History Main / DevolutionDevice

* An inversion happens in ''Anime/SpaceDandy. [[spoiler: The plant people were only given intelligence in the first place by a meteor that landed at the north pole. Once Dandy removed the device at the request of the plant people, only THEN did they learn that it is what kept them alive, and they devolved back to their original state along with the rest of the planet]].

* The serum version was used in a ''SherlockHolmes'' story.

* ''ThirdRockFromTheSun'': "Liam Neesan" (a character, not the actor or even played by [[LiamNeeson the actor]]) had a ray gun that turned people into monkeys. He planned to use it on the human race, but Dick Solomon stopped him by turning [[HoistByHisOwnPetard him]] into a monkey.

* There was a devo ray used in an ''ComicBook/{{X-Men}}'' story in the 80s: most of the ones hit with it turned into apes but Nightcrawler devolved into something more feline looking.

[[http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=mutant-chicken-grows-alli Note that]] in RealLife, a creature's cells contain "dormant" genes from its ancestors. However, the DNA changes would have to occur on pretty much every cell in the body to change species, and it's quite likely that some of the other genes essential to a species' ancestor have been mutated or damaged beyond repair over thousands, or millions, of years. Even if genetic reversions did take place, the existing ''non-cellular'' components of an affected creature's body would not be changed by alterations in DNA, so features like hair or skeletal framework would remain the same.

[[http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=mutant-chicken-grows-alli Note that]] in RealLife, a creature's cells contain "dormant" genes from its ancestors. However, the DNA changes would have to occur on pretty much every cell in the body to change species, and it's quite likely that some of the other genes essential to a species' ancestor have been mutated or damaged beyond repair over thousands, or millions, of years. Even if genetic reversions did take place, the existing non-cellular components of an affected creature's body would not be changed by alterations in DNA, so features like hair or skeletal framework would remain the same.

[[http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=mutant-chicken-grows-alli Note that]] in RealLife, a creature's cells contain "dormant" genes from its ancestors. However, the DNA changes would have to occur on pretty much every cell in the body to change species, and it's quite likely that some of the other genes essential to a species' ancestor have been mutated or damaged beyond repair over thousands, or millions, of years. Even then, the non-cellular components of an affected creature's body could not be changed by alterations in DNA, so features like hair or skeletal framework would remain the same.

[[http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=mutant-chicken-grows-alli Note that]] in RealLife, a creature's cells contain "dormant" genes from its ancestors. However, the DNA changes would have to occur on pretty much every cell in the body to change species, and it's quite likely that some of the other genes essential to a species' ancestor have been mutated or damaged beyond repair over thousands, or millions, of years.

* Congo from ''CongosCaper'' devolves back into a monkey from a boy when he takes damage.

** One episode of ''JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' had Gorilla Grodd construct a "devolution" ray (his own words) that turned humans into humanoid gorillas... including Comicbook/{{Superman}}, who is not human at all. After his plan failed even Lex Luthor [[WhoWritesThisCrap complained how stupid the whole thing sounded]] and [[KlingonPromotion used it as the pretext to take over the Legion sooner than he planned.]] FridgeBrilliance makes one realize it's actually an effective plan, causing complete chaos for all humans as nothing works right for them any more. It's just incredibly selfish, as he's the only one who gains from that.

[[http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=mutant-chicken-grows-alli Note that]] in RealLife, a creature's cells contain "dormant" genes from its ancestors. However, the DNA changes would have to occur on pretty much every cell in the body to change species.

[[http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=mutant-chicken-grows-alli Note that]] in RealLife, a creature's cells contain "dormant" genes from its ancestors. However, to have this affect a life form, it would require the selective DNA changes on pretty much every cell in the body to change species.

Often used for comic effect, this is an understated device that could cause chaos. Consider how much you use that is designed for intended species use only. Ape hands could crush a keyboard or phone, it would be hard to convince a saber-toothed cat to use a litter box, and dolphins and whales would sprout legs and doggy paddle to the surface. And that’s if you’re lucky and keep cognitive abilities across EvolutionaryLevels.

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* An issue of ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigra Tigra]]'' [[note]](no, not [[ThunderCats Tygra]])[[/note]] had a scientist of the Cat People developing a ray to turn the heroine back to her human form. An renegade CP got ahold of it and used it as a devolving ray. [[note]][[spoiler:Cat People usually devolved into big cats. When turned on the, he devolved in a ''house cat''.]][[/note]]

* During Marvel's Kree-Skrull War, Ronan the Accuser busted out the old monkey-making de-evolutionary ray as part of his plan against Earth.

* In Creator/RobertEHoward's "The Hyborian Age", the BackStory to ''{{Conan}}'', the fall of the {{Atlantis}} produced devolution:

* One of the first-generation ''TabletopGame/{{Pokemon}}'' trading cards was Devolution Spray, used to devolve a Pokemon to its previous state, removing all status effects in the process. Mew's first card also had an ability called "Devolution Beam", which did exactly the same thing.

* The Devolutionizing Machine in [[http://superdickery.com/images/stories/science/0006a43h.jpg this page from a Wonder Woman comic]]. It changes a crocodile into a Tyrannosaurus Rex and elephants into mastodons.

* The Dinaurians in ''FossilFighters'' have ray-guns that de-evolve humans into "theriodonta", rat-like ancestral mammals.

* ''{{Ghostbusters}} International'' adventure ''Hot Rods of the Gods''. After Meera undergoes his magical power-up he uses the tablet to fire a red devolvo ray at the Ghostbusters. When hit by this ray a person becomes hairy, has their arms grow to knee-length, their jaw juts out like a stereotypical "ape man" and their intelligence decreases somewhat. The effect wears off in about 30 minutes.

** [[FridgeLogic Shouldn't they turn into toasters or something]]?
** [[WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}} We've come a long way baby.]]