KIBRA Gene Variant Is Associated with Ability in Chess and Science
Ahmetov I.I. Valeeva E.V. Yerdenova M.B. Datkhabayeva G.K. Bouzid A. Bhamidimarri P.M. Sharafetdinova L.M. Egorova E.S. Semenova E.A. Gabdrakhmanova L.J. Yusupov R.A. Larin A.K. Kulemin N.A. Generozov E.V. Hamoudi R. Kustubayeva A.M. Rees T.
January 2023MDPI
Genes
2023#14Issue 1
The kidney and brain expressed protein (KIBRA) plays an important role in synaptic plasticity. Carriers of the T allele of the KIBRA (WWC1) gene rs17070145 C/T polymorphism have been reported to have enhanced spatial ability and to outperform individuals with the CC genotype in working memory tasks. Since ability in chess and science is directly related to spatial ability and working memory, we hypothesized that the KIBRA T allele would be positively associated with chess player status and PhD status in science. We tested this hypothesis in a study involving 2479 individuals (194 chess players, 119 PhD degree holders in STEM fields, and 2166 controls; 1417 males and 1062 females) from three ethnicities (236 Kazakhs, 1583 Russians, 660 Tatars). We found that frequencies of the T allele were significantly higher in Kazakh (66.9 vs. 55.1%; p = 0.024), Russian (44.8 vs. 32.0%; p = 0.0027), and Tatar (51.5 vs. 41.8%; p = 0.035) chess players compared with ethnically matched controls (meta-analysis for CT/TT vs. CC: OR = 2.05, p = 0.0001). In addition, none of the international chess grandmasters (ranked among the 80 best chess players in the world) were carriers of the CC genotype (0 vs. 46.3%; OR = 16.4, p = 0.005). Furthermore, Russian and Tatar PhD holders had a significantly higher frequency of CT/TT genotypes compared with controls (meta-analysis: OR = 1.71, p = 0.009). Overall, this is the first study to provide comprehensive evidence that the rs17070145 C/T polymorphism of the KIBRA gene may be associated with ability in chess and science, with the T allele exerting a beneficial effect.
analytical ability , athletes , chess , DNA , education , intelligence , memory , mind sports , PhD , scientists
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Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, L3 5AF, United Kingdom
Laboratory of Genetics of Aging and Longevity, Kazan State Medical University, Kazan, 420012, Russian Federation
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 119435, Russian Federation
Department of Physical Education, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Moscow, 115093, Russian Federation
Department of Psychology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
Department of Biophysics, Biomedicine and Neuroscience, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
Research Institute of Physical Culture and Sport, Volga Region State University of Physical Culture, Sport and Tourism, Kazan, 420138, Russian Federation
Department of Physical Culture and Sport, Kazan National Research Technical University Named after A.N. Tupolev-KAI, Kazan, 420111, Russian Federation
Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, NW3 2PF, United Kingdom
Department of Rehabilitation and Sport Science, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, BH12 5BB, United Kingdom
Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences
Laboratory of Genetics of Aging and Longevity
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics
Department of Physical Education
Department of Psychology
Department of Biophysics
Sharjah Institute for Medical Research
Research Institute of Physical Culture and Sport
Department of Physical Culture and Sport
Division of Surgery and Interventional Science
Department of Rehabilitation and Sport Science
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