Genetic differences explain racial IQ gaps

Before I move forward, I feel I should clarify one thing. IQ can, and does, change over time [1]. This is due to changes in the structure of the brain, which occur very frequently until the age of 25, when the brain calms down a bit. The changes in the brain are always traced to two factors, outside stimuli and genetic predisposition. Ergo, we can conclude that these changes are affected by the outside, by things like culture. While genetic predisposition plays a role, it isn't measurable. Therefore, we must conclude that culture has a greater affect on the IQ of any given person than genetics. Definition of Race: This was a miscommunication by both sides. I will concede my opponents definition of race. Feral Children: Just to clarify, I meant that IQ doesn't develop into larger IQ naturally. Education and other factors do so much more to develop IQ than something like nutrition. If malnutrition leads to lower IQs, it's not because of a mysterious link, it's because children in that environment don't have access to education. To further push through my point that culture affects IQ, let me point out that my opponent noted that the children in question didn't perform as well on IQ tests at first, depending on age. This demonstrates that people's IQs can change and improve over time due to the influence of education. Asian Languages and Mathematical Ability: When we take a look at the PISA, we find that Asians truly are better at all of the things. The only score to breach 600 in the entire world is Shanghai. Everybody else is less than 575 on the scores. Ergo, to say that the Ashkenazi Jews outperform Asians is a lie, an entire lie. I won't lie that Ashkenazi Jews do well, but I can say that there are other factors in play. As for the performance of American Asians vs. the non-American Asians in language, we must conclude that language can be learned by anybody, as long as there is an environment to support it. People can become fluent in languages if they have a fluent speaker to talk to. Any other assumption is just false. Culture and IQ: Industriousness in education leads to higher IQ's. Traditionally, the Asian population worked more than any other population in the world. That background has recently been trodden upon because of the advent of globalization. However, that industriousness gets put into education instead. As has been noted with the KIPP programs, industriousness in education leads to improvements in intellectual capability, and, therefore, IQ. The source my opponent uses to explain the differences between these two cultures performance on tests follows through with a school of evolutionary thought known as Lamarckism or gradualism. Gradualism is the idea that as a particular muscle or organ is used, its functionality increases in subsequent populations. This was debunked a century ago. Evolution occurs through natural selections, which is the process of those who have certain genes that allow them to live in an environment being more capable to pass those genes on, because they are actually alive to produce offspring. The only explanation can be found in what a lot of sociologists refer to as "cultural evolution". Whatever the difference is in the two "culturally exchangeable" cultures leads to this increased intelligence. Any other premise is ethnicist, racist, and false. YouTube Video: The YouTube video that is presented does show some evidence, but most of it is based on success, not IQ. Consider how many people are white that have the percentage of success that the Jews have. It's a case of opportunity, not merit. Final Conclusion: It is impossible to conclude that genetics are the sole reason that intelligence is different between different ethnicities. It's possible that on some microscopic level that certain people will have more intelligence than others, but the effects of culture on the brain mask it so thoroughly so that it is impossible to detect. If anybody reading this debate wants to look into further research, I would suggest the book "Outliers", by Malcolm Gladwell. 1 - http://psychcentral.com...