History Main / GeneticMemory

* In the ''Franchise/StarWars:'' ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' FanGame ''VideoGame/TheJediMasters'', the PlayerCharacter recruits a younger clone of Kreia, TheExile's EvilMentor from ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'' created from the hand she lost in the game's prologue. She has all of the original's memories except for things that happened around the time she lost the hand, and is seen as a vital piece of the puzzle in tracking down her former apprentice [[TheParagon Revan]].

* In ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion, '' the X Parasites can access the memories of the hosts they consume, using this to inform their decision-making. In ''VideoGame/MetroidDread,'' [[spoiler:this may be the reason why the X copy of Quiet Robe [[HeroicSacrifice allows itself to be absorbed by Samus]] so she can escape the exploding ZDR. Since Quiet Robe obviously had strong memories of desiring to protect Samus, it may be that the X that consumed and copied him took on these sentiments.]]

** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestMonsters'' uses the same trope, though if you have Blazemost, you simply start out with Blaze. You have to meet statistical requirements.

* {{Averted|Trope}} in ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' -- Cadmus manages to make a clone of [[spoiler:Roy Harper]] that has the exact memories of the person he was cloned from, but only because they have genetically-engineered creatures with {{Psychic Powers}}. The G-Nomes simply read [[spoiler:Roy Harper]]'s mind, then copied the memories into his clone's.

** In ''Literature/GalaxyOfFear: Clones'' there is an impossibly quick method for producing clones and giving them the scanned memories of their templates (with the downside that, because they are so rushed, the clones are permanently in the emotional state the original was in at time of scanning, and cannot distinguish fantasy from reality). Darth Vader was scanned and a drop of his blood spilled, and the resulting DarthVaderClone, looking for minions, found old cell samples at an abandoned Rebel base. Since the clones produced from those didn't come with mind scans, they weren't at all useful to him.

* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'': The Forerunner Life-Shapers are eventually revealed to have had the ability to implant genetic memories of a sort that causes humans to act out certain actions and instincts even 100,000 years later. These are referred to as a "geas", and when one is activated by certain triggers (usually contact with Forerunner technology), the human instinctively is moved toward taking certain actions. This was formally introduced in the ExpandedUniverse novels, but the games as of ''Halo 4'' have acknowledged it, and it provides a handy explanation for how humans are [[InstantExpert able to use Forerunner tech upon first picking it up]], which has been present since the original game.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Cubivore}}'' your cube is born with memories of a time when the wilderness spanned the world. And every time your cube goes to the mating grounds he dies and you continue as one of his sons.

* ''Literature/TheHost'': The Souls have a form of this, though given the way they reproduce, it kinda makes a vague sort of sense.

* In ''Anime/SenkiZesshouSymphogear'', it turns out that [[spoiler: BigBad Fine/Phine will take over any of her descendants if they're exposed to a certain phonic wavelength. Like the head of the science division, Ryouko Sakurai.]]

* ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha''
** This was the purpose of Project F: to create a clone that retains all the thoughts of the original, letting one [[{{Necromantic}} raise the dead in a way]].
** Also, the descendants of the ancient king Ingvalt (see ''[[Manga/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaViVid ViVid]]'') sometimes inherit his memories and martial arts knowledge. Einhart denies being an "extension of his existence" though.
** The most extreme example of this in the franchise is [[spoiler:Sieglinde Jeremiah]] of ''[=ViVid=]'', who inherited the combined battle experience ''all'' the previous [[spoiler:Jeremiahs]] in history, giving her, at worst, 500 years worth of genetic memory.

* In the manga of ''Hades Project Zeorymer'', Masato Akitsu seems to possess memories of the Zeorymer's construction as well as how to use it. It later turns out that Masato and Miku are NOT [[spoiler:who you they think they are]], but are in fact the original [[spoiler:creator of the Zeorymer and his lover having been reverted 14 years ago into an embryonic state]] in order to avoid being killed, with [[spoiler:Masato's old memories designed to re-activate upon contact with Zeorymer.]]

