New Study Shows Academic Ability Across All Subjects is Influenced by Same Genes

A new study claims that academic skills in math, languages, arts, reading and social sciences are all influenced by the same genetic traits, contrary to the long-held assumption that those skills are shaped by different genes, The Guardian reported.

For decades it has been thought that an individual is either good at math and sciences or arts, languages and social sciences. This differentiation of certain skills has famously been referred as being "right-brained or left-brained," suggesting that individuals use either the left or right side of their brain more, which makes them more likely to be successful in either of those fields. Left brain is usually associated with numeric skills such as mathematical skills, whereas right brain is associated with creativity and artistic expression.

The new study, which was published in the journal of Scientific Reports says that the same group of genes have influence on all subjects, whether it is numerical ones like geometry, biology, or humanities, languages and arts. Researchers estimate that more than 60% of the differences of academic scores and achievement of students could be attributed to the genetic makeup, in other words it is inherited. However the rest is acquired, shaped by environmental components such as education, reported The Guardian.

Under the light of the study, it appears that poor performance in maths while excelling in languages could not solely be explained by being gifted in languages while being born with lack of mathematical skills since both skills are influenced by the same genes. The recent findings might raise the question if the educational system, teaching and learning environments might be to blame, not the students'  "given" skills.

The study's author Robert Plomin, who is a genetics professor at King's College London, said: "We found that academic achievement in English, mathematics, science, humanities, second languages and art were all affected by the same genes. People may think that they're good at one subject and bad at another, but in reality most people are strikingly consistent," The Guardian reported.