Question

Which of the following is an example of atavism?

• A. Curly hair
• B. Long hand
• C. A baby born with a small tail
• D. All of these

Hint:

Atavism is the reappearance of traits from distant ancestors, like tails or extra digits, that were not present in recent generations.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Define atavism.
Atavism refers to the reappearance of an ancestral characteristic that had been absent in the previous generations. These traits can sometimes be dormant in the genetic code and can re-emerge in offspring.
Step 2: Review the options.
- Curly hair is a genetic trait but not an atavism; it is commonly inherited. - Long hand is not a typical example of atavism; it could be related to genetic variation. - A baby born with a small tail is a classic example of atavism, where the tail, a feature of our distant ancestors, reappears. - All of these examples can be considered atavisms because they represent traits that were present in ancestral species but are uncommon in modern humans.
Step 3: Conclude.
Since all the examples in option (D) represent traits that can be considered atavisms, option (D) is correct.
Final Answer: \[ \boxed{\text{All of these}} \]