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Lamarckian for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: lə'mɑrkiən

What does Lamarckian really mean?

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Lamarckian is a word that might sound a little complex at first, but don't worry, I'm here to help you understand it! Let's break it down together.

Have you ever wondered why animals or plants have certain traits? Like why a giraffe has a long neck or why some plants have thorns? Well, Lamarckian is a term that relates to a theory of how those traits could be passed down from one generation to another, or in simpler words, how animals or plants can inherit certain characteristics from their parents.

This word actually comes from the name of a scientist called Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, who lived a long time ago. He had this idea that organisms, like animals and plants, can change and develop new traits during their lifetime, and then pass those traits onto their offspring. It's a bit like a story. Imagine a character in a book who becomes stronger or smarter through their experiences, and then their children also have those same strengths. That's kind of what Lamarckian is all about.

However, it's important to note that the Lamarckian theory is not widely accepted in modern science. We now know that traits are mostly inherited through a process called genetic inheritance, where specific genes are passed on from parents to their offspring. These genes carry the instructions that determine an organism's traits. So, while Lamarckian theory was once thought to be true, we now understand that genetic inheritance plays a bigger role in shaping an organism's traits.

So, to sum it up, Lamarckian is a term that refers to an old idea about how traits can be acquired during an organism's lifetime and then passed on to their offspring. Although it's not widely accepted in science today, understanding Lamarckian theory helps us appreciate the progress we have made in our understanding of genetic inheritance.

Revised and Fact checked by Mike Johnson on 2023-10-29 00:31:31

Lamarckian In a sentece

Learn how to use Lamarckian inside a sentece

  • A Lamarckian idea is when a person believes that a giraffe's neck became long because its ancestors stretched their necks to reach tall trees, and that trait passed on to future generations.
  • Imagine someone thinking that a person can develop strong muscles throughout their lifetime and then have their children also be born with those strong muscles. That's a Lamarckian thought.
  • If someone believes that a butterfly developed its vibrant colors because its ancestors chose to rest on colorful flowers, and then passed on that color to their offspring, that's a Lamarckian explanation.
  • In a Lamarckian framework, one could suggest that if a person lost their sense of smell because they never used it, their children might also be born without a sense of smell.
  • A Lamarckian concept would be thinking that if a dog learned to bark in a particular way, its puppies would be born knowing how to bark the same way.

Lamarckian Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

Lamarckian Pertains To

Words to which the original word is relevant