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Question
Which of the following scientists proposed a theory of evolution that was based on inheritance of acquired characteristics?
Options
Gregor Mendel
R. C. Punnet
Charles Darwin
Jean Baptiste Lamarck
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Solution
Jean Baptiste Lamarck
Explanation:
Lamarck (1744-1829) is known for his theory, Lamarckism, which holds that organisms can pass on traits acquired during their lifetimes to their offspring. His theory is based on several postulates, including the use and disuse of organs and the inheritance of acquired characters. For example, he suggested that giraffes acquired long necks by continuously stretching to reach high leaves, and this acquired trait was inherited by subsequent generations. This theory, however, has been largely discredited by modern genetics, but was an important early attempt to explain evolutionary change.
