Question

What is the meaning of atavism ?

• A. Inheritance of parental characteristics in progeny
• B. No inheritance of parental characteristics in progeny
• C. Inheritance of ancestral characteristics in progeny, which are not in parents
• D. All of these

Hint:

Think of atavism as a "throwback" trait. The gene for the trait was present but dormant or suppressed for many generations and has suddenly been re-expressed.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Atavism is a term used in evolutionary biology. It refers to the reappearance of a trait that was present in a distant ancestor but was lost in the organism's immediate ancestors.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Atavism, also known as reversion, is the tendency to revert to an ancestral type. It is the reappearance of an ancestral trait in an organism after several generations of absence. These traits are often from evolutionary ancestors.
For example, the appearance of a tail in a human baby, or the appearance of hind limbs in snakes or whales. These traits are not present in the parents but were present in the distant evolutionary ancestors of the species.
Option (A) describes normal heredity. Option (B) is incorrect. Option (C) accurately describes atavism as the inheritance of ancestral traits that skip intermediate generations.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The meaning of atavism is the inheritance of ancestral characteristics in progeny, which are not present in the immediate parents.