Uncharted Space — P.A. Seasholtz

dev·o·lu·tion noun ˌdevəˈlüshən also -vəlˈyü-   

   ² a :  descent or passage through a series (as of stages in development)  

  b :  retrograde evolution :  degeneration  

   A catastrophic devolution of a species is often self-imposed, a nuclear Armageddon a common point on the timeline that must be successfully crossed.  External forces like natural mass extinction events usually end the species altogether, whether they come from an asteroid strike, a star going supernova, or a biological event.  On the other hand, an orchestrated external event that forces a devolution without extinction is not something a species anticipates facing.  A recovery from all these events is possible when the devolution only involves a loss of knowledge, but when it becomes a literal devolution of the genetic material, a restoration to the original becomes nearly impossible.  From my perspective as a geneticist, an approximate restoration to the original is even a feat nearing impossibility.