** Taken to the nth degree when Cell self-destructs and blows up King Kai's planet, also killing Goku-- when Cell regenerates he knows the Instant Transmission technique that Goku employs. He somehow LEARNED the technique from Goku's CELLS.

* In the manga ''Manga/{{Akumetsu}}'', the protagonists inherit each others memories by way of machinery they use. This is a tool in the plot.

* In ''Manga/HunterXHunter'', several of the Chimera Ants possess the memories of humans the Chimera Ant Queen devoured thanks to the weird way Chimera Ant biology works. Notable examples include Colt, one of the first humanoid Chimera Ants [[spoiler:who bears the memories of a little boy who was one of the Queen's first human victims]], one of Hina's attendants [[spoiler:who bears the memories of that same boy's little sister Reina, the Queen's second victim]], and the Queen's last child, a little girl with a rat tail [[spoiler:who insist on being called Kite.]]

* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'''s clones have Peter Parker's complete memories up to the time he was cloned in the Ultimate universe. Averted the mainstream continuity, in which it was stated that the Jackal implanted the memories into them via brainwashing. Or least when it comes to the first clone; one would assume that the same holds true for the rest.
** The ComicBook/{{Venom}} symbiote and its spawn seem to have the ability to selectively pass on memories of a past host to a new one, although this may be less genetic memory and more telling the new guy what he needs to know. They do seem to have some level of race memory, overlapping with HiveMind depending on the current retcon.
* ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} and Sabertooth are not related, but according to ''Wolverine: Origins'' (no, not the movie), both are part of a prehistoric race of wolfpeople who fought each other for millions of years because they have a different hair color, and this battle has been watched over since the beginning by someone who started out as an amino acid in the primordial ooze.
** Unusually for a comic book clone, Wolverine's OppositeSexClone, ComicBook/{{X 23}}, completely ''averts'' this trope, having to be implanted in the womb, carried to term, delivered via normal birth, and aging normally, while possessing ''none'' of Logan's memories.

* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':
** Doomsday was a life form that, in the story ''ComicBook/SupermanDoomsdayHunterPrey'', had been released into primitive Krypton's harsh environment, killed by the native wildlife, and then cloned from the remains, again and again. He retained memories of all his deaths, eventually killing his creator as payback for his agony.
** In ''ComicBook/TheGreatDarknessSaga'', the Servant of Darkness [[spoiler:Who was cloned from [[ComicBook/NewGods Orion]]]] has his dormant memories restored by [[spoiler:Izaya]].

* ''Film/AlteredStates'' deals with this.

* The original cut of ''Film/SupermanIVTheQuestForPeace'' featured this: Nuclear Man is actually a clone of a previous Nuclear Man, and his knowledge of Superman and infatuation with Lacy are both inherited from the first.
* A variation of this exists with the immortals in the ''Film/Underworld2003'' films, where a [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampire]] or a [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent lycan]] can gain some memories of any other immortal he or she drinks from. Additionally, the fledglings experience some memories of their makers. Every time a vampire Elder rises from slumber, his or her predecessor orders his or her memory before passing it via blood as an update of sorts on the current events. Once Marcus becomes a hybrid, he can apparently clearly read any memory he chooses from blood, which is a skill even the Elders lack. Of course, this could be simply because he is the [[spoiler:progenitor of all vampires]].
* In ''Film/TheIsland'' Lincoln Six Echo and some of the other clones have inherited faint memories from their originals, the main significance being that he can copy Tom Lincoln's Scottish accent perfectly and the rest of his "generation" is almost incinerated as "flawed".

* In ''The Mask of Circe'', one of Creator/HenryKuttner's novels, the hero (who lived in the 20th century) had achieved the memories of his ancient ancestor - Jason (the mythologic character) through some kind of science experiment.

** The Tholians in the ''Literature/StarTrekNovelVerse''. Encoded in their crystalline molecules is every memory of their people, dating back to the first moment of sapience. Many are buried deep, of course, not generally available to a given individual unless they're brought to the fore by powerful emotional or psychic triggers. Due to the short lifespan of members of many Tholian castes, memories and experience are often "uploaded" to the next generation from the pool of ancestral memories. This is one reason why Tholians hold grudges for an uncomfortably long time - the memories are fresh in their minds for generations.

