rs115416341 (SRMP1): Academic Attainment Variant
Key takeaways
- This variant near the RNU7-173P pseudogene and SRMP1 was studied in genome-wide research on academic test performance in adolescents.
- Studies find that 41-53% of differences in English, maths, and science test scores between people are attributable to common genetic variation.
- Academic attainment is highly polygenic; the largest individual GWAS hits each explain only about 0.02% of variance in educational outcomes.
- Evidence for this specific variant is preliminary, based on a single study of roughly 6,000 adolescents with no reported independent replication.
Key takeaways
- This variant, located near the RNU7-173P pseudogene and SRMP1 (serine/arginine-rich matrix protein 1), has been examined in genome-wide research on academic test performance in adolescents.
- A genome-wide association study of standardized test scores in English, maths, and science found that 41-53% of individual differences in these subjects are attributable to genetic factors.
- Academic attainment is highly polygenic, meaning thousands of common variants each contribute very small effects; the largest individual hits in educational attainment GWAS account for roughly 0.02% of variance each.
- Evidence for this specific variant in academic attainment comes from a single study with modest sample sizes and should be considered preliminary.
What the research says A genome-wide association study (GWAS - a scan of hundreds of thousands of DNA variants across the genome to find those linked to a trait) of standardized national test scores in English (N = 5,983), maths (N = 6,017), and science (N = 6,089) among adolescents in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC, a UK longitudinal birth cohort) found SNP-based heritabilities (the proportion of phenotypic variance explained by common genetic variants) of 41-53% for all three subjects. The study identified one genome-wide significant single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP - a single-letter change in the DNA sequence), rs952964 (p = 4.86 x 10^-8), for science attainment alongside four gene-level associations (MEF2C, BRINP1, S100A1, and S100A13) with science performance; rs115416341 was examined as part of this same GWAS. Prior large-scale GWAS of educational attainment involving over one million participants identified 1,271 significantly associated loci (genomic locations), with polygenic scores (aggregated genetic scores combining thousands of variants) predicting 7-10% of variance in general cognitive ability and 11-13% in educational attainment.
Reported associations
- Science test attainment (adolescents): This locus was examined in a GWAS of science test scores in adolescents; the primary genome-wide significant hit in that study was a different SNP (rs952964, p = 4.86 x 10^-8), meaning rs115416341 was not among the top reported signals for science performance.
- Academic attainment (English and maths): The same study analyzed test scores across all three core subjects, finding high heritabilities (41-53%) consistent with substantial genetic contributions; this locus was among the variants tested across these analyses.
Evidence quality The primary evidence base for this locus comes from a single GWAS using the ALSPAC cohort, with sample sizes of approximately 5,983 to 6,089 for subject-specific analyses and approximately 3,197 to 5,895 for analyses that removed shared variance with IQ. By current GWAS standards these samples are modest; large modern studies typically involve hundreds of thousands of participants. Rs115416341 was not reported as a primary genome-wide significant signal; the study's main reported hit for science attainment was rs952964. No independent replication data for this locus is described in the available study material. The heritabilities of 41-53% for academic subjects remained after removing variance shared between subjects, suggesting some subject-specific genetic signal, but these heritability estimates reflect aggregate genetic effects across all tested variants, not the contribution of this specific locus. Evidence should be treated as preliminary.
Lifestyle considerations No lifestyle considerations on file for this variant.
Frequently asked questions
What is rs115416341 associated with?
rs115416341 is located near the RNU7-173P pseudogene and SRMP1 and was examined in a genome-wide association study of academic test scores in English, maths, and science in adolescents. It was not reported as a primary genome-wide significant signal in the available research.
What does the SRMP1 gene do?
SRMP1 stands for serine/arginine-rich matrix protein 1. The available research identified this locus through a genome-wide scan of academic performance rather than a targeted investigation of SRMP1's biological function, so no specific role in academic performance is described in the evidence base.
How much do genes influence academic performance?
Research using genome-wide data suggests that 41-53% of individual differences in standardized science, maths, and English test scores during adolescence are attributable to common genetic variation. This is a population-level estimate and does not predict any individual's performance.
Is the evidence for this variant reliable?
The evidence is preliminary. The main study examined roughly 6,000 adolescents, which is modest by current standards, and this variant was not among the primary reported significant signals. No independent replication data is available in the current evidence base.
What is a pseudogene like RNU7-173P?
A pseudogene is a DNA sequence that resembles a functional gene but does not produce a working protein in the typical way. The available research does not describe a specific function for RNU7-173P in relation to academic performance.