Surnames offer depressing clues to extent of social mobility over generations

Re:Surnames offer depressing clues to extent of social mobil... by eli_gottlieb on Saturday November 09, 2013 @10:55AM (#6701938)

That could be, but with a founder effect in a population whose European contribution came from a small number of females, we then have to expect either:

* The intelligence came from the European converted-in founder females. In which case, how come we don't see similar intelligence averages in similar European populations?

* Or, the intelligence came from the male Jewish founders. In which case, how come we don't see similar intelligence averages in other Jewish populations?

Both questions can, of course, be accompanied by, "OR DO WE!?!?!?! dun dun duuuun".

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Re:Surnames offer depressing clues to extent of social mobil... by saalweachter on Saturday November 09, 2013 @04:00PM (#6703188)

The founder effect gives two possible answers:

1. The gene or gene suite originated with one of the founders. Novel mutation or assemblage of uncommon preexisting mutations.

2. The proposed smart gene is not adaptive. Being smart is cool, but only one facet of fitness. The smart gene would then be weeded out of the larger population through selection pressure, but survive in the smaller population through the founder effect.

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