Lamarck's ideas on evolution were adopted by some Russian scientists, including Lysenko. Russian textbooks printed Lysenko's assertion that workmen who develop strong muscles from working in the mines would produce children who would be born stronger. Which of the major elements of evolution by natural selection is violated by this assertion?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Lamarckian evolution is based on the inheritance of acquired characteristics, which is now known to be incorrect. This directly violates the principle that acquired characteristics are not inherited, which is a fundamental concept of modern evolutionary theory.

Lamarck's Ideas on Evolution Were Adopted by Some Russian Scientists