University choice and achievement partly down to DNA

Research from King's College London has shown for the first time that genetics plays a significant role in whether young adults choose to go to university, which university they choose to attend and how well they do. Previous studies from King's College London have shown that genetics plays a major role in academic achievement at school, with 58% of individual differences between students in GCSE scores due to genetic factors. However, there are few studies looking at genetic influences on academic achievement beyond school education. Using data from the Twins Early Development Study , funded by the Medical Research Council, the researchers found that genetic factors explained 57% of the differences in A-level exam results and 46% of the difference in achievement at university. They also found genetics accounted for 51% of the difference in whether young people chose to go to university and 57% of the difference in the quality of the chosen university. Dr Emily Smith-Woolley , from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), who co-led the research said: 'We have shown for the first time that genetic influence on educational achievement continues into higher education. Our results also demonstrate that the appetite young adults have for choosing to continue with higher education is, in part, influenced by their DNA.' - The researchers also found that shared environmental factors - such as families and schools - influenced the choice of whether to go to university, accounting for 36% of the differences between students.