Term for Reappearance of Ancestral Trait
Reappearance of an ancestral trait after several generations is known as:
- Mutation
- Atavism — Correct Answer
- Epistasis
- Penetrance
Explanation:
Correct Answer: Atavism
Atavism is the reappearance of an ancestral trait after it has been absent for several generations. It occurs when dormant genetic material is re-expressed.
Key Terms to Distinguish
- Atavism: Reappearance of ancestral trait after several generations (e.g., extra toes in horses, vestigial structures).
- Mutation: Sudden heritable change in genetic material.
- Epistasis: One gene masking the expression of another non-allelic gene.
- Penetrance: Percentage of individuals with a given genotype that express the expected phenotype.
📚 About this Topic — Animal Genetics & Breeding
This multiple choice question is from Animal Genetics & Breeding, Animal Refresher. It has 4 options with a detailed explanation of the correct answer. Practice more MCQs from Animal Genetics & Breeding to strengthen your preparation.
