Describe lamarckism with reference to organic evolution?

Question: Describe lamarckism with reference to organic evolution?

Lamarckism, named after the French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, is an early theory of organic evolution. It proposes that organisms can pass on traits acquired during their lifetime to their offspring. This theory is based on two main principles:

1. Use and Disuse: Organs or structures that are used frequently become stronger and more developed, while those that are not used deteriorate over time.

2. Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics: Traits that an organism acquires or loses during its lifetime due to environmental interactions or behaviors can be inherited by its offspring.

For example, Lamarck suggested that giraffes developed long necks because their ancestors stretched their necks to reach higher leaves, and this trait was passed down through generations.

Although Lamarckism was influential in the 19th century, it was largely discredited by the rise of Mendelian genetics and the modern synthesis of evolutionary biology. However, some modern research in epigenetics has shown that environmental factors can influence gene expression in ways that might resemble Lamarckian inheritance.

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