Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Blood polymorphisms and cognitive abilities

  • Published:
Behavior Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Data from 15 tests of cognitive ability obtained from the Hawaii Family Study of Cognition were examined for relationships with 18 blood polymorphisms. The number of significant associations did not exceed the number expected by chance alone. Significant regression of pooled verbal and spatial test scores on a constructed zygosity index demonstrated that increasing homozygosity was associated with improved scores. The effect was consistent in both parents and offspring, probably in both sexes, and for subjects of both Japanese and European ancestry. However, these blood polymorphisms contributed very little to total variation in test scores.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aird, J., Bentall, H. H., and Roberts, J. F. (1953). The relationship between cancer of the stomach and the ABO blood groups.Br. Med. J. 1:794–801.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashton, G. C. (1980). Mismatches in genetic markers in a large family study.Am. J. Hum. Genet. 32:601–613.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashton, G. C., Polovina, J. J., and Vandenberg, S. G. (1979) Segregation analysis of family data for 15 tests of cognitive ability.Behav. Genet. 9:329–347.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bock, R. D., Vandenberg, S. G., Bramble, W., and Pearson, W. (1970). A behavioral correlate of blood-group discordance in dizygotic twins.Behav. Gent. 1:89–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Borecki, I. B., and Ashton, G. C., (1984). Evidence for a major gene influencing performance on a vocabulary test.Behav. Genet.,14:63–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun, W. E. (1979).HLA and Disease: A Comprehensive Review, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavalli-Sforza, L. L., and Bodmer, W. F. (1971).The Genetics of Human Populations, W. H. Freeman, San Francisco.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeFries, J. C., Vandenberg, S. G., McClearn, G. E., Kuse, A. R., Wilson, J. R., Ashton, G. C., and Johnson, R. C. (1974). Near-identity of cognitive structure in two ethnic groups.Science 183:338–339.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giblett, E. R. (1969).Genetic Markers in Human Blood, F. A. Davis, Philadelphia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, J. B., Harrison, G. A., Clarke, V. A., and Hiorns, R. W. (1973). IQ and ABO blood groups.Nature 246:498–499.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, G. A., Boyce, A. J., Hornabrook, R. W., and Craig, W. J. (1976). Associations between polymorphic variety and disease susceptibility in two New Guinea populations.Ann Hum. Biol. 3:253–267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Livshits, G., and Kobyliansky, E. (1984). Biochemical heterozygosity as a predictor of developmental homeostasis in man.Ann. Hum. Genet. 48:173–184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mascie-Taylor, C. G. N., Gibson, J. B., Hiorns, R. W., and Harrison, G. A. (1985). Associations between some polymorphic markers and variations in IQ and its components in Otmoor villagers.Behav. Genet. 15:371–383.

    Google Scholar 

  • Race, R. R., and Sanger, R. L. (1968).Blood Groups in Man, F. A. Davis, Philadelphia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rose, R. J., Procidano, M. E., Conneally, M., and Yu. P. I. (1979). Blood-group discordance and verbal intelligence: Analyses in offspring of MZ twins.Behav. Genet. 9:478–479.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snedecor, G. W., and Cochran, W. G. (1967).Statistical Methods, Iowa State University Press, Ames.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogel, F. (1970). ABO blood groups and disease.Am. J. Hum. Genet. 22:464–475.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiener, A. S. (1970). Blood groups and disease.Am. J. Hum. Genet. 22:476–483.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, J. R., DeFries, J. C., McClearn, G. E., Vandenberg, S. G., Johnson, R. C., and Rashad, M. N. (1975). Cognitive abilities: Use of family data as a control to assess sex and age differences in two ethnic groups.Int. J. Aging Hum. Dev. 6:261–276.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics, University of Hawaii, 96822, Honolulu, Hawaii

    Geoffrey C. Ashton

Authors
  1. Geoffrey C. Ashton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

The results reported here are made possible by collaboration of a group of investigators (G. C. Ashton, R. C. Johnson, M. P. Mi, and M. N. Rashad at the University of Hawaii and J. C. DeFries, G. E. McClearn, S. G. Vandenberg, and J. R. Wilson at the University of Colorado) supported by NSF Grant GB 34720 and National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Grant HD 06669.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ashton, G.C. Blood polymorphisms and cognitive abilities. Behav Genet 16, 517–529 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01066338

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01066338

Key Words

Search

Navigation