reversio

Reversio is a Latin noun meaning turning back or return. In English, it appears in a variety of technical terms that describe a return to an earlier state, a concept shared across disciplines. The word stems from re- “back” plus vertere “to turn.”

In law, reversio (often rendered as reversion in modern usage) refers to a future interest in property. It describes the situation where a grantor or their heirs will regain possessory rights after a particular event or the expiration of a term, such as a life estate or a lease. Roman and civil law discussions distinguish reversionary interests from other forms of future ownership, like remainders, which vest in a third party upon termination of the preceding estate.

In biology and genetics, reversion denotes a mutation or genetic change that restores a trait or function to its original state. A revertant is a cell or organism in which the original phenotype reappears after a second mutation. True back mutations restore the exact ancestral sequence, while other compensatory changes may reestablish function without perfect sequence identity. Reversion concepts are fundamental in mutation research, studies of genetic stability, and the examination of evolutionary processes.

In horticulture and plant breeding, reversio or “reversion to type” describes a cultivar reverting to its ancestral traits after selection, mutation, or environmental influence. Such reversions can affect uniformity and trait expression in propagated lines, influencing breeding strategies and quality control.

Overall, reversio conveys the broad notion of returning to an earlier condition, adapted to the specific language and needs of law, genetics, and plant science.