Question

Weismann cut off tails of mice generation after generation but tails neither disappeared not shortened showing that:

• A. Darwin was correct
• B. Tail is an essential organ
• C. Mutation theory was wrong
• D. Lamarckism was wrong in inheritance of acquired characters

Answer 1

The correct option is D Lamarckism was wrong in inheritance of acquired characters

Lamarck gave theory of Lamarckism in which he explained inheritance of acquired characters which states that whatever an individual acquires characters in its life time due to internal vital force, and effect of environment, they are inherited to the next generation. After several generations, the variation is accumulated up to such an extent that they give rise to new species. This theory was proved wrong by August Weismann.
August Weismann put forward the theory of continuity of germplasm. According to this the characters influencing the germ cells are only inherited. Weismann cut off the tails of rats for as many as 22 generations and allowed them to breed, but tailless rats were never born.
So, the correct answer is 'Lamarckism was wrong in inheritance of acquired characters'.