Do you inherit your parents’ talents? Yes, but less than you think – Wel.nl

If you get high grades in school or are a star on the soccer field, people are quick to point out to parents: Dad used to be so good. But how inherited are your talents?

Well, to be exact: Intelligence is 50 percent genetic, and muscle mass is 60 to 80 percent. “But we’re not talking about inheriting one specific gene, for example, music, intelligence or athleticism,” explains VU geneticist Philip Jansen. to seek. Hundreds of genes are responsible for intelligence. “It contributes to your ability to focus, spatial orientation, or the speed with which you store new information,” says Jansen.

Therefore, it is very likely that your father is a professor or the best football player, but this talent is completely lacking in you, and vice versa. Moreover, it takes more than proficiency to get far in a specific area. “Anyone who has inherited a tall, strong body, as well as an aptitude for good hand-eye coordination, can theoretically become a good basketball player. But that will only happen if your parents have the will and ability to take you to basketball practice and be there. There A basketball court right next door,” Jansen explains.

Plus, whether you like sports at all plays a role. Because no matter how great you are, if you don’t feel like it, you’ll never have the drive to reach the top. Because even if you have talent, you still have to work hard to use that talent. Jansen: “The talent you inherit partly determines the speed at which you progress and the level you can reach with all that practice.” But you still need to practice.

And in fact, it’s a good thing your genes don’t say it all. The geneticist concludes: “Even those who don’t have their genes with them can thrive in the right environment. Your DNA doesn’t determine fate.”