Reversjon

Reversjon, or reversion, is a term used across several disciplines to denote the act or process of returning to a prior state, form, or condition. Its precise meaning depends on the context, but the unifying idea is a backward step from a changed or acquired state toward an earlier reference point. The word derives from Latin reversio, meaning a turning back.

In genetics and molecular biology, a reversjon or reversion mutation is a genetic change that restores a phenotype or function that had been altered by a prior mutation. True revertants occur when the original site mutates back to its wild-type sequence, while second-site revertants (or suppressors) restore function by compensatory changes elsewhere in the genome. Reversion can complicate genetic analyses but also serves as a tool to study gene function and interaction networks.

In property law, reversjon denotes a future interest in which property returned to the grantor or the grantor’s heirs after the termination of an accompanying estate, such as a life estate. This is distinct from a remainder, where a third party gains possession after the estate ends. Reversion arises automatically unless the grantor conveys the remainder or creates another interest.

In medicine and pharmacology, reversal (reversjon) refers to counteracting a drug’s effects, typically with an antagonist or antidote. Examples include the reversal of anesthesia, opioid effects, or other pharmacological actions when keeping patient safety as a priority.

In linguistics and historical studies, reversion can describe patterns where languages revert toward earlier forms or usages after a period of change, though the term is used variably and not as a rigid technical label.

See also: reversion mutation, revertant, reversionary interest.