Updated: Sep. 17, 2023
It seems science has spoken, and moms everywhere are nodding in agreement: kids get their intelligence primarily from their mothers! According to Psychology Today, studies suggest that a whopping 77% of intelligence can be traced back to mom! (Ouch, dads. But hey, there’s always the looks, right?)
The research reveals that “intelligence genes are found on the X chromosome.” In simple terms, since women have two X chromosomes, the chances of passing down those smarts are doubled. Sorry, dads, but that XY chromosome mostly handles physical traits, which may explain why my son struggles with math (and let’s be honest, gym too). Just kidding, it’s primarily math.
The bright side for fathers is that this study was conducted on mice. When mice were given extra X chromosomes, they developed larger brains, while those with extra Y chromosomes got bigger bodies. So, perhaps the results don’t directly apply to humans. We can still hold out hope that dads play a role in boosting Junior’s academic achievements!
At the moment, my kids are firmly entrenched in the “still figuring things out” phase, so I have no qualms about giving credit to my wife for our five-year-old’s fear of tissues. After all, anyone who meets my little ones can see they got most of their charm and good looks from me!
Just yesterday, my wife and I celebrated our ninth wedding anniversary. It’s been ages since I thought of myself as the smart one in our relationship, so I’m ready to concede that my wife—and mothers everywhere—rightfully claim the credit for our kids’ intelligence. Marriage has taught me one thing: my wife is always right. Maybe it’s because she’s the one with the smarts!
If this theory holds true, not only should we men be thanking our mothers for our brainpower, but we can also shift the blame for our occasional blunders onto women. After all, if our intelligence is inherited, then it’s not really our fault we can’t find our phones when they’re right in front of us! You should have passed down more of your genius.
But hold your horses! The study does mention that only 40-60% of intelligence is hereditary, and some of that has to come from dads too. The remaining factors depend on the environment, stimulation, and personal traits. Given that my six-year-old is already developing a delightful sarcasm that mirrors mine, I’d say I’m contributing something valuable here.
Still, I might be overthinking this. I’m just a caveman whose mom’s not exactly a genius.
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In summary, while science shows that intelligence may largely come from mothers, it’s a shared journey among both parents. As families navigate these discoveries, let’s embrace the humor and love that comes with parenting.