In the article “Fortunetelling Genes”, Robert Plomin claims about a new tool for analyzing genetic differences in people that can predict a range of psychological attributes from birth which can determine our capacities and our problems. Dr. Robert Plomin is an American psychologist and geneticist best recognized for his work in twin studies and behavior genetics. Plomin earned a B.A in psychology from DePaul University and a PhD in psychology from the University of Texas. He is a professor of behavioral genetics at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience at Kings College London.
He is also the president of the International Behavior Genetics Association and has received lifetime research achievement awards from the major associations related to the field of psychology and genetics such as the Dobzhansky Memorial Award for a Lifetime of Outstanding Scholarship in Behavior Genetics and William James Fellow Award by the Association for Psychological Science. He has also published 800 papers and several books including the most recent book Blueprint: How DNA Makes Us Who We Are. Based on his qualifications and credentials, he is a credible source of information.
Plomin claims about a new tool for analyzing genetic differences in people that can predict a range of psychological attributes from birth which can determine our capacities and our problems. First, he discusses about the new tool called SNP chips, which can map out DNA differences across an individual’s genome quickly and cheaply. Second, he describes polygenic scores and how they can predict significant variations across people in academic competence.
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Third, he tells that polygenic scores not only predict performance in school but also success later in life. Forth, he says that polygenic scoring makes it possible to analyze problems based on underlying genetic causes rather than behavioral symptoms. Fifth, he states that polygenic scores can operate as an early warning system. The predictive power of polygenic scoring helps people to become cautious and prevent problems. Finally, he concludes that the benefit of polygenic scores is self-understanding that can help us in improving and developing ourselves rather than predicting our fates.
Polygenic scoring, also known as the polygenic risk score, is a score that gives a genetic risk for something, as calculated using many SNPs at the same time. The score is typically calculated as a score for a disease, but it can be used for any trait that is affected by many SNPs. It serves as the best prediction for the trait that can be made when taking into account variation in multiple genetic variants. Polygenic scoring is a controversial topic as it demotivates the people with a less polygenic score which will only increase discrimination against innately less intelligent and intensify social inequities.
In this article, Plomin provides a broad overview of polygenic scoring and how it can predict a range of psychological, cognitive and emotional dispositions from birth that can transform how we look at ourselves, our strengths and our problems. The first part of the article provides a great deal of specific information on the DNA revolution and focuses on current actions devoted to the study of polygenic scores.
It explains enough on DNA, which is the major systematic influence making us who we are as individuals. The article initially appears to have the primary function of informing people about disorders and traits run in families for reasons of nature not nurture. This has been accomplished by relying on some up to date statistical references.
The second part of the article discusses polygenic scores and how it predicts an individual’s school achievement. The projections of polygenic scores are made initially by taking the summarized work of consortium by Dr. Patrick Sullivan which was published in The American Journal of Psychiatry in 2018. He uses the studies in this work to support the article. The studies used here are from a good source, have a good sample size and are up to date. He also points out the old and the new studies to show that the studies have been improving in the following years.
The author then talks about people with low polygenic scores would most probably perform poorly in their school education. Here again, he supports the statement by using up to date studies with good sample size. In addition, he also states his own research, which tells that children with 10% highest polygenic scores are five times more likely to go to college than children with 10% lowest scores. Thus, this indicates that he gives biased support to his own research.
Plomin also mentions in the article that inherited DNA differences are the most important source of individual differences in school achievement and that schools make little difference. This is not true, as sometimes the school with the support of teachers can really make a great difference in the life of a child. Here, he does not use any support strategies to support this opinion.
He also tells that polygenic scores can also predict success later in life such as mate choice, occupational status, social mobility and even financial planning for retirement. He again used studies by Daniel W Belsky and colleagues at Duke University in a paper called “The Genetics of Success” that was published in the journal Psychological Science in 2016 to support his opinion. The studies used here are up to date and are from a good source.
In the third part of the article, the author says that the polygenic scores can operate as an early warning system. According to the author, knowing the polygenic scores makes individuals become more cautious and helps them to prevent problems. To support the statement, he again used biased support on his own research regarding his high polygenic risk for obesity, which he finds motivating to know about it. Again, this is considered as generalization, as he does not use any studies, statistics, facts or expert opinions to support his statement. He also stated that a further benefit of polygenic scoring is self-understanding that can help us in improving and developing ourselves rather than predicting our fates.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the author has not used any expert opinions or surveys to support his opinions in the article. He has also generalized in some area of the context and has given biased support to his own research. The stated statistics and studies used in the article are up to date, have a good sample size and are easily verifiable with reputable sources. This is strength in the article and lends credence to the rest of the content. Therefore, based on the author’s credibility, the source of information is valid.
