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Difficulty: Very hardLamarck's Theory of Evolution

In Jean-Baptiste Lamarck's theory of evolution, a changing environment causes direct physical alterations to an organism's body without requiring changes in the organism's behavioral habits or organ usage.

Answer: Answer

Answer

False
The statement is false because Lamarck specified that environmental change acts indirectly. A changing environment creates new needs, which compel changes in an organism's behavioral habits. These changed habits determine which organs undergo increased use or disuse, thereby altering their physical structure prior to inheritance.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze Lamarck's foundational sequence for evolutionary adaptation.
Lamarck postulated that changes in the environment alter an organism's needs (besoins), which in turn induce new habits and actions.
Establishing the sequence of cause-and-effect in Lamarckism is necessary to differentiate indirect environmental influence from direct physical induction.
2
Evaluate the mediating role of behavioral habits and organ use or disuse.
Anatomical modifications develop as a direct consequence of altered organ usage resulting from changed habits, rather than from passive environmental exposure.
Lamarck stressed that behavioral changes mediate between environmental demands and anatomical modifications.
3
Determine the validity of the statement.
The statement asserts direct structural modification without habit or usage changes, which contradicts Lamarck's explicit mechanism.
Because Lamarckian evolution relies strictly on behavioral habits and differential use/disuse as intermediate steps, the statement is false.

Key Concept

Lamarckian Evolutionary Sequence: Environmental Changes → Modified Needs → Changed Habits → Organ Use/Disuse → Acquired Structural Modifications
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Lamarck's Theory of Evolution

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