ABSTRACT
A correlation between genotype and environment strongly suggests that the parent's own educational level either has a direct influence on that of their children, or at least creates a home environment that perpetuates academic standards. The educational level of the parents is in part genetically determined. Therefore, what we see as home environment for the child is in part a genetic influence operating through the phenotype of the parents. This chapter considers in some detail, evidence of genetic influences on intelligence quotient (IQ) and educational achievements. The evidence is overwhelmingly in favour of a substantial genetic influence, being particularly high for the former, somewhat less so for the latter. In contrast to IQ, educational achievements reflect a much larger common environmental influences. We have indicated how aspects of population structure may also have their genetic consequences through such processes as in breeding, assortative mating and cultural inheritance.
