Developmental origins of low mathematics performance and normal variation in twins from 7 to 9 years

Twin Res Hum Genet. 2007 Feb;10(1):106-17. doi: 10.1375/twin.10.1.106.

Abstract

A previous publication reported the etiology of mathematics performance in 7-year-old twins (Oliver et al., 2004). As part of the same longitudinal study we investigated low mathematics performance and normal variation in a representative United Kingdom sample of 1713 same-sex 9-year-old twins based on teacher-assessed National Curriculum standards. Univariate individual differences and DeFries-Fulker extremes analyses were performed. Similar to our results at 7 years, all mathematics scores at 9 years showed high heritability (.62-.75) and low shared environmental estimates (.00-.11) for both the low performance group and the full sample. Longitudinal analyses were performed from 7 to 9 years. These longitudinal analyses indicated strong genetic continuity from 7 to 9 years for both low performance and mathematics in the normal range. We conclude that, despite the considerable differences in mathematics curricula from 7 to 9 years, the same genetic effects largely operate at the two ages.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Twin Study

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Comprehension*
  • Curriculum
  • England
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Learning Disabilities / etiology
  • Learning Disabilities / genetics
  • Learning*
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Mathematics
  • Twins / genetics*
  • Wales