** The 'verse does hold that some fears and likes are genetic - a couple of clones believe Jango was claustrophobic, for example, because ''they'' are, but that's a little less far fetched than full-fledged memories. This was actually done as a joke when Jango is introduced in the movies and he bonks his helmet on a door frame the same way Stormtroopers do in the original movie (although this ends up being more of a funny coincidence, since it is later firmly established that Stormtroopers are not clones of Fett but ordinary humans recruited / conscripted into the Empire).

* ''Series/StargateSG1'':
** The Goa'uld, a villainous species of parasitic worms, explicitly have this, and it is conscious: A Goa'uld queen chooses what memories she transmits to her children. In one episode where O'Neill learns of this, he asks if that includes remembering their conception, and then states that that's probably why all the Goa'uld are so pissed all the time.
** Several episodes deal with the concept of a Harsesis: a child of two Goa'uld-implanted humans. Such a child would be a human with the complete genetic memory of both Goa'uld lines, and a major threat to Goa'uld domination. One episode has Shifu, a Harsesis, explain the need to keep that part of him suppressed. He causes Daniel to mentaly live out a scenario where he gets some of these memories and slowly turns evil.
** In "Prototype", a genetically-engineered human named Khalek is found in one of Anubis's secret labs. It turns out that Anubis combined the Harsesis concept with Nirrti's hok'tar research to create a host that would have Goa'uld genetic memories (and their [[BuffySpeak "evilness"]]) and have superhuman abilities such as telepathy and telekinesis. The ultimate goal was to create an army that would be able to [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence ascend]] and kill the Ancients. Khalek however was intended as a way for Anubis himself to be [[PostMortemComeback resurrected]], as he implanted him with his own memories.
* In ''Series/StargateAtlantis'' the whale-like creatures native to the planet Atlantis is initially located on have genetic memory, and a form of telepathy. In one episode they attempt to warn the expedition of a solar storm that happens once every several thousand years by showing them their memories of the Ancients' experience with the last one, but there was evidently some data corruption over the generations as the Ancients they project speak high-pitched gibberish and it takes some time for the expedition to figure out what's going on.

* ''Franchise/StarTrek'':
** In the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E24WellAlwaysHaveParis We'll Always Have Paris]]", Data and Geordi ''talk'' about the pseudo-scientific of this trope (specifically the believed role RNA plays in memory). It's possible most of the "scientific understanding" that allows this trope to prevail comes from this episode.
** ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'':
*** An early episode has Odo wondering about his people, feeling that his strong sense of justice is a racial memory, giving him an idea of the kind of people they are. His people are in fact a group of brutal oppressors who often engage in genocide. That being said, they do have the ability to transfer information through touch, but it applied to his sense of order, not justice.
*** The episode where the crew finds an infant Jem'haddar includes the child spontaneously demonstrating complete language skills in a matter of hours. The doctor notes that it would be impossible for him to have learned that from simple observation, so it MUST be some kind of implanted genetic memory (the Jem'haddar were in fact created by genetic engineering). Apparently, in the Trek-verse, genetic memory is more feasible than advanced language learning.
** In the ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekVoyagerS3E20FavoriteSon Favorite Son]]", Harry Kim suddenly starts knowing things he shouldn't, such as that an alien ship is about to attack Voyager. It turns out he has the DNA of the alien Taresians, and his new knowledge comes from that DNA. [[spoiler:Except that it turned out that it was an elaborate trap by the Taresians to lure Harry (and any other male they could get their hands on) in, to steal their life force. Without their tampering, Harry had about as much genetic similarity to the Taresians as we do to lizards.]]
** Zigzagged on ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise''; Phlox cloned Trip, and the clone had all of Trip's memories but this was not, strictly speaking, a clone but a symbiotic life form that absorbs memories with the genes but Phlox explicitly mentions human genetic memory as the reason he had Trip's memories.

