From Latin pro "before", and the genus name Gradungula, referring to the ancient ancestry of the genus.

Miniaturization has an ancient ancestry.

The fire of their ancient, savage ancestry was in both faces, and Kirk knew suddenly that he did not command Spock in this.

Because of its ancient ancestry and "primitive" characteristics, it has been described as a "living fossil".

It has also been shown that a broad distribution of GC-content between species within a genus shows a more ancient ancestry.

Worse than useless-he would be an embarrassment, a source of violence, a reminder of the ancient and cruel ancestry of humanity.

He was born in Sweden to a family of ancient German ancestry.

If they could have their clans and houses and whatnot, she had an ancient ancestry, as well.

This group has also been found to have genetic traits in common with other Jewish groups, bolstering their claims to ancient Jewish ancestry.

The bichir, a heavy-scaled fish of ancient ancestry which lives in the rivers and swamps of Africa, still demonstrates the method they adopted.