Genetically diverse groups are smarter

The study, led by researchers from the Hebrew University and Columbia University, suggests that genetic diversity can significantly improve the decision-making processes in a group, which has profound implications for organizational management, innovation and understanding the role of biodiversity in compliance and resilience

A diverse group of people.
A diverse group of people. Illustration: depositphotos.com

New research shows that genetically diverse groups make more accurate collective decisions than genetically homogeneous groups, providing the first empirical evidence for the role of genetic diversity in enhancing collective intelligence. This finding is important because it suggests that genetic diversity can significantly improve group decision-making processes, which has profound implications for organizational management, innovation, and understanding the role of biodiversity in adaptation and resilience.

A new study led by Dr. Meir Barnron from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem reveals that genetically diverse groups make more accurate collective decisions compared to genetically homogeneous groups. This study, published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, provides new insights into the origins of the "wisdom of crowds" phenomenon, emphasizing The role of genetic diversity in improving collective intelligence.

Previous research has suggested that combining individual assessments can improve accuracy, especially when people differ in background, education, and demographics.

However, Dr. Bernron's research takes this a step further and suggests that genetic diversity itself contributes significantly to the accuracy of combined estimates. The study included 602 identical and non-identical twins, who participated in receiving numerical estimates in pairs. These pairs included twins (consanguineous pairs) or unrelated individuals ( The results revealed that estimates of unrelated (ie, heterogeneous) pairs were more accurate than those of close pairs. (ie, homogeneous) Theoretically, this finding could be due to environmental or genetic factors.

To distinguish between environmental and genetic factors, the study compares the performance of close and non-close pairs, separately between identical and non-identical twins. This comparison is relevant because genetic influences make identical twins more alike than non-identical twins, as the former share almost 100 percent of their genetic diversity, while the latter share on average 50 percent of their genetic diversity.

The findings revealed that the better performance of unrelated pairs compared to close pairs was evident for the identical twins. This emphasizes the effect of genetic closeness on collective evaluations.

Dr. Bernron's research is the first empirical demonstration of the benefits of genetic diversity for collective evaluations. The findings suggest that genetic diversity enhances the collective cognitive abilities of groups, providing a deeper understanding of how diverse audiences can reach smarter outcomes. By emphasizing the genetic aspect, this study Adds a new dimension to the "wisdom of crowds" phenomenon.

"These findings highlight the significant impact of genetic diversity on collective decision-making, and emphasize the importance of embracing diversity in all its forms to improve our cognitive abilities and face complex challenges more effectively." - Dr. Meir Barnron, Hebrew University

Using a sample of identical and non-identical twins, the study effectively isolates genetic diversity, allowing a clear comparison between genetically homogeneous and heterogeneous groups, and providing solid evidence for the hypothesis. This empirical evidence supports the broader theory that diversity improves decision making, with significant implications for organizational management. This suggests that diverse groups may be better equipped to deal with complex problems and innovate effectively.

Moreover, the research contributes to our understanding of genetic diversity as a fundamental component of biological diversity, and highlights its critical role in adaptation, resilience and long-term survival of populations in the face of environmental changes.

for the scientific article

More of the topic in Hayadan:

2 תגובות

  1. Nonsense, what affects the decision-making process is net intelligence and experience in the desired field, actually accepting people based on ethnicity/skin color hurts the organization and does not benefit it. Another progressive article.

  2. You can see how successful South Africa or Brazil are compared to Japan and South Korea or Northern Europe and the USA until recently and even China

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