* ''Series/{{Farscape}}'' had a device that "twinned" the target, creating a duplicate that was perfect in every way. Exactly how it worked isn't precise -- it have been a subatomic-particle-by-particle reconstruction rather than genetic memory--but the memory and personality were identical.

* This is precisely the main plot of the episode ''Aubrey'' in the 2nd season of ''Series/TheXFiles''. [[spoiler:A female police officer that was adopted begins to remember and reproduce the slayings committed by a grandfather she never knew, who was a serial killer.]]

* On ''Series/TheInvisibleMan'', human genetic memory is encoded in "memory RNA", but can only be accessed by someone with a Quicksilver gland in their head. This led to problems when Fawkes started to be affected by the memories of the gland's first owner.
* ''Series/BlakesSeven''. In "[[Recap/BlakesSevenS3E6CityAtTheEdgeOfTheWorld City at the Edge of the World]]", an AfterTheEnd society has a genetically-engineered race memory that compels them to gather at the eponymous GhostCity every 35 generations and attempt to get through a particular door. Turns out the door is a long-range teleport to a robot spacecraft traveling to another world with fresh resources. When the spacecraft arrives and the population are technologically advanced enough to get the door open, they can all travel through.
* ''Series/TheOuterLimits1995'': In "[[Recap/TheOuterLimits1995S3E3Regeneration Re-Generation]]", the clone of Justin Highfield (who was created from the original's brain and nerve cells) can remember the original's death. While in his mother Rebecca's womb, he communicates with her, including sending her the original Justin's last memories, through an additional bundle of nerve fibres in her umbilical cord. [[spoiler: The clone of Justin's father Graham likewise possesses the original memories while in Dr. Lucy Cole's womb.]]
* ''Series/IntoTheDark'': In ''All That We Destroy'' the latest Ashley clone starts remembering early ones being murdered somehow. Victoria, the geneticist who made them, [[LampshadeHanging has no idea how that's possible]].

*** Half-Dragons, Draconic Sorcerers and other creatures descendent from dragons also gain some benefit from this, mainly an inherent ability to speak and understand Draconic. Strangely zigzagged by the Dragonborn, who are not directly related to dragons.

* The advantage Racial Memory in ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'' is a vaguely defined version of this. In the ''Space'' book the weaker version is listed among the traits that a realistic alien could have.
* ''TabletopGame/ArcanaUnearthed'': "Akashic memory" is a variation on this trope where one can access the sum of all knowledge of all humanoid beings, or maybe even of everything intelligent.
* Legacy Memory in ''TabletopGame/HcSvntDracones'' is a rare phenomenon where a Vector remembers bits of human[[note]]extinct, with Vectors being descended from genetically engineered human-animal hybrids created shortly before the nuclear war or humans who modified themselves to counteract radiation poisoning[[/note]] history. Experiencing a draw towards a lifestyle vaguely resembling ancient human behaviors, such as seafaring, working in the Ganymede frontier, or joining heavy combat units. Even then they tend to feel like something is "missing" from their lives.

* In ''VideoGame/AgarestSenki2'', all main characters after Weiss inherit Weiss' lost memories followed by his nightmares. [[spoiler:Turns out, it's because they are all the same person right from the very beginning.]]
* The Dnyarri in ''VideoGame/StarControl 2.'' Although, their memory may just be a result of being in proximity to other Dnyarri, as they are telepaths. After all, who's to say that memories can't be instinctively psychically passed down through generations? At least, that's what we all * want* to think. The dialogue is explicit about them being stored in genes, [[UnreliableNarrator assuming they weren't fabricated entirely]]. The writers should really leave us more elbow room to FanWank about PsychicPowers.
** -< DON'T YOU MEAN TO TALK ABOUT FLOWERS? >-
** There's also the Ur-Quan Kohr-Ah, who have a sort of racial memory, if one would believe what they say when you engage in dialogue with them with a Dnyarri on board. [[spoiler:It'd seem both races of Ur-Quan have it, which explains why they were never able to get over Dnyarri enslavement once it was over; generations have passed but the memory is as fresh as if it had happened in their lifetime]].
** And the Mycon, although the accuracy of their memories seems to have been damaged in the hundreds of thousands of years [[NeglectfulPrecursors their creators abandoned them]].

