Nature, nurture, and evolution:

A discussion of the significance of genetics and evolution for understanding human behavior

Senior Seminar in Neural and Behavioral Sciences
Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges, Spring, 2002

Session 3: The Genetics of "Intelligence"
Readings and Web Links


Study Finds Genetic Link Between Intelligence and Size of Some Regions of the Brain, New York Times, 5 Nov 2001

Thompson et al (2001) Genetic influences on brain structure, Nature Neuroscience 4: 1253-1258


Plomin, Robert, and DeFries, John C. (1998) The Genetics of Cognitive Abilities. Scientific American, May, 1998 http://www.sciamarchive.org/pdfs/647718.pdf
(This is accessible from campus computers only. If you have trouble with the URL above, go to http://www.sciam archive.org, and search on title)

Tsien, Joe Z. (2000) Building a Brainier Mouse. Scientific American, April, 2000. http://www.sciamarchive.org/pdfs/1439115.pdf
(This is accessible from campus computers only. If you have trouble with the URL above, go to http://www.sciam archive.org, and search on title)

Gottfredson, Linda S. (1998) The General Intelligence Factor, from Scientific American, winter3


Human Genetics for the Social Sciences, from from Gregory Carey, Department of Psychology, University of Colorado - Chapters 20, 21

Grobstein (1994) On the Bell Curve, letter to the editor


Duncan et al. (2000) A neural basis for general intelligence. Science 289: 457-460.

Plomin, R. (1999) Genetics and general cognitive ability. Nature 402 (suppl 6761): C25-C29.
(go to Nature online via tripod, search on Plomin)


Dickens, W.T. and James R. Flynn (2001) Heritability Estimates vs Large Environmental Effects: The IQ Paradox Resolved. Psychological Review 108: 346-349.


Questions for discussion: