The role of common genetic variation in educational attainment and income: evidence from the National Child Development Study

Neil M Davies, Gibran Hemani, Nicholas John Timpson, Frank Windmeijer, George Davey Smith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

We investigated the role of common genetic variation in educational attainment and household income. We used data from 5,458 participants of the National Child Development Study to estimate: 1) the associations of rs9320913, rs11584700 and rs4851266 and socioeconomic position and educational phenotypes; and 2) the univariate chip-heritability of each phenotype, and the genetic correlation between each phenotype and educational attainment at age 16. The three SNPs were associated with most measures of educational attainment. Common genetic variation contributed to 6 of 14 socioeconomic background phenotypes, and 17 of 29 educational phenotypes. We found evidence of genetic correlations between educational attainment at age 16 and 4 of 14 social background and 8 of 28 educational phenotypes. This suggests common genetic variation contributes both to differences in educational attainment and its relationship with other phenotypes. However, we remain cautious that cryptic population structure, assortative mating, and dynastic effects may influence these associations.

Original languageEnglish
Article number16509
Number of pages12
JournalScientific Reports
Volume5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Nov 2015

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  • MRC UoB UNITE Unit - programme 3

    Timpson, N. J. (Principal Investigator) & Timpson, N. J. (Principal Investigator)

    1/06/1331/03/18

    Project: Research

  • IEU Theme 3

    Windmeijer, F. (Principal Investigator), Tilling, K. M. (Researcher) & Tilling, K. M. (Principal Investigator)

    1/06/1331/03/18

    Project: Research

  • MRC UoB UNITE Unit - Programme 1

    Davey Smith, G. (Principal Investigator)

    1/06/1331/03/18

    Project: Research

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