Question

Explain the use and disuse theory with example.

Answer 1

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck was a French scientist who developed an alternative theory at the beginning of the 19th century. The law of use and disuse – In every animal which has not passed the limit of its development, a more frequent and continuous use of any organ gradually strengthens, develops and enlarges that organ, and gives it a power proportional to the length of time it has been so used; while the permanent disuse of any organ imperceptibly weakens and deteriorates it, and progressively diminishes its functional capacity, until it finally disappears.

Lamarck explanation:

1. A giraffe stretches its neck to reach food high up.
2. The giraffe's neck gets longer because it's used a lot.
3. The giraffe's offspring inherit its long neck.