University ‘is in the genes’

WHETHER you study among the dreaming spires of Oxford or at a former polytechnic may be down to your genes, say researchers.

And how you perform at university is also largely determined by your DNA, according to scientists at King’s College London.

After studying 3,000 sets of twins academics found that factors such as grades, pushy parents and social class take a back seat compared to genetics, according to the journal Scientific Reports. And half of the reason someone even chooses to go to university over a job can be traced back to their DNA.

Lead researcher Dr Ziada Ayorech said: ‘A person’s genes can influence their achievement and their personality, making them more ambitious.

‘Even if everyone got exactly the same GCSE grades, genes would still account for 46 per cent of their achievement at university.’