LAMARCKISM Meaning and
Definition
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Lamarckism is a term that refers to the theory proposed by French biologist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in the late 18th and early 19th century. Lamarckism, also known as Lamarckian inheritance or Lamarckian evolution, is an outdated concept in the field of biology that suggests that acquired characteristics are inherited by offspring. This theory proposes that an organism can pass on traits it acquired during its lifetime to its offspring, resulting in evolutionary changes over successive generations.
According to Lamarckism, an organism can change its traits in response to its environment or through use or disuse of certain organs or features. These acquired traits would then be transferred to offspring, leading to the gradual development of new species. For example, Lamarck suggested that the long neck of a giraffe evolved as a result of the animal continuously stretching its neck to reach higher foliage, and this elongated neck would be passed on to its progeny.
However, Lamarckism has been widely discredited and rejected by modern biology. The theory does not align with the principles of genetics and natural selection, which are fundamental to our understanding of evolutionary processes. Lamarckism failed to recognize the role of genetic material in inheritance and the concept of random genetic mutations as driving forces for natural selection.
Despite its shortcomings, Lamarckism played an important role in the history of evolutionary thought, as it initiated scientific discussions on the mechanisms of species modification and the interplay between organisms and their environment.
Common Misspellings for LAMARCKISM
- kamarckism
- pamarckism
- oamarckism
- lzmarckism
- lsmarckism
- lwmarckism
- lqmarckism
- lanarckism
- lakarckism
- lajarckism
- lamzrckism
- lamsrckism
- lamwrckism
- lamqrckism
- lamaeckism
- lamadckism
- lamafckism
- lamatckism
- lama5ckism
Etymology of LAMARCKISM
The word "Lamarckism" is derived from the surname of the French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (1744-1829). Lamarck was one of the early proponents of evolutionary theory and is known for his theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics, which is the central idea in Lamarckism. The term "Lamarckism" was coined in the early 20th century to refer to Lamarck's ideas and his approach to evolution.
Idioms with the word LAMARCKISM
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Lamarckism
Lamarckism is an idiom that refers to a discredited theory of evolution proposed by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, a French biologist. It suggests that acquired traits during an organism's lifetime can be passed on to future generations. This theory was eventually replaced by Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection, which became the accepted explanation for how species evolve and adapt. Therefore, the idiom "Lamarckism" is often used to describe outdated or incorrect theories or ideas that have been disproven by scientific evidence.
Similar spelling words for LAMARCKISM
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