atavism

n. appearance of a trait belonging to a distant ancestor that has been dormant in recent generations (Biology)

This page is about the biological term Atavism. For the Chicago record label Atavistic, see Atavistic Records.An atavism is a real or supposed evolutionary throwback, such as traits reappearing which had disappeared generations ago. Atavisms occur because genes for previously existing phenotypical features are often preserved in DNA, even though the genes are not expressed in some or most of the organisms possessing them.
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Noun
1. a reappearance of an earlier characteristic
(synonym) reversion, throwback
(hypernym) recurrence, return

(n.)
The recurrence, or a tendency to a recurrence, of the original type of a species in the progeny of its varieties; resemblance to remote rather than to near ancestors; reversion to the original form.
  

(n.)
The recurrence of any peculiarity or disease of an ancestor in a subsequent generation, after an intermission for a generation or two.
  

noun
situation where a patient suffers from a condition which an ancestor was known to have suffered from, but not his immediate parents