Genetic memory

"Our DNA functions as an archive. It contains not only genetic instructions passed down from previous generations, but memories as well. The memories of our ancestors."

- Warren Vidic.

Genetic memory is, theoretically, the memories of one's ancestors that are passed down into subsequent generations through DNA. It enables instinctive skills in animals, and acts as an archive of history in humans.

The corporation Abstergo Industries developed the Animus virtual machine explicitly to decode and render such memories in three dimensions, allowing the reliving of past events, and the discovery of hidden information.

After extraction, genetic memories could also be reviewed by people who did not hold the memories, through the use of another Abstergo creation, the Data Dump Scanner.

Animus Project
Genetic memory and the Animus gave Abstergo the opportunity to discover previously unknown details of history, as well as gather information about their enemies, and the Pieces of Eden.

This eventually led to the creation of the Animus Project headed by Dr. Warren Vidic. The project involved "acquiring" several subjects with historically famous ancestors (particularly notable Assassins or Templars), and analyzing their genetic memories.

Animus Subjects 1 through 17 were placed into the Animus for extensive review, where large sections of their genetic memories were analyzed. Other subjects who only possessed limited or few noteworthy memories were instead "farmed", with their genetic memories extracted and placed up for review by several Abstergo recruits in Abstergo's Project Legacy.

Limitations
"Unfortunately, when we try and open the memory, your mind withdraws. You lack the confidence to step into your ancestor’s body."

- Lucy Stillman during Desmond Miles' early use of the Animus.

Genetic memories could be obtained from both willing or unwilling subjects. Should one not cooperate in entering an Animus and reliving a memory, a coma could simply be induced on the subject, and the memories extracted from the dormant mind.

Even when done voluntarily, initially reliving genetic memories could prove difficult, as most people subconsciously rejected the foreign memories. Traumatic genetic memories were also difficult to access, at least until the subject had greatly increased their synchronization with their ancestor.

Additionally, based on one memory Desmond Miles witnessed with his ancestor, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, genetic memory of one individual appeared to stop upon the conception of the next ancestor, from which the viewer was descended. On the occasion where Altaïr and Maria Thorpe conceived their son, Desmond's ancestral focus shifted from Altaïr's, to the child's.

Memory within memory patterns could also be exhibited, given certain conditions. Subject 15, for example, relived genetic memories while she was pregnant. As such, the memories decoded by the Animus competed, as it attempted to read the memories of both the fetus' mother and father.

A similar case occurred when Desmond viewed the later memories of Ezio Auditore. At one point where he attempted to relive the siege of Viana, at the time, Ezio himself was recalling the siege of Monteriggioni, thus forcing Desmond back into that memory.