We know that a person’s development (health, abilities, appearance, etc.) is influenced by both their environment and their genetic makeup. The balance of influence between them is a constant topic in science, medicine, and sociology.
Now, a new study suggests that parental DNA has a greater effect than previously assumed, but in a different way than is usually considered. That is, it directly influences the child’s environment.
Examining more than 30,000 families, this study considered how parental DNA affects how a child grows up and found that even genes that aren’t passed down can still make a difference.
Nature Vs. Nurture Isn’t Always Clear-Cut
If your parents are tall, you’re likely to be tall. If your parents are athletic, you’re likely to be athletic. Parents tend to pass down traits like school performance and body type/weight.
None of these is an absolute guarantee, of course, and since kids inherit half their genes from each parent, the mix can be less than predictable.
One traditional way to examine this has been through twin studies, which compare the similarities and differences between identical (same DNA) twins and those between fraternal (different DNA) twins.
However, the latest study delves into the genetic side of ‘nurture.’
The Genetic Effect On Environment
Parents who are academically successful are more likely to have academically capable children. Is this because Mom and Dad passed down genes for mathematical competence, or because their kids have been exposed to adults who use math more frequently in day-to-day life? Is a love of reading largely inherited, or is it influenced more by growing up in a home full of books with parents who enjoy reading in their free time?
This new study, according to Neuroscience News, examined the genomes of each parent and the child in about 30k families, then mapped how the traits associated with the genes showed up. The finding was that parental genes, even those not passed down to the child, have a strong influence on health and academic outcomes.
What Does This Actually Mean For Kids, Parents, & Communities?
DNA analysis can tell us a fair bit about some outcomes we can expect in an individual, but this study shows that a deeper genetic analysis, including parental DNA, can provide much more information.
Parents shouldn’t take from this that their kid is doomed to a poor academic record, for instance, because of their own background, or that a child’s health is assured because of theirs. Instead, they should recognize how their own genetics influence their child’s environment, and know that conscious choices can still have an influence.
For communities, this means recognizing that programs like health outreach, nutritional education, and public education might still not provide the same opportunities to every child, because each child’s DNA and family environment play a role.
It could mean that, to achieve the most positive effects, public policy has to take these genetic predispositions into greater account and consider how these efforts mesh with families.
