2.4 Intelligence programmed in genetics

Genetic programming

Genetics plays a significant role in the development of Intelligence. Studies of Intelligence have shown that genetics accounts for a large portion of the variability in Intelligence between individuals. The statistical measurement of genetic variation in the specific trait of Intelligence within a population, that is Intelligence heritability, is estimated to be in the 50%-80% range which means that genetic factors contribute the majority of variation in Intelligence observed within a population [106].

The specific genes and genetic mechanisms that contribute to Intelligence are still being studied. Some studies have identified candidate genes that are associated with Intelligence, such as those involved in neural development and the synaptic plasticity of connections between neurons in biological Brains.

Reference: [111] - The 5 core principles of life | Nobel Prize-winner Paul Nurse - Big Think

Brain and Body system - an Intelligent biological Neural Network processor

Biological Brains consist of extremely large and complex networks of densely interconnected processing elements called neurons, that work together to form an aggregate neural information processing Capability.  For more details, see Appendix 7 - the Human Brain. The information processing of neural networks is optimized for learning patterns of information, forming generalizations about those patterns of information, forming specializations that identify and store special differences between patterns of information, recognizing patterns, recognizing sequences of patterns, and dynamically generating both learned and potentially novel sequential patterns of information.  

For Brains, most of the information it processes comes from:

1. 1. 1. sensory inputs. eg. sound, taste, smell, touch, vision, 

      2. biological life support systems for the body and Brain. eg. body temperature, blood CO2 concentration levels, balance and spatial orientation, proprioceptive position and forces on limbs, and 

      3. internal neural information processing. eg. consciously aware and sub-consciously unaware thought. 

All of this information is used by the Brain to primarily generate controlled information and motion outputs such as communicating and physically moving the Brain’s surrounding body within the world environment. 

In functional terms, biological Brains are neural information processors that manage a biological life support system, process streams of information coming from a wide range of body sensors, and primarily drive motion control systems. The body is also able to perform some sensory information collection and automated control functions largely independently of the brain, such as controlling heart and respiration rate, and rapid reflexive protection movements and regional shutdowns when part of the body is injured.  

It should be noted that the Brain’s neuronal architecture actually extend down the spinal cord and spreads throughout the entire body via the Central Nervous System (CNS), and essentially reaches nearly every part of the body for sensory information functions such as tactile touch signals and control signals such as activating muscle. The entire biological system of brain and body is built at a cellular level by a program encoded by genetics. The Human Brain is the primary manager of all major Intelligence Capabilities in Humans.

Some studies have found that variations in the size and structure of certain regions within Brains are specifically associated with a prominence of Intelligence. For example the Hippocampus, is a small curved region in the medial Temporal Lobe of the Brain that is a specialized biological neural network processing sub-system required for analysis of information coming from short-term information storage in the Neocortex. The Hippocampus analyzes and controls the assignment of this information into long-term memory storage in the Brain’s Neocortex. Overall, we typically call this complex and critically important processing activity of the Hippocampus, memory consolidation and learning, and genetics defines the precise architecture and functionality of this processing sub-system, in addition to every other part of the Brain and body. 

Environment

It is important to note that genetics is not the only factor that determines Intelligence. Environmental factors, such as education, nutrition, and social upbringing, also play a very significant role in shaping the development of Human Intelligence. The interaction between genetics and the environment is complex, and it is clear that both genetics and environment define Intelligence development in a highly dynamic way.

Ultimately, genetics plays a foundational role in the design and construction of the total biological Brain and body system that is operating within dynamic environmental factors, and it is this combination of Intelligent system architectural design and environment that has a significant impact on overall Human Intelligence development.