Question

Explain the evolution of giraffe's neck according to Lamarck's theory of evolution.

Answer 1

Lamarck had proposed the theory of inheritance of the acquired characters. The theory explains that the organisms adapt to the changing environnment. The characters which are developed in the organism are also transferred to the next generation. This theory was explained with the help of classic example which involved the neck of giraffes. He observed that giraffe's neck became longer through the generation as the giraffe stretches its neck to reach the leaves on tall trees. It's offsprings would inherit the longer neck, and continued stretching would make it longer still over several generation. This theory is referred to as law of use and disuse.