Retention of Ancestral Juvenile Characters by Adult Descendants is Termed

Question

Retention of ancestral juvenile characters by adult descendants is termed
A)Allopatry.
B)Heterochrony.
C)Paedomorphosis.
D)Recapitulation.

Accepted Answer

Retention of ancestral juvenile characters by adult descendants is called paedomorphosis. This phenomenon is commonly observed in the evolution of animal species where adult descendants retain certain juvenile characteristics from their ancestors. This can occur due to genetic mutations or changes in environmental factors, leading to a delay or cessation of certain developmental processes. Allopatry is the separation of populations by geographic barriers. Heterochrony refers to evolutionary changes in the timing or rate of development. Recapitulation is the idea that the developmental stages of an organism replay its evolutionary history.