NationStates Jolt Archive

If you're a baby with a certain gene.
A single gene influences whether breastfeeding improves a child's intelligence, say London researchers.

Children with one version of the FADS2 gene scored seven points higher in IQ tests if they were breastfed.

But the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences study found breastfeeding had no effect on the IQ of children with a different version.

The gene in question helps break down fatty acids from the diet, which have been linked with brain development.

Seven points difference is enough to put the child in the top third of the class, the researchers said.

Some 90% of people carry the version of the gene which was associated with better IQ scores in breastfed children.

Researchers at the Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, used data from two previous studies of breast-fed infants in Britain and New Zealand, which involved more than 3,000 children.

IQ was measured at various points between the ages of five and 13 years in the studies.

Previous studies on intelligence and breastfeeding have come up with conflicting results.

There has been some debate as to whether mothers who had more education or who were from more affluent backgrounds were more likely to breastfeed, skewing the results.
Well, ok, they'll give you a higher IQ. Close enough.

Linkage (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7075511.stm)

If you're a baby with a certain gene.

Well, ok, they'll give you a higher IQ. Close enough.

Previous studies on intelligence and breastfeeding have come up with conflicting results.

You have a link of the original article?

Children with one version of the FADS2 gene scored seven points higher in IQ tests if they were breastfed.

If you want to, I can make sure your IQ score will raise with 10 to 20 points. Really. And without breastfed.

But the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences study found breastfeeding had no effect on the IQ of children with a different version.

The gene in question helps break down fatty acids from the diet, which have been linked with brain development.

Seven points difference is enough to put the child in the top third of the class, the researchers said.

Nonsens. Performing well at school isn't determined by a high IQ. Educated parents, thus enivironment helps. Discipline, mentality, be loved at school and liking school are all more important.

Previous studies on intelligence and breastfeeding have come up with conflicting results.

You have a link of the original article?

Ooops.

Is it possible that smarter babies know how to get tit?

Many friends of me say: “My son or daughter of three years old is sooooo smart...”

I’m always wondering how they measure this and how they get the results of other children. And if *everyone* is saying 'mine is the smartest', what's the valid of that statement then?

Or they say about their unborn baby: “I hope it will not be stupid!”

I am also wondering why everybody is out to have a smart child.

It’s not important.

I hope that my children will be happy ones.
Who are liked by other people and get along with most of them.

Nonsens. Performing well at school isn't determined by a high IQ. Educated parents, thus enivironment helps. Discipline, mentality, be loved at school and liking school are all more important.

I figured they meant top third of the class in terms of IQ.

[B]If you want to, I can make sure your IQ score will raise with 10 to 20 points. Really. And without breastfed.How? If my iq raises a few points, I can join mensa. I probably wouldn't, but I just want to be able to say to myself that I'm smart enough to join mensa.

I figured they meant top third of the class in terms of IQ.

One smart guy said once, performing well in IQ tests, means that you are good in creating IQ tests.

But that's not enough to be a smart man.

How? If my iq raises a few points, I can join mensa. I probably wouldn't, but I just want to be able to say to myself that I'm smart enough to join mensa.

Why do you think Mensa is too high for you?

Their entrance exam is ridiculous easy. Believe me, almost anyone can join.

Sure if you prepare yourself well.

You can do an official IQ test at your local psychologist instead at Mensa. Check the Mensa site for the details.

This will already influence your result a little, 3 to 5 points.

Now, do the test in the morning, you'll gain 5 to 10 points.

And last but not least, train yourself with other IQ tests and if possible with the same type which is used at Mensa.
For the best result, do it every morning (at the time, you'll do the actual entrance test) and this for 6 or 7 days.

You'll gain again 5 to 10 points.

Oh btw, Mensa people are, in general, not nice people. And they aren’t as smart as they think they are.

Why do you think Mensa is too high for you?

Their entrance exam is ridiculous easy. Believe me, almost anyone can join.

Sure if you prepare yourself well.

