paedomorphosis

British  

/ ˌpiːdəˈmɔːfəsɪs /

noun

1. the resemblance of adult animals to the young of their ancestors: seen in the evolution of modern man, who shows resemblances to the young stages of australopithecines

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Example Sentences

So if paedomorphosis was already perplexing in female beetles, it makes even less sense that a male beetle would not develop wings as an adult.

From New York Times

Dr. Ferreira also connected the species to a poorly understood evolutionary trend he and others have studied called paedomorphosis.

From New York Times

“It is the most extremist example of paedomorphosis,” Dr. Ferreira said.

From New York Times

“The umpteen changes that go into the bird skull may all owe to paedomorphosis, to one set of molecular changes in the early embryo.”

From Scientific American

This process, known as paedomorphosis, is an efficient evolutionary route.

From Scientific American