* In ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}'', Fei and Elly are both the latest in the SingleLineOfDescent for each of their incarnations, and are explicitly said to have the unique ability to "encode memories in their introns". Furthermore, the potential to suddenly become the new Miang, memories and all, is inherent in every woman on the planet. Don't try and figure that one out.

* Hieda no Akyu from ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' literally has this for her special ability, which she then uses to record the history of Gensokyo. She is the [[LamarckWasRight ninth child]] of a line that goes back for roughly 1200 years, so the only person that recognizes her in any way is the character that created Gensokyo, Yukari Yakumo.
* In ''VideoGame/WildArmsXF'', it's revealed that the {{Precursors}} programmed in all of their knowledge into general human DNA, including the Yggadrassil System, needed to keep Filgaia going.

* The homunculi Irisviel von Einsbern and her daughter Illyasviel in ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' and prequel ''LightNovel/FateZero'' share the memories and experiences of their 'blueprint' originator, Lizleihi Justizia von Einsbern, who lived over two hundred years ago; at times, this will manifest like an alternate personality ([[spoiler:e.g. when Zouken met Ilya, who started to talk like Justizia]]) and is a plot point in both works.

* In ''VideoGame/TheForceUnleashed 2'', Darth Vader creates a series of clones of Starkiller, the protagonist of the first game. Vader becomes disappointed that he can't seem to make a clone that doesn't remember Starkiller's lover, Juno Eclipse, as the imprinted love causes them to rebel against Vader and TheDarkSide. [[spoiler:The Dark Side ending reveals an evil clone that has Starkiller's memories, but has absolute contempt for everything Starkiller loved.]]
* In ''Franchise/MassEffect'', the queens of the Rachni, a species of sentient insectoids, inherit all memories of their mothers.
** It eventually turns out that the Protheans have SuperSenses that let them read the genetic memory of any creature they touch, and can even absorb this information by being in a room that someone was in, even if they haven't been there for months.
** In ''VideoGame/MassEffectAndromeda'', the angara, who are native to the Andromeda galaxy, believe in reincarnation, and one mission ends by you triggering memories of a previous life in an angara NPC; memories which are confirmed accurate when he then leads you to the mummified remains of his previous life. Milky Way biologists are baffled, but theorize that this trope is the explanation. However, the reverse explanation that the BlackBox device used is actually storing the memories and it takes a relative to unlock it is also proposed.
* In the lore of ''VideoGame/EveOnline'', the Intaki supposedly have this, though details are vague. In a process derived from their religious practices, called "Rebirth", the personality of a dying adult is transfered to a newborn. Today it's done with technology, from which came a lot of cloning tech. Spiritual leaders called "Idama" apparently/supposedly still do it the old way, and with training can access past memories.
* In ''{{VideoGame/Overblood}}'', [[spoiler: Milly (a clone) has all the memories of the original, justified because the husband of the original made her as a ReplacementGoldfish.]]
* This is what sets the soldiers of the titular battle force of VideoGame/TemplarBattleforce apart from regular humans. It also serves as the in-universe justification as to why they are the only ones who can pilot their PoweredArmor; it takes millions of hours of practice to learn to do it well!
* The Tzhaar of ''VideoGame/{{Runescape}}'', being by far the most bizarre race in the game, give birth to children that have ''all'' the memories of ''all'' their ancestors. It's very important in lore as it's how they keep records of their history and retain knowledge of how their individual castes work.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Cubivore}}'' your cube is born with memories of a time when the wilderness spanned the world. And every time your cube goes to the mating grounds he dies and you continue as one of his sons.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Republique}}'', [[spoiler:Hope and the other Pre-Cals are eventually revealed to be living, breathing mass storage devices with the entirety of recorded human knowledge encoded in their DNA, with tons of room left for more data]].
* Briefly brought up in ''VideoGame/BloodyRoar 2'', where the FinalBoss, Shenlong, is a clone of a character from the first game, Long. When the two confront each other near the end of Long's story, Shenlong starts on a VillainousBSOD when Long mentions a family member he lost long ago, and Shenlong recognizes her name for reasons he can't quite understand.
* In ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion, '' the X Parasites can access the memories of the hosts they consume, using this to inform their decision-making. In ''VideoGame/MetroidDread,'' [[spoiler:this may be the reason why the X copy of Quiet Robe [[HeroicSacrifice allows itself to be absorbed by Samus]] so she can escape the exploding ZDR. Since Quiet Robe obviously had strong memories of desiring to protect Samus, it may be that the X that consumed and copied him took on these sentiments.]]
** It's implied that the clone of Ridley in ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'' has the memories of the original Ridley, thus he antagonizes Samus throughout the game.
* In a non-living example, ''VideoGame/BattleZone1998'' has the [[AppliedPhlebotinum Bio-Metal]], the "Bio" part was coined because it had the properties of DNA, allowing it to be stimulated to take on previous forms which justifies the RidiculouslyFastConstruction for vehicles and buildings.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' episode "For Black Eyes Only," Black Villain makes a black clone of Sexpun T'Come and she doesn't remember Stan, [[ItMakesSenseInContext until he convinces her to suck his toes]].
-->'''Tearjerker:''' [[HowUnscientific That's not how cloning works! You're a different person!]]
* {{Averted|Trope}} in ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice''--Cadmus manages to make a clone of [[spoiler:Roy Harper]] that has the exact memories of the person he was cloned from, but only because they have genetically-engineered creatures with {{Psychic Powers}}. The G-Nomes simply read [[spoiler:Roy Harper]]'s mind, then copied the memories into his clone's.

