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Invited Article

What Can the Study of Genetics Offer to Educators?

Michael S. C. Thomas

Corresponding Author

Centre for Educational Neuroscience, Birkbeck, University of London

Address correspondence to Michael S. C. Thomas, Developmental Neurocognition Lab, Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7HX, UK; e‐mail:

m.thomas@bbk.ac.uk

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Yulia Kovas

Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths University of London

Laboratory for Cognitive Investigations and Behavioral Genetics, Tomsk State University

King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience

Psychological Institute, Russian Academy of Education

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Emma L. Meaburn

Centre for Educational Neuroscience, Birkbeck, University of London

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Andrew Tolmie

Centre for Educational Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Education, University College London

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First published: 06 May 2015
Cited by: 2

ABSTRACT

This article explores the potential contribution of modern genetic methods and findings to education. It is familiar to hear that the “gene” for this or that behavior has been discovered, or that certain skills are “highly heritable.” Can this help educators? To explore this question, we describe the methods used to relate genetic variation to individual differences in high‐level behaviors such as academic skills and educational achievement. These methods include twin studies and genome‐wide association studies. We address the key question of what genetic data imply about the ability of educators to optimize educational outcomes for children across the range of abilities.

Number of times cited: 2

  • , ‘Mr Cummings clearly does not understand the science of genetics and should maybe go back to school on the subject’: an exploratory content analysis of the online comments beneath a controversial news story, Life Sciences, Society and Policy, 12, 1, (2016).
  • , Precision Education Initiative: Moving Toward Personalized Education, Mind, Brain, and Education, 10, 4, (209-211), (2016).