Question

The Atavistic Hypothesis effectively says that (pick one):

A) Most cancers are a result of a failure of more recently evolved genes to properly regulate more primitive genes.

B) Most cancers occur because of mutations in genes that cause cells to divide.

C) Mutation rates in protists are higher than in multicellular organisms.

Answer 1

The atavistic Hypothesis states that traits that were present in the ancestors and have lost through evolution might reappear after several generations.

This happens because the traits that are lost are usually recessive and stay back in a small amount of population without expression. However, when certain mutations arise, that can either trigger these genes to express or suppress their counterparts, these previously existing traits can re-emerge.

In terms of cancer, it states that cancers can arise because of either the failure of new genes to regulate the old ones or that the old genes undergo a mutation that makes them override the new genes.

Hence the correct option is A.