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Line 1: − + − The best example to illustrate this is in considering how the [[giraffe]] came to have a long neck. − − Lamarck's theory suggests that giraffes developed a long neck because the animals constantly stretched upwards to reach the highest leaves while it was feeding. As a consequence of this, its young were born with longer necks. +
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (view source)
Revision as of 00:39, November 10, 2007
, 00:39, November 10, 2007Add a little
'''Jean Baptiste Lamarck''' thought that the way an animal behaved during its life could affect the form of its offspring.
'''Jean Baptiste Lamarck''' was a [[French]] [[naturalist]] who proposed one of the first theories of evolution. He postulated that an animal was able to change a characteristic during its lifetime depending on its behaviour, and that these changes would be passed onto its offspring resulting in speciation. For instance, if a giraffe attempted to eat the leaves off the top of a tree it would be constantly stretching its neck, resulting in both a longer neck for itself and that this characteristic would be passed onto its young.
Lamarck's theory was fundamentally flawed in that it could not explain the contradictions in observations, for instance a neutered dog would not give birth to sterilised young. Further research into [[DNA]] demonstrated the mechanisms by which characteristics were passed on, invariably disproving the theory. As such it receives no support from mainstream science.
{{DEFAULTSORT: Lamarck, Jean-Baptiste}}
{{DEFAULTSORT: Lamarck, Jean-Baptiste}}
[[Category:Biologists]]
[[Category:Biologists]]