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Name: Tim
Status: Student
Grade:  9-12
Location: NY
Country: United States
Date: March 2008
Question:
My friends have just had a discussion over genetic memory. They are stating that a person can remember things about past events, such as the fact that there were no such things a military war hammers in medieval times, where I say that remembering such a specific thing through genetic memory is quite impossible. Can you please help settle this.


Replies:
There is no such thing as genetic memory! The idea that memory can be encoded in DNA is preposterous!

Ron Baker, Ph.D.

Tim,

Genetic memory in humans is ridiculous. However, just to set the record straight, at least one species of bacteria has demonstrated the ability to change its DNA and pass this change on so its offspring can survive in certain environments. Technically, this is Lamarckian!

Steve Sample


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