Lamarckism

Lamarckism is a theory of evolution proposed by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, suggesting that organisms can pass on traits acquired during their lifetime to their offspring. For example, if a giraffe stretches its neck to reach higher leaves, its neck might become slightly longer, and this longer neck trait could then be inherited by its babies. Although modern science shows that genetic inheritance is the primary mechanism of evolution, Lamarckism was an early attempt to explain how organisms change over generations. It emphasizes that life forms can adapt through use and disuse of features, leading to inherited changes.