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Arachnophobes are born with fear of spiders

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ANI London
Last Updated : Apr 06 2015 | 11:57 AM IST

Scientists have revealed that people are born with the fear of spiders rather than something they learn.

Research suggested that arachnophobia could be sown into the DNA as a result of survival instincts developed by our ancestors millions of years ago in Africa, the Daily Star reported.

The research suggested that spiders presented such a powerful threat to the survival of the first humans that the ability to spot them became an evolutionary necessity.

Joshua New, from Columbia University in New York, said that a number of spider species with potent venoms populated Africa long before people.

And people with arachnophobia actually have better survival instincts than the rest of people, he further added.

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First Published: Apr 06 2015 | 11:39 AM IST

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