Question

Statement I: Jean Baptiste de Lamarck stated that acquired characters are inherited to the next generations.
Statement II: August Weismann strongly supported the view of inheritance of acquired characters.

• A. Both statements I and II are correct
• B. Both statements I and II are false
• C. Statement I is true, but II is false
• D. Statement I is false. But II is true

Hint:

Understanding the historical debate between Lamarckism and Weismann's germ plasm theory highlights foundational shifts in genetic and evolutionary theory.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

- Statement I is true. Jean Baptiste de Lamarck indeed proposed that traits acquired by organisms during their lifetimes could be passed on to their offspring, a concept central to his evolutionary theory.
- Statement II is false. August Weismann was a strong opponent of Lamarck's ideas. He argued against the inheritance of acquired traits and supported the germ plasm theory, which states that genetic information is transmitted only by germ cells (eggs and sperm), and that somatic cells (body cells) do not contribute to inheritance.