On a recent drive, I was telling my guests about the Ntsevu Breakaways, who have been living a nomadic life since leaving their pride at the end of 2021. Despite being relatively young lions, from the start they have been incredible at successfully hunting buffalo. We got onto the topic of their fathers, the Birmingham Males, and reminisced on how incredible, and well-known, the coalition was at also hunting buffalo. I wondered out loud if there was any correlation in the “buffalo hunting” trait, and whether, despite probably seldom watching their fathers hunt buffalo, there had been a trait passed down to the younger lions. In a passing comment, my guest brought up how these lions could be experiencing some kind of genetic memory. This phenomenon stuck with me, and I was excited to see if any research had been conducted, and ultimately if animals truly possess this remarkable capability.

Pictured without their sister here, the Ntsevu Breakaways are going to be a force to be reckoned with. Originally leaving their pride with the arrival of the Ndzhenga Males, these lions have somewhat hung around. For the most part, the four males stay together with their sister. However, one male has spent some time further north in the Sabi Sand, mating with some of the Nkuhuma Females. Two older brothers also left the pride at the same time and have been spending time further south in the Kruger National Park. 

What is Genetic Memory?

Genetic memory refers to the idea that certain behaviours, instincts, or knowledge can be passed down from one generation to the next through genetic material, independent of direct environmental influence or individual learning. In essence, it suggests that ancestral experiences can shape the behaviour and abilities of offspring, even without direct exposure to those experiences. This concept raises complex questions about the nature of inheritance and the extent to which the experiences of our ancestors continue to influence our lives today.

Just as elephants are known to never forget, recent research suggests that even trees harbour memories through their years. For example, they can remember a drought their whole lives and act on that memory by being more cautious of water usage.

Remembering Robins and Monarchs

While the notion of genetic memory may seem like something out of science fiction, numerous studies have provided compelling evidence to support its existence in various animal species. One such study, conducted by scientists at the University of Cambridge, explored the migratory behaviour of European robins. These birds undertake long-distance migrations each year, travelling thousands of miles to reach their breeding and wintering grounds. Researchers found that even when raised in captivity without any exposure to the migration route, juvenile robins displayed an innate ability to navigate along the same migratory path as their wild counterparts. This suggests that the migratory route is somehow encoded within their genetic material, allowing them to instinctively know where to go without prior experience.

Although this particular species of Robin is not found here, research done on these birds shows that they are great examples of animals with genetic memory. It’s possible that the majority of migratory birds could have some kind of blueprint of their routes engrained within them.

Similarly, research on monarch butterflies has shown evidence of genetic memory in these iconic insects as well. Monarchs undergo a spectacular multi-generational migration, spanning thousands of miles from North America to Mexico and back. Studies have shown that monarchs bred in captivity, several generations removed from their wild ancestors, still retain the ability to navigate along the same migration route as their ancestors. This again implies that information about the migration is passed down through generations, encoded within their genes.

Unlike the African Monarch which does not undertake any significant seasonal migration in Africa, its North American cousin, the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) migrates up to 4,000km each year across four separate generations to avoid the harsh American winter climate and to find food.

Beyond migration, genetic memory has also been implicated in other aspects of animal behaviour, such as predator avoidance, foraging strategies, and mating rituals. In each case, animals seem to possess an innate understanding of certain behaviours or preferences, despite never having encountered these situations themselves. It is a big long shot, but perhaps this understanding could be where the Ntsevu Breakways and their aptitude for buffalo hunting fit in?

Digging Deeper into Genetics

However, while these studies provide evidence for the existence of genetic memory in animals, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are still not properly understood. There is a big argument, which I might be leaning towards, that instead of genetic memory, these flight patterns and preferences for hunting buffalo are just basic animal instincts.

We have something called epigenetics, which is a mechanism where the environment can alter which genes are expressed or not. If an animal goes through some extreme hardship, for example, disease, starvation, drought etc., it could lead to a change in their genetic expression. Some genes might be turned on or off as a response to the sudden change in the environment. These are changes to the blueprint and to the instructions. These changes can in fact be passed on.

The best example of genes being modified through generations is by looking at elephants. As you can see, the adult elephant on the right bares no tusks. This is quite common for many elephant herds as, after years and years of hunting, their genes have altered to not grow big tusks, thus helping them stay safe and not be hunted for ivory

A large elephant bull investigates a dried-up waterhole. As we head into our dry winter more and more animals will have to rely on the Sand River for water.

For example, the memory of a famine will not be transferred to the offspring, but the effects it had can be passed on. If another famine strikes these offspring might have a better chance at survival due to the experiences of their ancestors.

While the existence of genetic memory in animals may seem extraordinary, evidence from various studies suggests that it is a very real phenomenon. However, it is not as simple as it seems, and there is way too much in-depth science about the genes that, admittedly, I could not fully grasp or attempt to put into a short blog. However, as our understanding of genetics and animal behaviour continues to advance, I think the phenomenon of genetic memory will be an incredibly captivating area of study and will be great to follow to understand the behaviours and changes of animals over time.