November 5, 2001, Monday
EDITION: WP LATE CITY
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 11
LENGTH: 109 words
CLEAR evidence that intelligence is largely determined before birth has emerged from a new genetic study of twins. The findings showed that genetic factors accounted for differences between individuals in key areas such as intelligence and language ability.
Grey matter volume - a measure of the density of brain cells - was strongly determined by genes, and reflected cognitive performance.
Researchers led by Dr Paul Thompson, from the University of California at Los Angeles, compared 20 twin pairs, half of whom were identical and half non -identical.
The latest findings were reported today in the journal Nature Neuroscience.
LOAD-DATE: November 5, 2001