REYKJAVIK, Iceland,
January 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
In a study published today,
scientists at deCODE genetics use genomic
and genealogical data from across the
population of Iceland
over many decades to show that people who
carry sequence variations linked to higher
levels of education have fewer children
than average. As a result, variations in the
sequence of the human genome correlated
with more education are becoming rarer in the
population over time - that is, they are
under negative selection in an evolutionary sense.
The study is published today in the online edition of the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
(PNAS).
"These findings are an example of how we can use genomics to
shed light on the evolutionary causes and consequences of observed
social trends in modern human society," said Kari Stefansson, CEO of deCODE and one of the
authors on the paper. "As a species, we are defined by the power of
our brains. Education is the training and refining of our mental
capacities. Thus, it is fascinating to find that genetic factors
linked to more time spent in education are becoming rarer in the
gene pool."
"In spite of the negative selection against these sequence
variations, education levels have been increasing for decades.
Indeed, we control the environment in which these genetic factors
play out: the education system. If we continue to improve the
availability and quality of educational opportunities, we will
presumably continue to improve the educational level of society as
a whole. Time will tell whether the decline of the genetic
propensity for education will have a notable impact on human
society," Dr Stefansson added.
This study leverages deCODE's unique and extensive genetics
resources to document the change of the genetic propensity for
education in 129,808 Icelanders over a period of many decades (1910
to 1990). The deCODE team calculates a polygenic score for
propensity to educational attainment, POLYedu, as a weighted
average of 620,000 sequence variations in the genome. The weights
were derived from results of an association study that includes
cohorts from the UK, US and the
Netherlands. The polygenic score was then correlated with
educational attainment, fertility, and birth years, using
nationwide genealogical records.
Other notable findings in today's study include:
- The data reveals that the impact of higher POLYedu scores on
fertility is due principally to delayed reproduction. In part, this
is because individuals with high POLYedu scores delay reproduction
to pursue education. However, it appears that higher POLYedu scores
have a substantial effect on delayed reproduction that is
independent of the actual education attained. The effect is
stronger in women than men.
- POLYedu is correlated with a number of health and behavioral
traits. They are positively correlated with longevity and HDL
cholesterol levels, and negatively correlated with obesity,
high-fasting glucose levels, and smoking. Thus, the decline of the
genetic propensity over time has an effect on the population that
is not limited to education.
Based in Reykjavik, Iceland,
deCODE is a global leader in analyzing and understanding the human
genome. Using its unique expertise and population resources,
deCODE has discovered genetic risk factors for dozens of common
diseases. The purpose of understanding the genetics of disease is
to use that information to create new means of diagnosing, treating
and preventing disease. deCODE is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN).
Contact:
Jon Gustafsson
deCODE genetics
jon@decode.com
+354-664-1905
Edward Farmer
For deCODE genetics
efarmer@wuxinextcode.com
+1-781-775-6206