about V A (W) is available for natural populations. Consequently, the capacity for fitness increase via natural selection is unknown. Particularly in the current context of rapid environmental change, which is likely to reduce fitness directly and, consequently, the size and persistence of populations, the urgency of advancing understanding of immediate adaptive capacity is extreme. We here explore reasons for the dearth of empirical information about V A (W), despite its theoretical renown and critical evolutionary role. Of these reasons, we suggest that expectations that V A (W) is negligible, in general, together with severe statistical challenges of estimating it, may largely account for the limited empirical emphasis on it. To develop insight into the dynamics of V A (W) in a changing environment, we have conducted individual-based genetically explicit simulations. We show that, as optimizing selection on a trait changes steadily over generations, V A (W) can grow considerably, supporting more rapid adaptation than would the V A (W) of the base population. We call for direct evaluation of V A (W) and W in support of prediction of rates adaptive evolution, and we advocate for the use of aster modeling as a rigorous basis for achieving this goal.

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Section: Empirical Study Of the Quantitative Genetics Of Fitness And mentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative genetic study of the adaptive process

Shaw

2013

Heredity

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“…If the trait under study had negligible heritability, why bother to make genetic studies? From a Marxist position, Lewontin (1975) argued that zero heritability of socially important traits like intelligence cannot be excluded on present evidence. Some effort was devoted to testing this hypothesis, with the conclusion that heritability may well be less than conventional estimates, but no model yet invented is consistent with zero heritability (Rao et al 1982).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Fifty years of genetic epidemiology, with special reference to Japan

Morton

2006

J Hum Genet

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“…Lewontin's general strategy as a critic (later on to be seen, e.g., in his attack on Wilson) is especially clearly spelled out in his criticism of Jensen in 1970: I shall try, in this article, to display Professor Jensen's argument, to show how the structure of his argument is designed to make his point and to reveal what appear to be deeply embedded assumptions derived from a particular world view, leading him to erroneous conclusions. (Lewontin, 1970) Later on, Lewontin follows up in a review of research in cognitive abilities (Lewontin, 1975a), where he attacks the "carelessness, shabbiness and intellectual dishonesty" in this field. He continues by demonstrating why it "cannot" be a genuine scientific desire that is motivating the students of IQ (because, according to Lewontin, the only truly scientifically interesting questions about cognitive traits can be asked at the molecular level), and why it therefore "must" be their underlying sociopolitical bias that is driving them to bad research.…”

Section: The Lewontinian Critiquementioning

confidence: 99%

Colleagues in conflict: An ‘in vivo’ analysis of the sociobiology controversy

Segerstråle

1986

Biol Philos

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Edward 0. Wilson's forays into human sociobiology have been the target of persistent, vehement attack by his Harvard colleague in evolutionary biology, Richard C. Lewontin. Through examination of existing "documents in the case", together with in-depth personal interviews of Wilson, Lewontin, and other biologists, the reasons for Wilson's stance and Lewontin's criticisms are uncovered. It is argued that the dispute is not primarily personally or politically motivated, but involves a conflict between long-term scientificcum-moral agendas, with the "reductionist program" as a key issue. It is concluded that it is in the interest of both disputants to keep the controversy alive.

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Genetic Aspects of Intelligence

Cited by 71 publications

References 15 publications

Quantitative genetic study of the adaptive process

Quantitative genetic study of the adaptive process

Fifty years of genetic epidemiology, with special reference to Japan

Colleagues in conflict: An ‘in vivo’ analysis of the sociobiology controversy

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