Question

According to the theory of pangenesis:

Options

• particulate heritable factors separate in the formation of gametes

• changes to an organism’s body can be passed to the next generation

• sperm contains a miniature human being called the homunculus

• characteristics of the offspring are a blending of parental traits

Answer 1

changes to an organism’s body can be passed to the next generation

Explanation:

According to the theory of pangenesis, proposed by Darwin, it was believed that all parts of an organism’s body produce tiny particles called “gemmules” which circulate and collect in the reproductive organs. These gemmules carry information about the acquired characteristics and can be passed to offspring. Thus, changes acquired during an organism's lifetime could be inherited by the next generation. This theory is an early hypothesis explaining inheritance of acquired traits, which is now discredited by modern genetics.