Is success written in your DNA? New study reignites nature vs nurture debate

The debate between nature and nurture is not new. It centers on the relative contributions of genetic inheritance (nature) and environmental factors (nurture) to human development, personality, and behaviour.

A new study conducted by the German TwinLife project has explored the complex relationship between genetics, IQ, and socioeconomic success.

The study compared identical and fraternal twins with an aim to determine how much a person’s life is influenced by his DNA versus upbringing.

According to the findings based on analysis of 880 individuals from 23 to 27 age, the IQ is highly heritable which is around 75 percent and serves as a major predictor of socioeconomic status, including education, career, and income ranging from 69-90 percent.

"We knew this before, but this study shows even more clearly that we are driven by our genes and become who we are largely because of them," says personality psychologist Petri Kajonius, the lead author of the study.

The study published in Scientific Reports also challenges the “silver spoon myth”. As per findings, the success is less about the home environment provided by parents and more about genetics and inherited traits, equipping individuals with better understanding to navigate and respond to opportunities.

It also suggests that in the face of strong genetic predisposition, it is difficult to change long-term life trajectories through educational programs and social interventions.

The results imply that parenting "mistakes" may have less impact on a child's eventual socioeconomic status than many parents fear, as deeply rooted traits tend to persist.

However, there are some limitations in this study. It is difficult to extricate genes from the environment as both go hand in hand. For instance, if a child possesses high IQ, he may be more likely to seek out intellectually stimulating environments.

Despite such limitations, researchers can not deny the dominant role of genetics in shaping intelligence and life outcomes.