What are common mistakes students make with lamarck?
1 Answer
Lamarck's theory of evolution is that "soft" or acquired traits can be passed to the next generation. What that means is explained by this example:
Your Dad is a body builder with huge muscles which he spends a long time working to make them that way.
Lamarck said that these large muscles could be passed to you. If you think about it that would be great. But it you will have to work just as hard as he did. You can't sit and watch TV all day and expect to win a body building contest. You may have somewhat better muscles because of your Dad but still have to work as hard as he does.
Lamarck was trying to explain what he saw and tried to explain it as well as he could.
Remember that people didn't understand that the Earth went around the Sun for a long time and other ideas were in place.