* The CreepyPasta "Genetic Memory" (available in illustrated form in [[https://youtu.be/9oIYHK0divY?t=74 this]] video) makes the claim that this is the reason humanity finds certain features like pale skin, dark, sunken eyes, elongated faces, and sharp teeth so frightening -- hence why so many horror icons possess one or more of these features. The story then asks what could have happened long ago that made seemingly all or most of humanity so afraid of these features...

* Some argue the idea of biological instincts or Jung's proposed collective unconscious are a real life toned down example of genetic memory. That said, the details of said collective unconscious "memories" are debatable. %% Which means we will not debate it here. Take it to the Analysis page if you must; we don't want natter on the main page. %%

* [[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25156510 A study with mice]] showed that rodents trained to fear the smell of cherry blossoms passed on that fear to their descendants via epigenetic changes to their sperm.
* [[http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/aug/21/study-of-holocaust-survivors-finds-trauma-passed-on-to-childrens-genes Now a study]] [[http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223%2815%2900652-6/abstract of Holocaust survivors]] seems to prove that traumas can be transmitted through genes as well. [[Main/FridgeHorror Oh.]]

* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedRevelations'' puts a twist on this: Since Desmond Miles' ability to view Altaïr's genetic memories ends with the conception of his second son, Altaïr's subsequent memories are viewed secondhand, by means of the Masyaf Keys that Ezio uncovers during the course of his adventure. So in this case it's a genetic memory of Ezio viewing the stored memories of Altaïr.

* The premise of the ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'' series is that human beings have genetic memories that can be unlocked and viewed via a device called an Animus. The modern-day MegaCorp that developed the device is using it to locate [[LostTechnology powerful hidden artifacts]] by kidnapping people with important ancestors and forcing them to relive their past lives. The process has side-effects, however. Prolonged use causes a "bleeding effect" wherein users [[UpgradeArtifact take on skills]] possessed by their ancestors and experience memories while not in the Animus, eventually resulting in insanity as they become unable to distinguish their own experiences from their ancestors'[[note]]Desmond ''almost'' breaks during the events of ''Revelations'', but ultimately manages to maintain his sanity keep his identity separate, possibly due to improved Animus technology[[/note]]. It is later revealed that genetic memory was deliberately programmed into humans by [[{{Precursors}} Those Who Came Before]] as part of a {{plan}} allowing them to communicate across time with the modern-day descendants of the Assassins.\\
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''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedRevelations'' puts a twist on this: Since Desmond Miles' ability to view Altaïr's genetic memories ends with the conception of his second son, Altaïr's subsequent memories are viewed secondhand, by means of the Masyaf Keys that Ezio uncovers during the course of his adventure. So in this case it's a genetic memory of Ezio viewing the stored memories of Altaïr.

