• Site display :
  • Normal
  • Text only
  •        
  • Accessibility :
  • BSL
  • Audio
  • Skip to content Privacy and cookies|
  • Sign up to our newsletter
Science Museum logo

Astonishing Science. Spectacular museum.

  • Home
  • Visit The Museum
  • Online Stuff
  • Educators
  • Shop Online
  • About Us

Who am I?

  • Visit gallery
  • Play Thingdom
  • Find out more
  • Home
  • Your body
  • Your brain
  • Your genes

Search A-Z

Home  >  Your genes  >  How do you become you?  >  What do your genes do?  >  Are phobias genetic?

  • How do you become you?
    • What is eugenics?
    • What do your genes do?
      • What is your personality type?
      • Hungry?
      • Are you aggressive?
      • What is addiction?
      • Do genes influence sexuality?
      • Are phobias genetic?
    • Dangerous knowledge?
    • How do scientists study genes and behaviour?
  • Where did your genes come from?
  • Where did we come from?
  • What was the Human Genome Project?
  • How do genes affect your health?
  • What causes genetic conditions?
  • Why do scientists study genes?
  • What is genetic engineering?

Are phobias genetic?

Identical twins have identical genes – and they often share phobias and irrational fears, even when brought up in different families. This suggests that these kinds of behaviours are partly influenced by our genes, as well as by the experiences we have during our lives.

Enlarge

Identical twins often share phobias.

Next topic

Dangerous knowledge?

Dangerous knowledge?

Related topic

What is genetic testing?

What is genetic testing?

Did you know?

Discover something different

Bookmark and Share:

  • Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Bookmark this on Delicious
 

Principal Funder:

Wellcome trust

Major Sponsors:

GlaxoSmithKline life technologies
  • Contact us|
  • Support us|
  • Press and Media|
  • Enquiries/Freedom of Information|