Question

Which of the following statements do not reflect the views of the critics of Lamarckism?

• A. There is no internal vital force in living organisms
• B. Germplasm has no role in evolution
• C. Characters acquired during the lifetime are not inherited
• D. New characters do not develop according to the new needs of the organism

Answer 1

The correct option is B Germplasm has no role in evolution

August Weismann, had put forward the theory of continuity of germplasm which made him the main opposer of the inheritance of acquired characters. According to Weismann, only characters influencing germ cells are inherited. Thus, according to the critics of Lamarckism, germplasm has a central role to play in evolution.

Criticism of lamarckism:

• The first proposition of the theory does not have any ground because there is no vital force in organisms which increases their body parts.
• Environment affects organisms but a new need does not form new structures.
• Every character acquired by an organism during its lifetime is not passed on to next generation.

Mendel’s Laws of Inheritance and Weismann’s Theory of Continuity of Germplasm discarded Lamarck’s concept of inheritance of acquired characters.