You can do an official IQ test at your local psychologist. Check the Mensa site for the details.

This will already influence your result a little, 3 to 5 points.
Now, do the test in the morning, you'll gain 5 to 10 points.

And last but not least, train yourself with other IQ tests and if possible with the same type which is used at Mensa.
For the best result, do it every morning (at the time, you'll do the actual entrance test) and this for 6 or 7 days.

You'll gain again 5 to 10 points.

Oh btw, Mensa people are, in general, not nice people. And they aren’t as smart as they think they are.I haven't taken the mensa test, but I think you can join without taking the test if your iq is in the 98th percentile. Mine's in the 95th or something. I didn't know tests are easier in the morning, good to know that.

Yeah, I've heard that the people there are messed up, that's why I probably won't join.

One smart guy said once, performing well in IQ tests, means that you are good in creating IQ tests.

But that's not enough to be a smart man.

I know. The 'make you smarter' bit was a joke. Everyone knows that IQ only measures your ability to take IQ tests.

IQ measures your potential. Not everyone lives up to their potential, but that doesn't make the test worthless. It isn't perfect, but it's the best intelligence test there is.

The SAT is worthless. I learned nothing in high school, and yet I did well on the SAT. It means nothing.

I am also wondering why everybody is out to have a smart child.

It’s not important.

I hope that my children will be happy ones.
Who are liked by other people and get along with most of them.


And there you can see the inherent flaw in your ideology.

If people do as you claim and want a smart child, then is that not evidence that it is important?

Also if you personally do not feel that it is important then that invalidates your other statement, as surly not 'everybody is out to have a smart child'.

The majority of parents though want nothing other than a better life than they had, for their children.

There is nothing unusual in this, after all isn't that what anybody who loves anybody else would want for them, a better life?

IQ measures your potential. Not everyone lives up to their potential, but that doesn't make the test worthless. It isn't perfect, but it's the best intelligence test there is.

The SAT is worthless. I learned nothing in high school, and yet I did well on the SAT. It means nothing.

That is madness. Do you really say that there is a test that can measure what you may be like in the future?


Nooo of course not, IQ tests measure how well you take IQ tests, that is about it.

And there you can see the inherent flaw in your ideology.

If people do as you claim and want a smart child, then is that not evidence that it is important?

Also if you personally do not feel that it is important then that invalidates your other statement, as surly not 'everybody is out to have a smart child'.

The majority of parents though want nothing other than a better life than they had, for their children.

There is nothing unusual in this, after all isn't that what anybody who loves anybody else would want for them, a better life?There's a lot of hysteria about making children smarter. People buy their kids baby einstein videos, even though scientific studies show that ANY television watched by children younger than 2 probably makes them stupider. People even buy their babies flashcards.

Lack of intelligence doesn't hold people back as much as lack of confidence and ambition. If you make a kid feel like there's something seriously wrong with them, it can ruin their confidence. So trying to make a normal kid smarter is not a good thing.

That is madness. Do you really say that there is a test that can measure what you may be like in the future?


Nooo of course not, IQ tests measure how well you take IQ tests, that is about it.Have you ever seen someone with an IQ below 70? They are obviously not normal, and they probably never will be.

Have you ever seen someone with an IQ below 70? They are obviously not normal, and they probably never will be.

Yet someone of average intelligence could, with practice, get a very high score on an IQ test. Is intelligence really something you can change that easily?

Yet someone of average intelligence could, with practice, get a very high score on an IQ test. Is intelligence really something you can change that easily?I don't know if that's true, I've never heard of anyone practicing to get a high score on an iq test.

I know that my autistic sister could never get a high score though. Are you saying that IQ tests work for stupid people, but not normal people?

I don't know if that's true, I've never heard of anyone practicing to get a high score on an iq test.

I know that my autistic sister could never get a high score though. Are you saying that IQ tests work for stupid people, but not normal people?

No, I'm saying IQ tests only measure your ability to take IQ tests. Do try to keep up.

