Anytime discussion of a genetic basis behind intelligence comes up we immediately enter a minefield of social and ethical controversies. What actually constitutes "intelligence" in the first place, and what are the practical outcomes of being able to pinpoint so-called "smart" genes? Could we create designer babies with super high IQs, or develop pills that turn on intelligence genes giving us a temporary smart boost?

A giant meta-study comprised of over 78,000 people has confidently identified 52 genes that scientists consider to be significantly associated with intelligence. While only constituting a fraction of the thousands of genes potentially associated with influencing intelligence, this discovery sets scientists on a fascinating path to understanding the genetic roots of intelligence.

There has long been argument over the degree of heritability of intelligence. A variety of studies have fascinatingly, and counter-intuitively, concluded that genetic influences on intelligence actually increase with age. Dubbed "The Wilson Effect," it has been found that environmental factors dominate intelligence in early years with genetic factors having as little as 20 percent influence in infancy, growing over adolescence to a peak of up to 80 percent in one's early twenties.