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Multiple Choice
How did Jean-Baptiste Lamarck propose that species change over time?
A
By inheriting traits acquired during their lifetime
B
Through catastrophic events causing mass extinctions
C
By genetic drift and gene flow between populations
D
Through random mutations followed by natural selection
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the context of the question: Jean-Baptiste Lamarck was an early evolutionary theorist who proposed a mechanism for how species change over time. His ideas predate Darwin's theory of natural selection.
Identify Lamarck's key concept: Lamarck proposed the idea of 'inheritance of acquired characteristics,' which suggests that traits acquired during an organism's lifetime can be passed on to its offspring.
Clarify Lamarck's mechanism: According to Lamarck, organisms adapt to their environment by developing traits that help them survive, and these traits are then inherited by the next generation. For example, he theorized that giraffes stretched their necks to reach higher leaves, and this longer neck trait was passed to their offspring.
Compare Lamarck's theory to other options: The other choices in the question (catastrophic events, genetic drift, and random mutations followed by natural selection) are not part of Lamarck's theory. These concepts are associated with other evolutionary mechanisms, such as Darwinian evolution or modern evolutionary synthesis.
Conclude by identifying the correct answer: Lamarck's theory is best summarized as 'By inheriting traits acquired during their lifetime,' which aligns with his idea of the inheritance of acquired characteristics.