** It's implied that the clone that is Ridley in ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'' has the memories of the original Ridley, thus he antagonizes Samus throughout the game.

* In ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion, '' the X-Parasites can access the memories of the hosts they consume, using it to inform their decision-making. In ''VideoGame/MetroidDread,'' [[spoiler:this may be the reason why the X-Copy of Quiet Robe [[HeroicSacrifice allows itself to be absorbed by Samus]] so she can escape the exploding ZDR. Since Quiet Robe obviously had strong memories of desiring to protect Samus, it may be that the X that consumed and copied him took on these sentiments.]]

* It's implied that the clone that is Ridley in ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'' has the memories of the original Ridley, thus he antagonizes Samus throughout the game.

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* Elie from the ''Webcomic/GiftsOfWanderingIce'' carries alien memories in her mind. They reveal themselves from time to time in the form of painful, vivid reminiscences of the past triggered by the sight of ancient things. There is more to this: the conscience of the person to whom these memories belong is still alive in the girl's mind; it calls itself her "father" and makes attempts to take control of her body.
* Amorphs in ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary''; as the descendants of partially organic self-reproducing memory systems, the amorphs are able to pass memories between each other at will, and in most cases a child will have at least some of their parents' memories and personality traits (though an amorph parent can also deliberately craft their child's personality to resemble someone they admire, even if that person isn't an amorph). One of the reasons Schlock is unusual is that he was 'born' without any of the memories of the two amorphs he formed from, only retaining the overwhelming self-preservation instinct from the two combatants.
** In a more low-key example, the reason Legs is such a natural at [[LeParkour Parkata Urbatsu]] is that her species is descended from avians, and she retains the instincts for flight even though her wings are vestigial.
* ''Webcomic/TheCyantianChronicles'': Downplayed. Neefla do not have genetic memory ''presay'' because the knowledge is imparted during the birthing process instead of conception but this is functionally the same: a newborn with an adult's experience. The lack of this is considered both a tragedy and a boone. While they lack years of knowledge, they have no preconceptions and are the greatest inventors and innovators of Neefla society.

* In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', Doc Scratch theorizes that unusual genetics are the reason The Signless had visions of a peaceful troll civilization-- [[spoiler: Kankri's memories of Beforus]] were apparently ''literally'' in his blood.

* The alien symbiotes in ''Literature/EdenGreen'' resurrect their hosts no matter how extreme the injury. In the case of total head destruction, they attempt to reconstruct the brain, with... [[BlankSlate ''mixed'' results]].

* Before the "RNA memory" theory was discredited, Creator/LarryNiven used it as a teaching device in his short story "Rammer" and its novel expansion, ''Literature/AWorldOutOfTime''.

* In the original ''Literature/ClanOfTheCaveBear'', the Neanderthals were portrayed as having racial memories, which was supposed to both make up for their lack of verbal skills and imagination and keep them socially and "technologically" stagnant.
** Dougal Dixon gives a ShoutOut to this in ''Man After Man'', in which ''Homo mensproavodorum'' evolves genetic memory thousands of years after its ancestor, ''Homo sapiens sapiens'', has died out. Also a bit of a TakeThat, as reliance on hereditary memory does have its limitations in a changing world: the first hominid to possess this capability travels for hundreds of miles in search of a lush woodland she "remembers", only to find that it's been reduced to a forest of dead, leafless trunks. She survives, but her mate doesn't make it.

