What is the inheritance of acquired characteristics? How does it work according to Lamark? What is problematic about it?

Answer

The inheritance of acquired characteristics is the idea that traits acquired during an organism's lifetime can be passed down to its offspring. Lamark believed that organisms could actively modify their traits in response to their environment through use and disuse, and that these modified traits could be inherited by their offspring. However, the inheritance of acquired characteristics is not supported by modern genetics and does not fit with the principles of natural selection. It also contradicts the idea of a genetic code that is passed down unchanged from parents to offspring.

Q: What is the inheritance of acquired characteristics? A: The inheritance of acquired characteristics is the idea that traits acquired during an organism's lifetime can be passed down to its offspring.
Q: How does it work according to Lamark? A: Lamark believed that organisms could actively modify their traits in response to their environment through use and disuse, and that these modified traits could be inherited by their offspring.
Q: What is problematic about it? A: The inheritance of acquired characteristics is not supported by modern genetics and does not fit with the principles of natural selection. It also contradicts the idea of a genetic code that is passed down unchanged from parents to offspring.