Phobias may be memories passed down in genes from ancestors

[OrbitalDawn]

Memories may be passed down through generations in DNA in a process that may be the underlying cause of phobias

Memories can be passed down to later generations through genetic switches that allow offspring to inherit the experience of their ancestors, according to new research that may explain how phobias can develop.

Scientists have long assumed that memories and learned experiences built up during a lifetime must be passed on by teaching later generations or through personal experience.

However, new research has shown that it is possible for some information to be inherited biologically through chemical changes that occur in DNA.

Researchers at the Emory University School of Medicine, in Atlanta, found that mice can pass on learned information about traumatic or stressful experiences – in this case a fear of the smell of cherry blossom – to subsequent generations.

The results may help to explain why people suffer from seemingly irrational phobias – it may be based on the inherited experiences of their ancestors.

 

[Ninja'd]

Did my ancestors have mannequins? I know there were snakes.

 

[AstroTurf]

Did my ancestors have mannequins? I know there were snakes.

Corpses?

 

[Ninja'd]

Mannequins are evil.

 

[D3nz]

Mannequins are evil.

Yeah? Not the ones I saw outside the China Mall. I would have taken one home if I could

 

[Xarog]

Memories may be passed down through generations in DNA in a process that may be the underlying cause of phobias

This is true not only of phobias, but also our instincts in general.

 

[AstroTurf]

Reptile brain...

 

[Xarog]

Reptile brain...

Nope. The amygdala is generally responsible for this kind of thing in humans and is part of the limbic aka mammalian brain.

 

[XennoX]

First thought was "Holy ****, Assassin's Creed was onto something!"

 

[Space_Chief]

Irrational ....

I know phobias are defined so, but is it really irrational to be afraid of snakes (venom), spiders (venom), rats (plague, rabies, leptospirosis) etc?

 

[DA-LION-619]

Didn't Shebang post something similar to this?

 

[Neoprod]

Irrational ....

I know phobias are defined so, but is it really irrational to be afraid of snakes (venom), spiders (venom), rats (plague, rabies, leptospirosis) etc?

It's the level of reaction, methinks...the disproportionate nature of it. I'm not particularly fond of spiders but I'm okay with them as long as I can see where they are. I've never burst into tears or hyper-ventilated or something like phobic people do. That's kind of the difference between normal fear reactions (where you just avoid the thing and then go on about your day) and phobias (the level of anxiety literally impairs the person) regardless of the object the fear is attached to.

This dude and a puppy, man -

[video=youtube;Xge49FuX5v4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xge49FuX5v4[/video]

 

[Quey_Quick]

Assassins Creed FTW