The correlation between reading and mathematics ability at age twelve has a substantial genetic component

Oliver S.P. Davis; Gavin Band; Matti Pirinen; Claire M.A. Haworth; Emma L. Meaburn; Yulia Kovas; Nicole Harlaar; Sophia J. Docherty; Ken B. Hanscombe; MacIej Trzaskowski; Charles J.C. Curtis; Amy Strange; Colin Freeman; Céline Bellenguez; Zhan Su; Richard Pearson; Damjan Vukcevic; Cordelia Langford; Panos Deloukas; Sarah Hunt; Emma Gray; Serge Dronov; Simon C. Potter; Avazeh Tashakkori-Ghanbaria; Sarah Edkins; Suzannah J. Bumpstead; Jenefer M. Blackwell; Elvira Bramon; Matthew A. Brown; Juan P. Casas; Aiden Corvin; Audrey Duncanson; Janusz A.Z. Jankowski; Hugh S. Markus; Christopher G. Mathew; Colin N.A. Palmer; Anna Rautanen; Stephen J. Sawcer; Richard C. Trembath; Ananth C. Viswanathan; Nicholas W. Wood; Ines Barroso; Leena Peltonen; Philip S. Dale; Stephen A. Petrill; Leonard S. Schalkwyk; Ian W. Craig; Cathryn M. Lewis; Thomas S. Price; Peter Donnelly; Robert Plomin; Chris C.A. Spencer

doi:10.1038/ncomms5204

The correlation between reading and mathematics ability at age twelve has a substantial genetic component

Oliver S.P. Davis
, Gavin Band
, Matti Pirinen
, Claire M.A. Haworth
, Emma L. Meaburn
, Yulia Kovas
, Nicole Harlaar
, Sophia J. Docherty
, Ken B. Hanscombe
, MacIej Trzaskowski
, Charles J.C. Curtis
, Amy Strange
, Colin Freeman
, Céline Bellenguez
, Zhan Su
, Richard Pearson
, Damjan Vukcevic
, Cordelia Langford
, Panos Deloukas
, Sarah Hunt

Emma Gray, Serge Dronov, Simon C. Potter, Avazeh Tashakkori-Ghanbaria, Sarah Edkins, Suzannah J. Bumpstead, Jenefer M. Blackwell, Elvira Bramon, Matthew A. Brown, Juan P. Casas, Aiden Corvin, Audrey Duncanson, Janusz A.Z. Jankowski, Hugh S. Markus, Christopher G. Mathew, Colin N.A. Palmer, Anna Rautanen, Stephen J. Sawcer, Richard C. Trembath, Ananth C. Viswanathan, Nicholas W. Wood, Ines Barroso, Leena Peltonen, Philip S. Dale, Stephen A. Petrill, Leonard S. Schalkwyk, Ian W. Craig, Cathryn M. Lewis, Thomas S. Price, Peter Donnelly, Robert Plomin, Chris C.A. Spencer

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

83 Scopus citations

Abstract

Dissecting how genetic and environmental influences impact on learning is helpful for maximizing numeracy and literacy. Here we show, using twin and genome-wide analysis, that there is a substantial genetic component to children,s ability in reading and mathematics, and estimate that around one half of the observed correlation in these traits is due to shared genetic effects (so-called Generalist Genes). Thus, our results highlight the potential role of the learning environment in contributing to differences in a child,s cognitive abilities at age twelve.

Original language	English
Article number	4204
Journal	Nature Communications
Volume	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms5204
State	Published - 8 Jul 2014
Externally published	Yes

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Davis, O. S. P., Band, G., Pirinen, M., Haworth, C. M. A., Meaburn, E. L., Kovas, Y., Harlaar, N., Docherty, S. J., Hanscombe, K. B., Trzaskowski, M., Curtis, C. J. C., Strange, A., Freeman, C., Bellenguez, C., Su, Z., Pearson, R., Vukcevic, D., Langford, C., Deloukas, P., ... Spencer, C. C. A. (2014). The correlation between reading and mathematics ability at age twelve has a substantial genetic component. Nature Communications, 5, Article 4204. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms5204