Have you ever seen someone with an IQ below 70? They are obviously not normal, and they probably never will be.

Bwahah well I'm not in the habit of enquireing about one's IQ score as I meet people, so really I have no idea if I have ever meet anybody with an IQ of 70 or below. I'm willing to bet that I have.

In fact one of my sisters who has sufferered with epilepsy all of her life, missed an awful lot of school and would by most standards be classed as 'a bit tupp' she is though quite normal I can assure you.

Myself, I don't test easily and would hesitate to speculate what sort of score I would achieve from such a test, I am sure though that it would not be reflective of my intellect.

I bet you haven't, because those people with IQs below 70 are retarded and they're not about to become unretarded through practice.

Does anyone have proof that practicing raises your IQ? That would be good to know. I've had to take IQ tests several times in my life and I've never done any better or worse. I always get between 120 and 130.

I bet you haven't, because those people with IQs below 70 are retarded and they're not about to become unretarded through practice.
That doesn't mean that IQ measures intelligence, as much as you might want it to.

Does anyone have proof that practicing raises your IQ?
Well it's a test. You can get a DIY IQ test and figure out what the questions are and how best to answer them.

And since we're asking for proof, where's yours that IQ tests accurately measure one's intelligence?

Respectable scores...

1. Addressing the OP
If you want your babies to be smarter, then you obviously want them to be smarter than you are. That has two problems: 1, the obvious being that wanting your child to be smart already shows that you aren't as smart to begin with (generally); and 2, wanting them to be smart shows a psychological problem you have with yourself as to not being good enough. If you want your babies to be happy, which is the more wise decision, you already show enough intellect to make the right choice, and thus your children will probably be smarter. This is, of course, speculation.

2. Regarding IQ
IQ is a fictional attempt to measure intelligence. It fails dismally. First of all, not all 'IQ Tests' are correct. Second of all, whenever I take the test my score fluctuates from 120 to 160.

That doesn't mean that IQ measures intelligence, as much as you might want it to.It doesn't? What you're arguing here is that even though people with very low IQs will never change into fully functioning people with an average IQ, their low IQ doesn't mean anything. That doesn't make sense.
Well it's a test. You can get a DIY IQ test and figure out what the questions are and how best to answer them.

And since we're asking for proof, where's yours that IQ tests accurately measure one's intelligence?I don't think the IQ test is totally accurate. But it does mean something about your ability to learn, and I'm not convinced that it can be improved through practice. I don't have any proof. I've been told my whole life that the test is built so that it can't be studied for, and you will get the same score throughout your whole life. I've never seen anything to contradict that so I haven't had to find proof. Maybe I'll try to find it later.

I bet you haven't, because those people with IQs below 70 are retarded and they're not about to become unretarded through practice.

Does anyone have proof that practicing raises your IQ? That would be good to know. I've had to take IQ tests several times in my life and I've never done any better or worse. I always get between 120 and 130.

I would actually question your IQ of 120-130 seeing as you seem to be having problems understanding this simple concept.

An IQ test does not test how intelligent you are, only how good you are at taking IQ tests.

To declare that somebody who tests at a score of 70 is retarded is not quite true, as the example of my sister shows, one can have a low intellect and not be retarded.

To then say that you have an IQ score of 120, which as we all know would place you as somewhat of a genius, and then to show us that you have little comprehension of what the IQ test actually tests, also shows the invalidity of the IQ tests to be an effective measure of intelligence.

Respectable scores...

1. Addressing the OP
If you want your babies to be smarter, then you obviously want them to be smarter than you are.
This is not obvious at all.

I would actually question your IQ of 120-130 seeing as you seem to be having problems understanding this simple concept.

An IQ test does not test how intelligent you are, only how good you are at taking IQ tests.

To declare that somebody who tests at a score of 70 is retarded is not quite true, as the example of my sister shows, one can have a low intellect and not be retarded.

