Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums GT Research Genome Mapping 99.5% Identical for Humans

I am wondering if any researchers could explain for layperson parents how does the genome mapping project relate to human IQ and human behavior. If humans are 99.5% identical in the results of the genome mapping project (I think that is what past President Bill Clinton explained.), is there something in that .5% difference that gives our society such diversity? What I am thinking is that the more we understand ourselves and each other the more compassion, peace and harmony there will be. What is the relationship between the human IQ and behavior? Do the psychologists and the anthropologists confer and put all of the findings together? Thank you.

To preface, I am by no means an expert, just a curious person who is interested in anthropology. When I read this I first thought of the fact that 98.8% of Chimpanzee and human DNA is same, and yet we are different species with some very large differences from just 1.2% differences. So .5% could lead to a large variation within the species.


I think that to a casual observer, DNA seems absolute, like a math problem 2+2=4, when it is not quite as straight forward as that. It is more like a poem where interpretation can change the meaning. What genes are turned on or off, or which ones are 'stronger' affect the end result.

Wendy Johnson is an author of very good papers about the questions you raise. One I particular like is Johnson, W. (2010). Understanding the Genetics of Intelligence: Can Height Help? Can Corn Oil?. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 19(3), 177-182

http://apsychoserver.psych.arizona.edu/JJBAReprints/PSYC621/Johnson%20Current%20Directions%20Psych%20Science%202010%20(G%20and%20E%20in%20IQ).pdf

"Together, however, the developmental natures of GCA [general cognitive ability] and height, the likely influences of gene-environment correlations and interactions on their developmental processes, and the potential for genetic background and environmental circumstances to release previously unexpressed genetic variation suggest that very different combinations of genes may produce identical IQs or heights or levels of any other psychological trait. And the same genes may produce very different IQs and heights against different genetic backgrounds and in different environmental circumstances. This would be especially the case if height and GCA and other psychological traits are only single facets of multifaceted traits actually under more systematic genetic regulation, such as overall body size and balance between processing capacity and stimulus reactivity. Genetic influences on individual differences in psychological characteristics are real and important but are unlikely to be straightforward and deterministic. We will understand them best through investigation of their manifestation in biological and social developmental processes."