MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA AND IQ IN EUROPE

Recently a mitochondrial DNA polymorphism (EST00083) was found at sign ificantly different frequencies in high IQ and low IQ groups in two in dependent studies. We have used mitochondrial sequences from a range o f populations to show that this polymorphism occurred more than once i n human history. Furthermore, the polymorphism is particularly common in Europe where it is predominantly associated with a single mitochond rial line (lineage) that appears to date back to the expansion of anat omically modern humans into Europe about 35,000 years ago. Examination of the genetic diversity within this mitochondrial lineage, together with the known migration and settlement of Europeans into the USA, sug gests that the observed IQ associated polymorphism found in Cleveland Ohio is likely to be restricted to only one form (sub-group) of this m itochondrial lineage.