* Some kender in the ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'' novels believe that they have a kind of racial memory that will let them dredge up information about a place on the basis of other kender having wandered there in the past. It's uncertain whether or not this is true, but when Tasslehoff Burrfoot tries to use this ability on a scorched wasteland, he immediately discovers that it's the town he lives in, in a BadFuture.
* The alien symbiotes in ''Literature/EdenGreen'' resurrect their hosts no matter how extreme the injury. In the case of total head destruction, they attempt to reconstruct the brain, with... [[BlankSlate ''mixed'' results]].
* In the ''Literature/ArrivalsFromTheDark'' series, the [[HumanAliens Bino Faata]] and their HalfHumanHybrids occasionally experience vivid dreams that are based on the memories of their ancestors. They are able to move within the dream, but only to an extent that their ancestor has experienced (i.e. if the ancestor in question has not gone into a building, then his descendant can't go into that building in his dream).
* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'': When Mr.15 injected his blood into [[spoiler: Zettai]] she gained all his knowledge about Bladicraft. Then she lost it when Basilard expelled Mr.15's blood from her. Then he makes her gain Bladicraft knowledge through study and practice.]]
* Creator/IsaacAsimov's "Literature/DoesABeeCare": A StarfishAlien has been left on Earth, and its ability to hide amoung the humans and "[[PsychicPowers inspire]]" them to [[ETGaveUsWiFi build a rocket to outer space]] works entirely by instinct. [[spoiler:Kane doesn't know how he even does this stuff, it just comes naturally to him. He even "remembers" where home is.]]
* Even though they don't have DNA to pass on, demigods in the [[Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians Percy Jackson series]] often inherit phobias inspired by their divine parent's negative experiences; children of Ares [[AbsurdPhobia are afraid of jars]], children of Athena fear [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes spiders]], etc.

* ''Film/AlienResurrection'': The Xenomorphs as a species possess this ability. Ripley 8's genetic memory was somehow the result of the cloning process mingling her physiology with some of the traits of the Xenomorph queen her predecessor had died carrying. For instance, her blood also became corrosive, though to a lesser extent than that of a pure Xenomorph.

* There's an episode of ''Series/{{Andromeda}}'' with a race of people who have this. They are also pacifists because of this, as they know that if they fought in battle, then all their children would be born knowing the horror of war. When their planet is thratened by Nietzscheans, they face the possibility that they will have to fight, but one woman [[BodyHorror impregnates herself with Magog larvae]] who soon hatch and mature into full-grown beast men. Because of the genetic memory of their mother, they all had knowledge of her peaceful ways, giving them a stark contrast to regular Magog, who are bloodthirsty killers.

* There's an episode of ''Series/{{Andromeda}}'' with a race of people who have this, and later the BodyHorror that hatches from them inherits it.

* This is a relevant plot point in ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia''. [[spoiler:The Quirk factor, the DNA component which determines a person's Quirk, is capable of storing the person's consciousness. If the Quirk factor is transplanted into another person, the new host not only manifests the Quirk but also has a high possibility of meeting its original owner in their minds. So far three people are confirmed to experience such rare phenomenon: All For One, Izuku Midoriya, and Tomura Shigaraki. It is a disturbing experience for All For One and Tomura Shigaraki due to their villainous tendencies. In contrast, Izuku doesn't suffer from any side effects since the spirits inside him support his ideal of saving lives and deem him worthy of their Quirks.]]

* [[https://www.wisconsinmedicalsociety.org/professional/savant-syndrome/resources/articles/ancestral-or-genetic-memory-factory-installed-software/ This article]] suggests that genetic memory is responsible for [[TheRainman autistic savants]]. Though in this instance it's skills that are encoded in the genes rather than memories of events or facts.

* ''VisualNovel/GrisaiaNoKajitsu'': Prior to the start of the story, Matsushima Michiru received a heart transplant and subsequently found that she was now sharing her body with her donor's consciousness. In-universe, the closest anybody comes to explaining the phenomena is "extreme case of genetic memory".