@article{fa3cc657f455422cb929390cb2adacbe,

title = "The correlation between reading and mathematics ability at age twelve has a substantial genetic component",

abstract = "Dissecting how genetic and environmental influences impact on learning is helpful for maximizing numeracy and literacy. Here we show, using twin and genome-wide analysis, that there is a substantial genetic component to children,s ability in reading and mathematics, and estimate that around one half of the observed correlation in these traits is due to shared genetic effects (so-called Generalist Genes). Thus, our results highlight the potential role of the learning environment in contributing to differences in a child,s cognitive abilities at age twelve.",

author = "Davis, \{Oliver S.P.\} and Gavin Band and Matti Pirinen and Haworth, \{Claire M.A.\} and Meaburn, \{Emma L.\} and Yulia Kovas and Nicole Harlaar and Docherty, \{Sophia J.\} and Hanscombe, \{Ken B.\} and MacIej Trzaskowski and Curtis, \{Charles J.C.\} and Amy Strange and Colin Freeman and C{\'e}line Bellenguez and Zhan Su and Richard Pearson and Damjan Vukcevic and Cordelia Langford and Panos Deloukas and Sarah Hunt and Emma Gray and Serge Dronov and Potter, \{Simon C.\} and Avazeh Tashakkori-Ghanbaria and Sarah Edkins and Bumpstead, \{Suzannah J.\} and Blackwell, \{Jenefer M.\} and Elvira Bramon and Brown, \{Matthew A.\} and Casas, \{Juan P.\} and Aiden Corvin and Audrey Duncanson and Jankowski, \{Janusz A.Z.\} and Markus, \{Hugh S.\} and Mathew, \{Christopher G.\} and Palmer, \{Colin N.A.\} and Anna Rautanen and Sawcer, \{Stephen J.\} and Trembath, \{Richard C.\} and Viswanathan, \{Ananth C.\} and Wood, \{Nicholas W.\} and Ines Barroso and Leena Peltonen and Dale, \{Philip S.\} and Petrill, \{Stephen A.\} and Schalkwyk, \{Leonard S.\} and Craig, \{Ian W.\} and Lewis, \{Cathryn M.\} and Price, \{Thomas S.\} and Peter Donnelly and Robert Plomin and Spencer, \{Chris C.A.\}",

note = "Funding Information: Funding for this study was provided by the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium 2 project (085475/B/08/Z and 085475/Z/08/Z) and TEDS is supported by a program grant from the UK Medical Research Council (G0901245). The UK Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust (Grant ref: 092731) and the University of Bristol provide core support for ALSPAC. O.S.P. Davis was supported by a Sir Henry Wellcome Fellowship from the Wellcome Trust (WT088984). M. Pirinen is supported by the Academy of Finland (257654). C.M.A. Haworth was supported by a research fellowship from the British Academy. R. Plomin was supported by a research professorship from the UK Medical Research Council (G19/2) and a European Research Council Advanced Investigator Award (295366). P. Donnelly was supported in part by a Wolfson-Royal Society Merit Award. C.C.A. Spencer was supported by a Wellcome Trust Fellowship [097364/Z/ 11/Z], and work was supported in part by Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics core grants 090532/Z/09/Z and 075491/Z/04/B. We acknowledge use of the British 1958 Birth Cohort DNA collection funded by the Medical Research Council (grant G0000934) and the Wellcome Trust (grant 068545/Z/02), and the UK National Blood Service controls funded by the Wellcome Trust. E Bramon holds a Medical Research Council new investigator award. We also thank the National Institutes of Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Guy{\textquoteright}s and St Thomas{\textquoteright} NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with King{\textquoteright}s College London.",

year = "2014",

month = jul,

day = "8",

doi = "10.1038/ncomms5204",

language = "English",

volume = "5",

journal = "Nature Communications",

issn = "2041-1723",

publisher = "Nature Research",

}

Davis, OSP, Band, G, Pirinen, M, Haworth, CMA, Meaburn, EL, Kovas, Y, Harlaar, N, Docherty, SJ, Hanscombe, KB, Trzaskowski, M, Curtis, CJC, Strange, A, Freeman, C, Bellenguez, C, Su, Z, Pearson, R, Vukcevic, D, Langford, C, Deloukas, P, Hunt, S, Gray, E, Dronov, S, Potter, SC, Tashakkori-Ghanbaria, A, Edkins, S, Bumpstead, SJ, Blackwell, JM, Bramon, E, Brown, MA, Casas, JP, Corvin, A, Duncanson, A, Jankowski, JAZ, Markus, HS, Mathew, CG, Palmer, CNA, Rautanen, A, Sawcer, SJ, Trembath, RC, Viswanathan, AC, Wood, NW, Barroso, I, Peltonen, L, Dale, PS, Petrill, SA, Schalkwyk, LS, Craig, IW, Lewis, CM, Price, TS, Donnelly, P, Plomin, R & Spencer, CCA 2014, 'The correlation between reading and mathematics ability at age twelve has a substantial genetic component', Nature Communications, vol. 5, 4204. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms5204

TY - JOUR

T1 - The correlation between reading and mathematics ability at age twelve has a substantial genetic component

AU - Davis, Oliver S.P.

