I think every child has genius! The results aren't in on whether or not genes make a difference. "You can't take the Genes out of Genius Although genius may not lie in one single gene, and to think that would be a bit childish, it seems that genes are the only thing there is a reasonable consensus among psychologists. It is more sensible to believe that genius comes from genetics in the regards that genes enable certain abilities and that, in turn, those abilities combine to enable genius. More often though the link between genes and genius is misconceived. It is not as simple as saying there is a so called "genius gene." In his book, Genius Explained, Howe (1999) discusses the misconceptions and the more accurate story of genetics and genius. Howe says, "In reality, rather than thinking of a gene as exerting some influence that directly affects a complex psychological characteristic, it would be more accurate to imagine the relatively immediated effect of genetic inputs being to affect, say, the production of some or other Hormone." (p.201). He goes on to say, "So even when it is indisputable that geneticaly based influences upon human variability have been among the contributing influences determining the rate and direction of an individual person's progress, it would be wrong to conclude that any traits or activities that have been affected by those genetic inputs have been straightforwardly determined by them." (Howe, 1999, p.201). Although Thomas Edison was once defined genius as 1% inspiration and 99% persperation, it seems there is no denying that our genes play some role in our intellectual abilities. Steve Allen (1993) brings up the point in his article that, "We can see in the first syllable of the word a clue to its original Roman meaning, which survives in such words as gene, genetics, and genealogy." http://www.louisville.edu/~mldort01/essay4.htm