Question

Theory of “inheritance of acquired characters” was written by
A. Darwin
B. Lamarck
C. Weismann
D. Aristotle

Answer 1

Hint: Evolution is the characteristics of any organism from generation to generation depending on the process of natural selection. Inheritance of acquired characteristics means change in the characteristics due to adaptation of the environment and repeated doing of some work in organisms that is then inherited to the offspring.

Complete Answer:
- The evolution is the changes in an organism either genotypic or phenotypic from generation to generation. Evolution has many theories that help to study about the ancestors of an organism.
- Organic evolution is the theory that deals with the origin of more recent types of animals and plants, compared with the pre-existing forms and the study of distinguishable differences among the ancestors and descendents that cause due to successive generation modification.
- For example, we have noticed larvae of a frog have tails that help them to swim and they respire from the gills, this indicates that the frog may have evolved from ancestors that have fish-like characteristics. There is evidence that supports organic evolution; the science of fossils that is palaeontology, it gives the direct and strongest evidence to support the organic evolution theory.
- Fossils are the remains of the dead animals and plants that were preserved in rock of the past. Biological evolution means the changes in the characteristics of any organism from generation to generation. The change is gradual and orderly from simple to complex form, and as the living organisms are made up of organic matter, the biological evolution is also referred to as organic evolution.
- The divergent evolution, an ancestral species diverges into many different species and finally produces a new species. This type of evolution occurs due to migration and environmental change as well. For example; Darwin finches in which the beak of finches changes due to adaptation.
- Now, the inheritance of acquired characteristics is a hypothesis that physiological changes adapted by the organisms over their life; like the muscle enlargement through repeated use. These acquired characteristics may be transmitted to the offspring. It is also referred to as the theory of adaptation equated with the theory of evolution by French naturalist Jean Baptiste Lamarck also considered as Lamarckism.

Thus, the correct option is ‘B’ Lamarck.

Note: The evolution is based on three theories; the theory of natural selection or Darwin’s theory, the mutational theory or De Vries theory, and the synthetic theory of evolution or Neo-Darwinism, these theories together broad the concept of evolution.