Recent studies have provided evidence that memories of fear are one of many things our forebearers pass down to us through our DNA. A recent study conducted in 2013 confirms the same. Research groups at Emory University found that  mice trained to fear a specific odor would pass their emotions on to their offspring and future generations. Scientists applied electric shocks to mice as they exposed them to the smell of cherry blossoms. The mice then bred, and both the children and grandchildren of the affected rodents demonstrated a fear of cherry blossoms the first time they smelled them.