Question

According to Lamarckism, how did the giraffe's neck become longer?

Options

• Through repeated stretching to reach leaves on tall trees, with acquired characters passed to the next generation

• Through natural selection of individuals with inherently longer necks

• Through competition for resources with other species in the environment

• Through sudden mutations that randomly increased neck length

Answer 1

Lamarck's theory proposed that organisms could pass on acquired characteristics to their offspring. In this example, giraffes that repeatedly stretched their necks to access higher leaves would develop longer necks, and this acquired trait would be inherited by their descendants, leading to progressive neck elongation over generations.