the memories contained in a single cell certainly doesn't have a scientific basis. There was some speculation about rna-memory transfer (based on statiticly invalid samples) from planarians fed other planarians who had learned to do t-mazes did the t-maes faster than other planarians.
Larry Niven made alot out of this memory-rna transfer schtick in his stories, but AFAIK, its a scientific dead end.
"I am an impure thinker. I am hurt, swayed, shaken, | paul + | + elated, disillusioned, shocked, comforted, and I | --|-- have to transmit my mental experiences lest I die." | + | +
-- Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy | pduggan at world.std.com