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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between Darwin and Lamarck?

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The main differences between the evolutionary theories of Darwin and Lamarck are as follows:

  1. Mechanism of Evolution: Lamarck's theory of evolution is based on the idea that organisms change during their lifetime and then pass these acquired traits onto their offspring. In contrast, Darwin's theory of evolution is based on natural selection, which emphasizes that only favorable traits are passed on to the next generation, and these traits are gradually selected over time.
  2. Survival of the Fittest: Lamarckism does not support the survival of the fittest, while Darwin's natural selection theory is centered around this concept. In Darwin's theory, organisms with traits that make them better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their advantageous traits to their offspring.
  3. Acquired Traits vs. Genetic Variation: Lamarck believed that all acquired traits are transferred to future generations, while Darwin believed that only advantageous traits are passed on. This difference in the mechanism of evolution leads to distinct predictions about the direction and pace of evolutionary change.
  4. Evidence and Acceptance: Darwin's theory became more widely accepted because it had more evidence supporting it. Lamarck's theory suggests that all organisms become more complicated over time, which does not account for simple organisms or the natural variation observed in populations.

In summary, Lamarck's theory of evolution focuses on the inheritance of acquired traits and the gradual change of organisms over their lifetimes, while Darwin's theory emphasizes the role of natural selection in shaping the evolution of species, with only advantageous traits being passed on to the next generation. Darwin's theory has gained more acceptance due to the supporting evidence and its ability to explain the natural variation observed in populations.

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  • What is the Difference Between Darwin and Lamarck?
  • Comparative Table: Darwin vs Lamarck

    • Comparative Table: Darwin vs Lamarck

    Feature Lamarck's Theory Darwin's Theory
    Inheritance Inheritance of acquired traits, based on the idea that organisms change during their lifetime and pass these changes onto their offspring Natural selection, based on the idea that random changes (mutations) occur in organisms, and beneficial changes are propagated through natural selection
    Mechanism Internal vital force, with the idea that organisms become more complicated over time Organisms possess variation, and these variations lead to some being more likely to survive and reproduce than others
    Example Giraffes' long necks are a result of stretching to reach higher leaves, with each generation having a longer neck than the previous one Longer-necked giraffes are more likely to survive and reproduce because they can access more food, leading to the propagation of long-necked giraffes in the population
    Success Lamarck's theory was less successful because it couldn't account for simple organisms and didn't include a mechanism for variation Darwin's theory, known as natural selection, was more successful because it explained how variation occurs and how organisms are more or less likely to survive based on these variations
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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.