Recapitulation is a biological concept that suggests that the development of an individual organism, or ontogeny, mirrors the evolutionary history of its species, or phylogeny. This idea, often summarized by the phrase "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny," implies that as an organism grows, it passes through stages that resemble the adult forms of its evolutionary ancestors. In the context of music, recapitulation refers to a section in a sonata form where themes introduced earlier in the piece are revisited and restated. This part typically follows the development section and helps to bring a sense of closure and unity to the composition, reinforcing the main themes for the listener.