LAMARCKIAN Meaning and
Definition
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Lamarckian refers to the principles and ideas related to the theories of evolutionary change proposed by the French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. Lamarck is known for his pioneering work on the concept of inheritance of acquired characteristics.
In a Lamarckian context, the term "acquired characteristics" refers to the idea that traits or modifications developed by an individual organism throughout their lifetime in response to their environment can be passed on to their offspring. Lamarck argued that these acquired characteristics were crucial in driving evolutionary change, as they were heritable and could accumulate over generations.
Lamarckian theories stand in contrast to the principles of Darwinian evolution, which emphasize the role of natural selection acting on random variations in populations. While Lamarck's ideas were influential in the development of biological thought, subsequent research and empirical evidence have largely discredited the notion of inheritance of acquired characteristics as a primary mechanism for evolution.
Today, the term "Lamarckian" is often used in a broader sense to describe any belief or concept that proposes non-Darwinian mechanisms for evolutionary change, particularly those involving the inheritance of acquired characteristics. It is important to note that Lamarckian does not necessarily imply correctness or accuracy, but rather serves as an identifier for theories or frameworks rooted in Lamarck's original proposals.
Common Misspellings for LAMARCKIAN
- kamarckian
- pamarckian
- oamarckian
- lzmarckian
- lsmarckian
- lwmarckian
- lqmarckian
- lanarckian
- lakarckian
- lajarckian
- lamzrckian
- lamsrckian
- lamwrckian
- lamqrckian
- lamaeckian
- lamadckian
- lamafckian
- lamatckian
- lama5ckian
Etymology of LAMARCKIAN
The word "Lamarckian" is derived from the surname of Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, a French biologist and naturalist who lived from 1744 to 1829. Lamarck is known for proposing a theory of evolution before Charles Darwin's work gained prominence. His theory, now known as "Lamarckism", suggested that acquired traits during an individual's lifetime can be inherited by subsequent generations. This concept is often referred to as the "inheritance of acquired characteristics". Thus, the term "Lamarckian" refers to this particular theory or anything associated with Lamarck's ideas on evolution.
Similar spelling words for LAMARCKIAN
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