Beauty attracts, but it’s brains that count

It turns out that the best way to produce an intelligent son is to marry an intelligent woman, because the genes which carry intelligence are passed down through women rather than men. Shakespeare, Mozart, Einstein and Newton all owed their genius to their mothers.

According to Professor Gillian Turner, brain power is passed through the X chromosome. Women have two X chromosomes and men have one. The mutation of the intelligence gene in the X chromosome will influence men more strongly than women, as women have a second X chromosome to balance the first. This explains why there are more cases both of mental retardation and genius in men than women, says Professor Turner. Some people understood it long ago. For example, Judaism is passed down through the mother, not the father.

And certainly, geniuses throughout the ages were influenced by their mothers.

Charles Dickens’s grandmother was famous for her story-telling.

Pablo Picasso’s father was a rather mediocre painter. His mother Dona Maria Picasso was a different story: she had two painters among her ancestors.

Winston Churchill is another example. Recently published documents show that his adoration of his brilliant and sophisticated mother Jenny was the key to his later greatness.

Designer Yves Saint Luarent adored his mother: ”I have shared with her great moments of real happiness”.

Bill Gates inherited his brains from his mother who was a teacher.

Sigmund Freud analyzed his own passionate love for his mother Amalia. Recalling his childhood, he wrote: “A man who has been the indisputable favourite of his mother keeps for life the feeling of a conqueror, that confidence of success which often includes real success.”

Do men really know best?

Scientists proved that men are better at general knowledge than women. The reason, they say, is in the genes. Males are genetically programmed to retain factual knowledge because it is a skill they need to compete with other men for status and power.

Women, on the other hand, put greater value on understanding relationships and family life and feel less need to prove themselves publicly.

Professor Richard Lynn and Dr. Paul Irwing from the University of Ulster carried out two studies involving 1500 men and women. First they questioned students about six subjects: current affairs, health and recreation, art, science, family and fashion. They found that men did better in all subjects except family and fashion.

Dr. Irwing said: “Women are more people-oriented, men are more object-oriented and interested in the public world.”

However, in traditional exams such as A-levels, girls do better.

Research ay Edinburgh University showed that women underestimate themselves. The study of 502 women and 265 men showed that women estimated their IQ at 120 while men estimated themselves at 127.

“General knowledge isn’t about intelligence, it’s about having a fantastic memory, and I think women are good at it because they notice things around them more. But women aren’t as competitive as men. You don’t see as many women on things like “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” because they just don’t apply.”