174. Atavism: Skipping a Generation… Or a Few Thousand

Don’t you just love a good throwback? Emily and Kyle certainly do—and, in this episode, so do botanists, doctors, pseudoscientists, and more! Join our hosts in taking some inspiration from the past and exploring the word atavism.

Our hosts begin with a look at the Latin family tree. They learn words to describe their uncles, their grandfathers, and (most useful of all) their great great great grandfathers. They also learn how plants remember their ancestors, what it means when a trait skips a generation, and why some people have three of something while others have two.

It’s not all about physical resemblance today! Emily explains that atavisms can extend to things like personal habits and cultural zeitgeists. But Kyle learns that not all claims of atavism are worth believing, and in fact some can cause more harm than good.