To then say that you have an IQ score of 120, which as we all know would place you as somewhat of a genius, and then to show us that you have little comprehension of what the IQ test actually tests, also shows the invalidity of the IQ tests to be an effective measure of intelligence.Haha, 120 is not genius. I think a genius is 140.

IQ doesn't measure your knowledge. Even if I did have a genius IQ, I could still be very ignorant.

How can you have a low intellect and not be retarded? The definition of retarded is a low intellect. I think you're confusing knowledge with innate intelligence. If your sister has missed school, that doesn't mean she would do badly on an IQ test.

Haha, 120 is not genius. I think a genius is 140.

IQ doesn't measure your knowledge. Even if I did have a genius IQ, I could still be very ignorant.

How can you have a low intellect and not be retarded? The definition of retarded is a low intellect. I think you're confusing knowledge with innate intelligence. If your sister has missed school, that doesn't mean she would do badly on an IQ test.

re·tard·ed /rɪˈtɑrdɪd/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ri-tahr-did] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective
1. characterized by retardation: a retarded child.
–noun
2. (used with a plural verb) mentally retarded persons collectively (usually prec. by the): new schools for the retarded.

re·tard 1 (rĭ-tärd') Pronunciation Key
v. re·tard·ed, re·tard·ing, re·tards

v. tr.
To cause to move or proceed slowly; delay or impede.

v. intr.
To be delayed.

n.

1. A slowing down or hindering of progress; a delay.
2. Music A slackening of tempo.


Nothing about low intellect or IQ scores in there.

re·tard·ed /rɪˈtɑrdɪd/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ri-tahr-did] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective
1. characterized by retardation: a retarded child.
–noun
2. (used with a plural verb) mentally retarded persons collectively (usually prec. by the): new schools for the retarded.

re·tard 1 (rĭ-tärd') Pronunciation Key
v. re·tard·ed, re·tard·ing, re·tards

v. tr.
To cause to move or proceed slowly; delay or impede.

v. intr.
To be delayed.

n.

1. A slowing down or hindering of progress; a delay.
2. Music A slackening of tempo.


Nothing about low intellect or IQ scores in there.Um... the medical definition isn't the same as the dictionary definition...

EDIT: I was wrong.

According to webster...


Main Entry:
mental retardation
Function:
noun
Date:
1914

: subaverage intellectual ability equivalent to or less than an IQ of 70 that is accompanied by significant deficits in abilities (as in communication or self-care) necessary for independent daily functioning, is present from birth or infancy, and is manifested especially by delayed or abnormal development, by learning difficulties, and by problems in social adjustment
— mentally retarded adjective

Haha, 120 is not genius. I think a genius is 140.

IQ doesn't measure your knowledge. Even if I did have a genius IQ, I could still be very ignorant.

How can you have a low intellect and not be retarded? The definition of retarded is a low intellect. I think you're confusing knowledge with innate intelligence. If your sister has missed school, that doesn't mean she would do badly on an IQ test.

I don't think for a second that the definition of a retard is just low intellect, there is a lot more to it.

My sister certainly has not got the mental age of her 30 something years, she did miss a lot of school, and so her intelligence is not great, she finds it hard to learn new things, and hard to retain knowledge simply because she has not learned how to learn properly.

Yet she is a mother of two kids, is married and holds down a job, she acts in a way consistent with her age, and is a fully mature adult.

A lack of learning and a lack of knowledge does not equate with retardation. I rather think it is your good self that has gotten things confused.

And there you can see the inherent flaw in your ideology.

If people do as you claim and want a smart child, then is that not evidence that it is important?

Also if you personally do not feel that it is important then that invalidates your other statement, as surly not 'everybody is out to have a smart child'.

The majority of parents though want nothing other than a better life than they had, for their children.

There is nothing unusual in this, after all isn't that what anybody who loves anybody else would want for them, a better life?



No. I have a good life. I'm living in the West. I have a house/car/job etc... and a DVD player!

