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An acquired characteristic is a trait that an organism develops during its lifetime as a result of environmental influences or personal experiences, rather than being inherited genetically. Lamarck believed that these acquired characteristics could be passed down to future generations, suggesting that organisms adapt to their environments through use and disuse of certain traits. For instance, he argued that giraffes developed long necks because their ancestors stretched to reach higher leaves, and this trait would then be inherited by subsequent generations. This idea was an early attempt to explain evolutionary change, although it has since been largely discredited in favor of Darwinian natural selection.

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Has Lamarck's theory of evolution been proved?

Scientists do not prove things. Lamarck's theory is long refuted as acquired characteristics and the use and disuse concepts are not explanations for evolution of populations.


When did Lamarck publish his ideas on evolution?

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck published his ideas on evolution in 1809 in a book titled "Philosophie Zoologique." In this book, he proposed the theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics, which suggested that organisms could pass down traits acquired during their lifetime to their offspring.


When did lamarck publish his ideas on evoultion?

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck published his ideas on evolution in 1809 in his work titled "Philosophie Zoologique." In this book, he introduced the concept of inheritance of acquired characteristics, proposing that organisms could pass on traits acquired during their lifetime to their offspring. Lamarck's ideas were among the earliest theories of evolution, predating Charles Darwin's work by several decades.


What did Jean Baptiste Lamarck discover?

Jean Baptiste Lamarck proposed the theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics, suggesting that traits acquired during an organism's lifetime could be passed on to its offspring. He also investigated the relationship between organisms and their environment, contributing to our understanding of evolution.


Why was Lamarck's theory of evolution not eccepted?

Not well supported by the evidence and basically just assertion. Lamarck asserted that acquired characteristics, such as muscles developed during one's lifetime, were heritable. They are not. He also asserted that an organism had a " desire " to evolve. This was also not true.

Related Questions

Theory of Evolution by Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics?

This is the theory of Lamarck and it is long refuted.


Has Lamarck's theory of evolution been proved?

Scientists do not prove things. Lamarck's theory is long refuted as acquired characteristics and the use and disuse concepts are not explanations for evolution of populations.


Jean Lamarck?

French naturalist who proposed that evolution resulted from the inheritance of acquired characteristics (1744-1829)


What scientist had ideas about evolution and adaptation that influenced Darwin?

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, a French biologist, proposed the idea of inheritance of acquired characteristics and the concept of transformational evolution. These ideas influenced Darwin's thinking on evolution and adaptation. However, Darwin's theory of natural selection ultimately diverged from Lamarck's ideas.


Was lamarck's theory accepted or rejected?

His theory of use and disuse was rejected.


Stated that inheritance of acquired traits caused change in a species over time?

This statement is incorrect. Inheritance of acquired traits, as proposed by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, is not a valid mechanism for evolution. Evolution occurs through natural selection acting on genetic variations already present in a population, not through the direct inheritance of acquired characteristics.


Whose theory of evolution conflict with Darwin's theory of evolution?

French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck's theory of evolution conflicted with Darwin's theory. Lamarck proposed that acquired characteristics could be passed down to offspring, while Darwin's theory emphasized natural selection and gradual change over generations.


What did Lamarck have to do with evolution?

Lamarck believed that there was a form of evolution, but contrary to Darwin after him, he believed that the characteristics an organism acquires during his life are inherited by its descendants. For more on Lamarck's hypothesis, see the related question below.


Where did Darwin meet Lamarck?

Darwin did not actually meet Lamarck in person. Lamarck's ideas on evolution were published before Darwin's time, and Darwin was familiar with them through his readings. Darwin's theory of natural selection differed from Lamarck's theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics.


When did Lamarck publish his ideas on evolution?

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck published his ideas on evolution in 1809 in a book titled "Philosophie Zoologique." In this book, he proposed the theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics, which suggested that organisms could pass down traits acquired during their lifetime to their offspring.


What was wrong with lamarck's theory of evolution'?

His two main concepts, acquired characteristics and a innate " desire " to evolve, were both unsupported by any evidence and were not the way evolution happens. So, Lamarck's " theory " ( in the vulgar sense ) was utterly refuted by the actual evidence and process of evolution.


Was Lamarck correct?

Lamarck was correct about the connection between the environment and evolution. He saw that the organism changes based on the environment and its survival. However, Lamarck is not well-known for his advances in the field. Instead, he is known for the incorrect mechanisms for evolution that he proposed, including "use and disuse" and "inheritance of acquired characteristics." (A small note, Lamarck definitely did not have a "theory," he had hypotheses).