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Link to original content: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-005-9013-z
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A Linkage Study of Academic Skills Defined by the Queensland Core Skills Test

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ABSTRACT

This study used genome-wide linkage analysis to detect Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) implicated in variation in general academic achievement as measured by the Queensland Core Skills Test (QCST) (Queensland Studies Authority, 2004). Data from 210 families were analysed. While no empirically derived significant or suggestive peaks for general academic achievement were indicated a peak on chromosome 2 was observed in a region where Posthuma et al. (2005) reported significant linkage for Performance IQ (PIQ) and suggestive linkage for Full Scale IQ (FSIQ), and Luciano et al. (this issue) observed significant linkage for PIQ and word reading. A peak on chromosome 18 was also observed approximately 20 cM removed from a region recently implicated in reading achievement. In addition, on chromosomes 2 and 18 peaks for a number of specific academic skills, two of which were suggestive, coincided with the general academic achievement peaks. The findings suggest that variation in general academic achievement is influenced by genes on chromosome 2 which have broad influence on a variety of cognitive abilities.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We greatly appreciate the support from the twins and their parents and their willingness to participate in this study. We are grateful to Marlene Grace, Ann Eldridge and Kathleen Moore for recruitment of twin pairs and phenotypic data collection, and Anjali Henders, Megan Campbell and staff of the Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory for blood processing and DNA extraction. We also thank the QSA (formerly QSSSSB) for permission to use their data and their ongoing assistance with data retrieval. Phenotypic collection was supported by grants from the Australian Research Council (Grant Numbers: A79600334, A79906588, A79801419, DP0212016, DP0343921), and genotyping by the Australian NHMRC’s Program in Medical Genomics (NHMRC-219178) and the Center for Inherited Disease Research (CIDR; Director, Dr. Jerry Roberts) at the Johns Hopkins University. CIDR is fully funded through a federal contract from the National Institutes of Health to the Johns Hopkins University (Contract Number N01- HG-65403).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Post Office Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, 4029, Australia

    Mark A. Wainwright, Margaret J. Wright, Michelle Luciano, Grant W. Montgomery & Nicholas G. Martin

  2. Cognitive Psychophysiology Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    Mark A. Wainwright & Gina M. Geffen

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  1. Mark A. Wainwright
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Correspondence to Mark A. Wainwright.

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Wainwright, M.A., Wright, M.J., Luciano, M. et al. A Linkage Study of Academic Skills Defined by the Queensland Core Skills Test. Behav Genet 36, 56–64 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-005-9013-z

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