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Atavism
is a tendency to reproduce ancestral type in plants and in animals; to resemble one's
grandparents or great-grandparents more than parents. In popular speech, a ‘throw
back’.
Atavism is the tendency of animals or plants to revert to an
ancestral type. Resemblance to more remote ancestors rather than to parents.
This concept of atavism was used by Cesare Lombroso
(1835-1909) to describe a type of criminal he called the born criminal.
The atavistic criminal was one representing an earlier stage
of human evolution (thus representing the ancestral type more than the parental type).
This ancestral type was identified by Lombroso through several stigmatized physical
characteristics - including the length of ear lobes and fingers and the bone structure of
the head. This supposed physical degeneracy was associated with moral degeneracy and thus
more frequent criminal behaviour. These physical stigmata were not found to be especially
associated with criminals and this particular theory of criminality was rejected.
Hallux valgus--an atavism? - Klaue K. - Article in
German
Reparto di Chirurgia Ortopedica, Clinica Luganese, sede Moncucco, Lugano.
k.klaue@bluewin.ch
In biology, atavism is generally understood as a biological phenomenon which brings to
sight a recurrent phenotypic character which was lost for extinct generations. Phylogenic
evolution of homo sapiens demonstrates today that the first plantar ray in tetrapods has
always been a very stable ray and the lateral foot experienced a progressive adduction to
the talo-metatarsal axis, together with a remodeling of the lateral column of the foot and
a progressive valgus of the calcaneus beneath the talus. The foot appears as a strongly
modified extremity, starting at a prehensile foot organ, common to our ancestors. In homo
sapiens, the hand became a very mobile, less loaded organ, while the foot became a rather
less mobile, but more loaded organ. The first ray, distal to Lisfranc's ligament, has no
ligamentous structure holding it to the second ray. Stability is thus precarious and
controlled by extrinsic and intrinsic muscles. Passive mobility of the tarso-metatarsal
joints has been studied in vitro and in vivo. A relationship between unstable or
hypermobile first ray and relevant Hallux valgus deformity has been demonstrated. Factors
which facilitate the deformity are a long hallux and a functional equinus of the foot.
Clinical pathology includes metatarsalgia, hammer toes, together with metatarsus primus
varus and shortened gastrocnemii. Logical treatment of relevant and painful deformity
includes tarso-metatarsal fusion with or without fusion to the second metatarsus.
Osteotomies seem less secure in severe cases on the long run. In conclusion, Hallux valgus
cannot be considered as an atavism because clinical history and findings do not correspond
to the archaic prehensile foot and its evolution, but rather do correspond to a weak spot
on a (still) fragile, often overloaded, phylogenetically young organ. - PMID: 15354748
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Ethno-nationalism in process: ethnicity, atavism and
indigenism in Riau, Indonesia - Author: Wee V.
Source: The Pacific Review, Volume 15, Number 4, 1 December
Abstract: Fifty-five years ago the Republic of Indonesia was founded on the motto Bhinneka
tunggal ika (unity in diversity). Today unity has all but disintegrated as separatism and
ethnic conflict tear at the nation's political and social fabric. This paper explores the
historical foundations of ethno-nationalism with reference to the perspectives of Riau
Malays. It argues that current conflict is not the result of recent phenomena, as is so
often reported in the media, but is the surfacing of fault-lines that have long lain
beneath the seemingly unified nation-state. Since 1945 and the declaration of Indonesian
independence, unity has been achieved by Jakarta's imposition of order on the periphery.
By analysing the relationship between the centre and periphery through the eyes of Riau
Malays, a much clearer account of power emerges. This paper briefly highlights Riau
accounts of the struggle for independence (1945-65), shows how atavism and indigenism have
been symbolically and ritually realized on the ground (1965-97) and examines some key
developments in Riau after the fall of Suharto (1997-2001). Despite recent changes, the
politics of diverse peripheries have become localized, indigenized and fragmented, and
alternatives to a Jakarta-centred vision for Indonesia's future are as marginalized as
ever. - ingentaconnect.com |
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