The idea is that memories can be passed down to later generations through genetic switches that allow offspring to inherit the experience of their ancestors. This is nothing new, we all know how giving birth to twins can be passed down the family gene pool.

The idea that phobias can also be inherited in this way is being researched by leading scientist. Previously to this research, we have assumed knowledge and learning are built up over a lifetime and then passed to our children. The same way as the hunter and gather taught their children which berries were edible and which berries were poisonous.

Recent research at Emory University, has found that traumatic and stressful experiences can be inherited biologically through chemical changes that occur in DNA.  From a survival point of view, this inherited behaviour can save our life. How do babies know to suckle on their mothers? This natural behaviour is in our genes.

To keep us away from harm, our DNA may release chemicals to feel fear when we hear the rattle of an adder, the smell of a lion or when we see the hairy legs of a spider. You maybe programmed to be phobic of spiders, because your great great grandfather had a negative encounter with a tarantula.

The researchers trained mice to fear the smell of cherry blossom using electric shocks .The offspring of these mice also become fearful when they detected the odour of cherry blossom compared to a neutral odour, despite never having encountered them before.

This doesn’t mean you will always be phobic. Through hypnosis, you can associate positive emotions to your phobia, deleting the phobia together, which is this science is proven to be accurate can allow your offspring  to be born phobia free.