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Meta-Analysis
. 2023 Jan 13;14(1):204.
doi: 10.3390/genes14010204.

KIBRA Gene Variant Is Associated with Ability in Chess and Science

Ildus I Ahmetov  1   2   3   4 , Elena V Valeeva  2 , Meruert B Yerdenova  5 , Gaukhar K Datkhabayeva  6 , Amal Bouzid  7 , Poorna Manasa Bhamidimarri  7 , Liliya M Sharafetdinova  2 , Emiliya S Egorova  2 , Ekaterina A Semenova  3   8 , Leysan J Gabdrakhmanova  2 , Rinat A Yusupov  9 , Andrey K Larin  3 , Nikolay A Kulemin  3 , Edward V Generozov  3 , Rifat Hamoudi  7   10 , Almira M Kustubayeva  6 , Tim Rees  11
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

KIBRA Gene Variant Is Associated with Ability in Chess and Science

Ildus I Ahmetov et al. Genes (Basel). .

Abstract

The kidney and brain expressed protein (KIBRA) plays an important role in synaptic plasticity. Carriers of the T allele of the KIBRA (WWC1) gene rs17070145 C/T polymorphism have been reported to have enhanced spatial ability and to outperform individuals with the CC genotype in working memory tasks. Since ability in chess and science is directly related to spatial ability and working memory, we hypothesized that the KIBRA T allele would be positively associated with chess player status and PhD status in science. We tested this hypothesis in a study involving 2479 individuals (194 chess players, 119 PhD degree holders in STEM fields, and 2166 controls; 1417 males and 1062 females) from three ethnicities (236 Kazakhs, 1583 Russians, 660 Tatars). We found that frequencies of the T allele were significantly higher in Kazakh (66.9 vs. 55.1%; p = 0.024), Russian (44.8 vs. 32.0%; p = 0.0027), and Tatar (51.5 vs. 41.8%; p = 0.035) chess players compared with ethnically matched controls (meta-analysis for CT/TT vs. CC: OR = 2.05, p = 0.0001). In addition, none of the international chess grandmasters (ranked among the 80 best chess players in the world) were carriers of the CC genotype (0 vs. 46.3%; OR = 16.4, p = 0.005). Furthermore, Russian and Tatar PhD holders had a significantly higher frequency of CT/TT genotypes compared with controls (meta-analysis: OR = 1.71, p = 0.009). Overall, this is the first study to provide comprehensive evidence that the rs17070145 C/T polymorphism of the KIBRA gene may be associated with ability in chess and science, with the T allele exerting a beneficial effect.

Keywords: DNA; PhD; analytical ability; athletes; chess; education; intelligence; memory; mind sports; scientists.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
KIBRA gene rs17070145 T allele frequency in controls and chess players stratified by the level of achievement.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Meta-analysis for association studies for the KIBRA gene and chess player status. The prevalence of the rs17070145 CT/TT genotypes has been shown in chess players. The purple squares represent the ratio of CT/TT genotypes in chess players for each individual study. The black diamond represents the pooled ratio of CT/TT genotypes in all chess players and its 95% CI.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Meta-analysis for association studies for the KIBRA gene and PhD status. The prevalence of the rs17070145 CT/TT genotypes has been shown in PhD holders. The purple squares represent the ratio of CT/TT genotypes in PhD holders for each individual study. The black diamond represents the pooled ratio of CT/TT genotypes in all PhD holders and its 95% CI.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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