Question

Who proposed the Mutation Theory of Evolution and in which year?

Options

• Charles Darwin in 1859

• August Weismann in 1892

• Gregor Mendel in 1865

• Hugo de Vries in 1901

Answer 1

Hugo de Vries proposed the Mutation Theory of Evolution in 1901, based on his experiments with the evening primrose (Oenothera lamarckiana). He argued that new species arise through sudden, large mutations (saltation) rather than gradual Darwinian variation, marking a significant contribution to evolutionary biology.