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Evolution Notes

The document discusses two major theories of evolution: Lamarck's Theory of Inheritance of Acquired Characters, which suggests that organisms can pass on traits acquired during their lifetime, and Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection, which posits that nature selects individuals with favorable traits for survival. Lamarck's example of the giraffe illustrates how acquired characteristics can lead to new species, while Darwin's principles highlight competition, variation, and survival of the fittest, exemplified by the case of the Peppered Moth. Both theories emphasize the gradual accumulation of changes over generations leading to speciation.

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3 views1 page

Evolution Notes

The document discusses two major theories of evolution: Lamarck's Theory of Inheritance of Acquired Characters, which suggests that organisms can pass on traits acquired during their lifetime, and Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection, which posits that nature selects individuals with favorable traits for survival. Lamarck's example of the giraffe illustrates how acquired characteristics can lead to new species, while Darwin's principles highlight competition, variation, and survival of the fittest, exemplified by the case of the Peppered Moth. Both theories emphasize the gradual accumulation of changes over generations leading to speciation.

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deoraneha1182
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The theory of evolution proposed by the French biologist Jean Baptiste de Lamarck is known

as the Theory of Inheritance of Acquired Characters. This theory suggests that organisms
undergo changes in their structure or function during their lifetime in response to environmental
changes, and these acquired characters are then passed on to their offspring. Over many
generations, these accumulated changes lead to the origin of new species.
A core component of this theory is the Principle of Use and Disuse. Lamarck posited that body
parts used extensively become stronger and more developed, while those not used gradually
weaken and may become vestigial or non-functional. His classic example was the evolution of
the giraffe, which he believed was originally horse-like. To survive when low-level foliage
became scarce, these ancestors constantly stretched their necks and forelimbs to reach higher
leaves, eventually acquiring longer necks and stronger forelimbs that were inherited by
subsequent generations

Darwinism, proposed by the English naturalist Charles Darwin, is fundamentally known as the
Theory of Natural Selection,,. As described in the sources, Darwin developed this theory after
extensive research and voyages where he observed that nature itself determines which
organisms are best suited to survive and evolve,,. The theory is built upon several core pillars,
beginning with Overproduction, which posits that all species produce a high number of
offspring—far more than can actually survive—to ensure the continuation of their race,,. For
example, oysters can produce between 60 to 80 million eggs at once, though only a fraction
reach adulthood,. Because populations tend to grow at a geometric rate while vital resources
like food and space remain constant, a Struggle for Existence inevitably occurs,,,. This struggle
involves competition both within a single species (intra-species) and between different species
(inter-species),. Amidst this competition, Variation plays a critical role, as no two individuals
within a species are exactly alike; these differences are essential because they allow certain
individuals to adapt more effectively to environmental changes,,,. The culmination of these
factors leads to Survival of the Fittest, a process where nature "selects" those individuals
possessing favorable variations that make them better adapted to their surroundings,,. Those
who are unfit are eventually eliminated, while the survivors pass their advantageous traits to
their offspring,,. Over vast periods of time, these accumulated changes result in the origin of
new species, a process referred to as speciation,. A classic real-world example of this theory
provided in the sources is the Peppered Moth (Biston betularia) in Manchester,. Before the
Industrial Revolution, light-colored moths were more common because they were camouflaged
against lichen-covered trees,. However, once industrial soot blackened the trees and killed the
lichens, the dark-colored moths gained a survival advantage, while the light ones were easily
spotted and eaten by birds,,. This shift in population, known as Industrial Melanism, serves as a
powerful demonstration of natural selection in action


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