Friday, May 9, 2008

Genetic Memory - True or False

Genetic memory is where our genes act as memory chips. Some of these memories are then passed onto our offspring. I believe this actually works and the evolution of a species is determined by genetic memory. Some people think that our sum knowledge and experience has been passed down from generation to generation by paper and by word of mouth.

While some of this is the case we must also consider that there was once a time when man could not write or use complex language. Man probably evolved due to a survival gene being passed down the line. This in turn gave us what we know as instinct, the ability to sense danger and situations. I read somewhere once that the reason most people tend to sleep in an upstairs room with the light off is because of our deep past. As apes we would have slept at night in the trees to avoid detection by predators. If genetic memory is true then we still have some fragment of that past in us. There are many elements of our lives which are possibly related in some way to genetic memory.

For instance are people who claim past life experiences actually remembering something from previous generations back. Is deja vu another genetic imprint being remembered. Why are some people good at Mathematics but terrible at DIY? If genetic illness can be passed on then why not memory. The list could go on.

If they ever discover what genes act as memory then the possibilities are huge. One example could be genetically enhanced humans given skills from birth that they would otherwise never have had. It also opens up a possible frightening scenario where our futures are decided at birth.

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