Scientists in Japan have identified a “smell sensor” in mice that triggers fear of animals such as foxes and snakes, a finding that could prove aversion to predators is genetically encoded rather than learned.

According to the study team, just sniffing their predators’ scents makes rodents freeze in fear even if they have never encountered them. However, which gene performs the function was unknown until the latest research.

— Read more at Scientists find ‘smell sensor’ that makes mice fear predators at The Asahi Shimbun.