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Evolution is defined as the change in heritable characteristics that occurs in a population over successive generations over a specified time period. Various theories on the evolutionary mechanism of organisms have been proposed. Darwinism and Lamarckism are two of the most popular theories that have emerged. Darwinism is based on the concept of natural selection, whereas Lamarckism is based on the transmission of an organism’s characteristics from one generation to the next. Before we get into the differences between the two, let’s first define Darwinism and Lamarckism.
Darwinism
Charles Darwin, an English naturalist, developed the theory of Darwinism (1809-1082). The biological evolution of organisms is discussed in the Darwinism theory. According to this theory, the development of a living organism belonging to a specific species takes place through a process known as natural selection.
For example, the mutation that an organism inherits to be naturally selected or eliminated is based on variations such as favourable or unfavourable. Some Darwinism facts are listed below.
Darwin’s evolution theory, or Darwinism, states that species are developed through the interbreeding of a specific population, which later develops into a fertile individual
They are the descendants of their forefathers, with some changes in their bodies or genetics
Darwinism provides a clear understanding of species evolution, stating that the rate of origination of an organism is greater than the rate of survival due to natural selection
Lamarck
Lamarck is best known for his 1801 Theory of Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics (Darwin’s first book dealing with natural selection was published in 1859): If an organism changes during its life to adapt to its surroundings, those changes are passed down to its descendants.
He stated that change is caused by what organisms want or require. Lamarck, for example, believed that elephants used to have short trunks. When they couldn’t reach food or water with their short trunks, they stretched their trunks to reach water and branches, and their offspring inherited long trunks. Non-functional body parts, such as the human appendix and little toes, are also gradually disappearing, according to Lamarck.
People will eventually be born without these parts. Lamarck also believed that evolution follows a predetermined plan with predetermined outcomes.
Compare Darwin and Lamarck’s Theory of Evolution
Lamarck’s theory of evolution was based on how organisms (animals, plants) change over time and pass these changes down to their offspring. Lamarck, for example, believes that the giraffe had a long neck because it stretched to reach leaves in high-up trees, implying that each generation of giraffe had a longer neck than previous generations.
Natural selection, Darwin’s theory, held that organisms possessed variation (each individual was slightly different from the others), and that these variations resulted in some being more likely to survive and reproduce than others. Features that make an organism more likely to survive or reproduce are thus more likely to appear in subsequent generations.
In the case of the giraffe, Darwin’s theory would state that longer-necked giraffes were more likely to survive because they could eat leaves from taller trees, resulting in more long-necked giraffes being born, eventually leading to all giraffes having longer necks. Longer-necked giraffes survived because they were better adapted to their surroundings. The phrase “survival of the fittest” derives from this concept.
Because there was more evidence to support Darwin’s theory, it became more widely accepted. Lamarck’s theory proposes that all organisms become more complex over time, and thus does not account for simple organisms like single-cell organisms.
Conclusion
Lamarck is best known for his 1801 Theory of Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics, Charles Darwin, an English naturalist, developed the theory of Darwinism. Darwinism and Lamarckism are two of the most popular theories that have emerged. Darwinism is based on the concept of natural selection, whereas Lamarckism is based on the transmission of an organism’s characteristics from one generation to the next. The biological evolution of organisms is discussed in the Darwinism theory. Darwin’s evolution theory, or Darwinism, states that species are developed through the interbreeding of a specific population, which later develops into a fertile individual. Darwinism provides a clear understanding of species evolution, stating that the rate of origination of an organism is greater than the rate of survival due to natural selection. Lamarck is best known for his 1801 Theory of Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics (Darwin’s first book dealing with natural selection was published in 1859): If an organism changes during its life to adapt to its surroundings, those changes are passed down to its descendants.
