Concept · Cognitive Bias: Persuasion and influence biases
Not invented here syndrome
Origin: Katz & Allen, 1982
Biological Parallel
Horizontal gene transfer allows bacteria to acquire beneficial genes from other lineages—antibiotic resistance, metabolic pathways, virulence factors. Yet many bacteria have CRISPR immune systems that actively reject foreign DNA. Why resist beneficial innovations? Because the risk of importing parasitic or incompatible genes exceeds the benefit of novel functions. 'Not invented here' is an immune response: protect integrity by rejecting external solutions, even when they work. The bias trades innovation for stability.