Lamarck's Theory of Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck's Proposed Mechanism
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, a renowned French naturalist, proposed a groundbreaking theory in the late 18th century. He hypothesized that acquired characteristics, traits developed during an individual's lifetime, could be inherited by their offspring.
Example: Giraffe's Neck Length
Lamarck famously posited that giraffes acquired long necks through the adaptive process. As they stretched upward to reach high leaves, their necks gradually elongated. According to his theory, these lengthened necks would then be passed on to their offspring.
Critics and the Modern View
Lamarck's theory was influential in its time, but it has since been largely discredited. Scientific evidence suggests that acquired characteristics are not inheritable. The modern understanding of inheritance is based on the principles of genetics, which emphasizes the role of genes in transmitting traits.
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