The Lamarckian Revival

The Lamarckian Revival refers to renewed interest in Jean-Baptiste Lamarck's early ideas about evolution, suggesting that organisms can pass on traits acquired during their lifetime to their offspring. Unlike modern Darwinian theory, which emphasizes natural selection of inherited genetic traits, Lamarck's concept proposed that changes caused by an organism's activity (like muscle growth from exercise) could directly influence future generations. Though largely discredited for over a century, recent findings—such as epigenetic research—have reignited discussions about whether acquired traits can sometimes be inherited, leading to a cautious reconsideration of Lamarckian ideas in understanding evolution.