Atavisms: 4 Lost Traits That Returned

The video explores Dollo's Law, which suggests that once a complex trait is lost, it cannot reappear. However, atavisms, or the reappearance of lost traits, challenge this idea. Examples include cetaceans occasionally developing hind limbs, limpets re-evolving coiled shells, soil mites regaining sexual reproduction, and Osedax worms exhibiting changes in sexual dimorphism. These cases provide insights into evolutionary processes, showing that genetic information can be retained and reactivated under certain conditions, offering a deeper understanding of how evolution works.

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