Arachnophobes are born with fear of spiders

London: 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.