Jean-Baptiste Lamarck is one of the major influences of Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution although Jean-Baptiste Lamarck's studies never gained the acceptance he deserved, he is now known for his unacknowledged theory of heredity. Lamarck published his book Philosophie Zoologique where he stated his theory of evolution. Lamarck also separated and classified his work on invertebrates. He believed that organism changed along with their environment and could acquire desired traits through heredity. But in order to receive those desired traits they were meant to be passed down from generation to generation over the coarse of time. Charles Darwin found Lamarck's study of inheriting desired traits important in the study of evolution. Although Jean couldn't prove his theory of genetics they believed the use and disuse theory was a probable hypothesis in evolution. Lamarck's theory was proven false. Charles Darwin studied Lamarck's previous hypothesis of heredity and proved his theory incorrect and with that he then created his own theory of evolution. The church had a negative affect on Darwin's studies the church felt like they were threatened by the idea of evolution. They publicly argued against Darwin's ideas Many people believed that "Darwin's ideas destroyed the important distinction between man and beast."
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/lamarck.html
"...Lamarck's studies never gained the acceptance he deserved..."
ReplyDelete??? His theory was incorrect, right? So I'm curious as to what acceptance he deserved?
One of the problems both Lamarck and Darwin faces was that they current theory of Mendelian genetics had not been discovered as yet. At the time, the idea was that traits were passed on through a form of liquid or blending inheritance, which was falsified with Mendel's findings of particulate inheritance.
So Lamarck's theory wasn't one of genetics (didn't exist yet... no one had thought up a "gene" yet), but of evolutionary theory. He addressed evolution, not heredity.
Yes, Lamarck's work dealt with the influence of the environment, like Darwin's, and you do well to point out the difference between the two regarding the inheritance of acquired characteristics.
Do you think Darwin could have developed his theory of evolution without the influence of Lamarck? This point isn't addressed.
The church argued against Darwin's work (good quote, by the way) but only after it was published. Darwin delayed the publication for more than two decades? Why? What was he afraid of? This is the question you needed to address.