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What role do genetics play in cognitive development?

Isobel Sherville

Genetics play a big role in our cognitive development!

Have you ever heard of the saying "like father, like son" or "like mother, like daughter"? It means that you can inherit certain traits from your parents, like eye color or hair texture.

Well, just like physical traits, we can also inherit certain things that affect our brain. These things are called genes. Genes are like instructions that tell our body how to work and grow. So, some genes can make us better at certain things, like math or languages, while others might make those things harder for us.

But genes aren't the only thing that affect our cognitive development. Our environment also has a big impact. The things we eat, the people we talk to, and the activities we do can all help or hurt our cognitive abilities.

For example, if you eat healthy foods that are good for your brain, like fruits and vegetables, it can help your brain grow and work better. And if you talk to lots of different people and learn new things, it can help make your brain more flexible and able to handle different tasks.

So, while genetics do play a big role in our cognitive development, it's not the only thing that matters. Our environment and the things we do also have a big impact!