Question

Lamarck, in part, based his erroneous theory of evolution on the passing of acquired characteristics from one generation to the next. Darwin’s theory is based on the passing of inherited genetic characteristics from one generation to the next. Determine which of the characteristics listed below are acquired, inherited or involve both acquired and inherited

Explain your choices.

1. Increased proficiency in playing the clarinet: acquired or inherited or both

2. Thick subcutaneous fat layer in arctic seals: acquired or inherited or both

3. Attaining a height of two meters in humans: acquired or inherited or both

4. Grizzly bears hibernating during the winter: acquired or inherited or both

Answer 1

ACCORDING TO THE THEORY OF LAMARCK ACQUIRED CAHARCTERS ARE PASSED FROM ONE GENRATION TO THE NEXT GENERATION. HIS THEORY IS KNOWN AS THE USE AND DISUSE THEORY. LAMARCK SAID THAT EVOLUTION OF LIFE FORMS IS DRIVEN BY USE AND DISUSE OF ORGANS . LAMARCK GAVE THE EXAMPLE OF GIRAFF WHO IN AN ATTEMPT TO FORAGE LEAVES ON TALL TREES HAD TO ADAPT BY ELONGATION OF THEIR NECKS. AS THEY PASSED THIS ACQUIRED CHARACETER OF ELONGATED NECK TO SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS , GIRAFFS SLOWLY OVER THE YEARS , CAME TO ACQUIRE LONG NECKS.

BUT ACCORDING TO THE DARWIN'S THEORY THIS ACQUIRED CAHARCTERS ARE NOT TRANSFERRED TO SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS. ONLY THE INHERITED GENETIC CAHARACTERS ARE TRANSFERRED FROM ONE GENRATION TO THE NEXT.FOR EXAMPLE IF BOTH PARENTS ARE TALL THE OFFSPRING WILL BE TALL. BECAUSE THE CHRACTER FOR TALLNESS IS TRANSFERRED TO THEIR OFFSPRING THROUGH THE GENES.

1. INCREASED PROFICIENCY IN PLAYING CLARINET IS AN ACQUIRED CHARCTER. THE SKILL TO PLAY CLARINET CANNOT BE TRANFERRED THROUGH GENES . ONE SHOULD STUDY IT DURING HIS OR HER LIFETIME.

2. THICK SUBCUTANEOUS LAYER IN THE ARTIC SEALS IS AN INHERITED CHARACTER. BECAUSE IT IS AN ADAPATATION MECHANISM AND THIS CAHARCETR IS TRANSFERRED THROUGH GENES FROM GENERATION AFTER GENERATION.

3. ATTAINIG A HEIGHT OF TWO METERS IN HUMANS IS BOTH ACQUIRED AND INHERITED. NORMALLY THE HEIGHT IS AN INHERITED CHARACETR FROM THE PARENTS. BUT IT IS ALSO AFFECTED BY THE ENVIRONMRNT SUCH AS NUTRITION , PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES .SO HEIGHT CAN BE BOTH ACQUIRED AND INHERITED.

4. GRIZZLY BEARS HIBERNATING DURING WINTER IS AN ACQUIRED CHARACTER. ANIMALS LEARN TO HIBERNATE DURING WINTER INOREDER TO SAVE THEIR FOOD AND METABOLIC ENERGY. HIBERNATING IS A LEARNED BEHAVIOUR IT IS NOT INHERITED FROM THE PARENTS.