And I safely assume that my kids will achieve at least the same. Even if their standard of living is a little lower, then its not that hard.

It's not that a majority or a significant part of the population wantssomething, that it is important. A significant part wants Britney f*cking Spears music, but Britney isn't important. My sister is, but not her

Many people really wants a smart kid. I say: it is not important, 'cause other skills are more important to have a good life.

I want a happy child

Um... the medical definition isn't the same as the dictionary definition...

mental retardation

Subnormal intellectual functioning which originates during the developmental period and is associated with impairment of one or more of the following: (1) maturation, (2) learning, (3) social adjustment.

http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd?mental+retardation

I don't think for a second that the definition of a retard is just low intellect, there is a lot more to it.

My sister certainly has not got the mental age of her 30 something years, she did miss a lot of school, and so her intelligence is not great, she finds it hard to learn new things, and hard to retain knowledge simply because she has not learned how to learn properly.

Yet she is a mother of two kids, is married and holds down a job, she acts in a way consistent with her age, and is a fully mature adult.

A lack of learning and a lack of knowledge does not equate with retardation. I rather think it is your good self that has gotten things confused.I just said that. IQ tests don't measure knowledge, and you can be illiterate without being retarded. Skipping school doesn't make you retarded.

I just said that. IQ tests don't measure knowledge, and you can be illiterate without being retarded. Skipping school doesn't make you retarded.

Nor does having a low IQ. Being mentally retarded may make you incapable of performing well in an IQ test. That doesn't mean that IQ is a reliable measure of intelligence.

Have you ever seen someone with an IQ below 70? They are obviously not normal, and they probably never will be.

She scored 74...

http://users.telenet.be/jackylafon/foto's.html

And the average Nigerian is scoring 67 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_iq#National_IQ_estimates)....

Haha, 120 is not genius. I think a genius is 140.

IQ doesn't measure your knowledge. Even if I did have a genius IQ, I could still be very ignorant.

How can you have a low intellect and not be retarded? The definition of retarded is a low intellect. I think you're confusing knowledge with innate intelligence. If your sister has missed school, that doesn't mean she would do badly on an IQ test.

The rates:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IQ_reference_chart

Yes the sister would score lower. And the opposite is also true.

I'm working in the IT. Most programmers and annalists score rather high on IQ Tests (120 and up)

Now, they 'think' they are oh so smart but the reality is different.

By their education and work they train their logical and arithmetic intelligence. Now, look at official IQ Tests. 70% - 80% is testing this type of intelligence....

Intelligence is more than being good in logical reasoning.

There are several types and subtypes of intelligence.

And what about memory, creativity, cognitive processing speed, etc?

No. I have a good life. I'm living in the West. I have a house/car/job etc... and a DVD player!

And I safely assume that my kids will achieve at least the same. Even if their standard of living is a little lower, then its not that hard.

It's not that a majority or a significant part of the population wantssomething, that it is important. A significant part wants Britney f*cking Spears music, but Britney isn't important. My sister is, but not her

Many people really wants a smart kid. I say: it is not important, 'cause other skills are more important to have a good life.

I want a happy child


And there you go again. What you mean is that in your opinion having smart kids is not important. You have not shown me why I should place more value on your opinion, rather than on those who's opinion is the opposite of yours.

Nor have you addressed my point which can be boiled down thusly:

If 100 people say that they want smart kids, then it is important to have smart kids to at least a 100 people.

If what you say is actually true, that the majority want smart kids, then it follows that having smart kids is important to the majority.

In essence what you are saying is that in your opinion it does not matter, yet you have not shown why it does not matter, only that this is your opinion.

How much are opinions worth in debate again? How many points should we award your opinion?;)

The best thing to do is find out what the cut-off date for kindergarten is where you live. Then, try to get your child born as close to that date as possible so that when he goes to school, he will be almost a year older than the other kids. Chances are, he'll be smarter than the other, younger kids, and thus more likely to focus on getting smarter, because school is something he's good at.