Genetics and the Science of Reading

This paper examines the genetic ("nature") and environmental ("nurture") influences on why students vary in their reading skills. We review core findings from the field of modern behavioral genetics, a discipline that studies the interplay of genetic and environmental influences, on reading science. Additionally, we provide an overview of the key findings from behavioral genetic studies looking at how (1) students' reading skills build over time, (2) genetic and environmental influences depend on each other, and (3) technological advancements in measuring human DNA may further illuminate our understanding of how genes contribute to reading development. We close with a discussion on where the field should go to best serve educational stakeholders. [This paper was published in "The Reading League Journal" v4 n2 p18-25 2023.]