AU - Band, Gavin

AU - Pirinen, Matti

AU - Haworth, Claire M.A.

AU - Meaburn, Emma L.

AU - Kovas, Yulia

AU - Harlaar, Nicole

AU - Docherty, Sophia J.

AU - Hanscombe, Ken B.

AU - Trzaskowski, MacIej

AU - Curtis, Charles J.C.

AU - Strange, Amy

AU - Freeman, Colin

AU - Bellenguez, Céline

AU - Su, Zhan

AU - Pearson, Richard

AU - Vukcevic, Damjan

AU - Langford, Cordelia

AU - Deloukas, Panos

AU - Hunt, Sarah

AU - Gray, Emma

AU - Dronov, Serge

AU - Potter, Simon C.

AU - Tashakkori-Ghanbaria, Avazeh

AU - Edkins, Sarah

AU - Bumpstead, Suzannah J.

AU - Blackwell, Jenefer M.

AU - Bramon, Elvira

AU - Brown, Matthew A.

AU - Casas, Juan P.

AU - Corvin, Aiden

AU - Duncanson, Audrey

AU - Jankowski, Janusz A.Z.

AU - Markus, Hugh S.

AU - Mathew, Christopher G.

AU - Palmer, Colin N.A.

AU - Rautanen, Anna

AU - Sawcer, Stephen J.

AU - Trembath, Richard C.

AU - Viswanathan, Ananth C.

AU - Wood, Nicholas W.

AU - Barroso, Ines

AU - Peltonen, Leena

AU - Dale, Philip S.

AU - Petrill, Stephen A.

AU - Schalkwyk, Leonard S.

AU - Craig, Ian W.

AU - Lewis, Cathryn M.

AU - Price, Thomas S.

AU - Donnelly, Peter

AU - Plomin, Robert

AU - Spencer, Chris C.A.

N1 - Funding Information: Funding for this study was provided by the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium 2 project (085475/B/08/Z and 085475/Z/08/Z) and TEDS is supported by a program grant from the UK Medical Research Council (G0901245). The UK Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust (Grant ref: 092731) and the University of Bristol provide core support for ALSPAC. O.S.P. Davis was supported by a Sir Henry Wellcome Fellowship from the Wellcome Trust (WT088984). M. Pirinen is supported by the Academy of Finland (257654). C.M.A. Haworth was supported by a research fellowship from the British Academy. R. Plomin was supported by a research professorship from the UK Medical Research Council (G19/2) and a European Research Council Advanced Investigator Award (295366). P. Donnelly was supported in part by a Wolfson-Royal Society Merit Award. C.C.A. Spencer was supported by a Wellcome Trust Fellowship [097364/Z/ 11/Z], and work was supported in part by Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics core grants 090532/Z/09/Z and 075491/Z/04/B. We acknowledge use of the British 1958 Birth Cohort DNA collection funded by the Medical Research Council (grant G0000934) and the Wellcome Trust (grant 068545/Z/02), and the UK National Blood Service controls funded by the Wellcome Trust. E Bramon holds a Medical Research Council new investigator award. We also thank the National Institutes of Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with King’s College London.

PY - 2014/7/8

Y1 - 2014/7/8

N2 - Dissecting how genetic and environmental influences impact on learning is helpful for maximizing numeracy and literacy. Here we show, using twin and genome-wide analysis, that there is a substantial genetic component to children,s ability in reading and mathematics, and estimate that around one half of the observed correlation in these traits is due to shared genetic effects (so-called Generalist Genes). Thus, our results highlight the potential role of the learning environment in contributing to differences in a child,s cognitive abilities at age twelve.

AB - Dissecting how genetic and environmental influences impact on learning is helpful for maximizing numeracy and literacy. Here we show, using twin and genome-wide analysis, that there is a substantial genetic component to children,s ability in reading and mathematics, and estimate that around one half of the observed correlation in these traits is due to shared genetic effects (so-called Generalist Genes). Thus, our results highlight the potential role of the learning environment in contributing to differences in a child,s cognitive abilities at age twelve.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84903977557

U2 - 10.1038/ncomms5204

DO - 10.1038/ncomms5204

M3 - Article

C2 - 25003214

AN - SCOPUS:84903977557

SN - 2041-1723

VL - 5

JO - Nature Communications

JF - Nature Communications

M1 - 4204

ER -

The correlation between reading and mathematics ability at age twelve has a substantial genetic component

Abstract

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