Question:

Which of the following are correct regarding Lamarck's theory?
(A) He emphasized accumulative inheritance of acquired characters.
(B) His work was published as "On the origin of Species"
(C) Lamarckism is criticized because neuter worker bees and wasps cannot transmit acquired changes.
(D) Organs are modified, or new rudimentary organs are formed due to use and disuse.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Show Hint

Elimination strategy: On the Origin of Species belongs to Charles Darwin, not Lamarck.
Eliminating Statement (B) immediately discards Options (A) and (D).
Updated On: Sep 4, 2026
  • (A), (B) and (D) only
  • (A), (C) and (D) only
  • (C) and (D) only
  • (B), (C) and (D) only
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Concept:
Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck proposed the first cohesive evolutionary theory in his 1809 treatise Philosophie Zoologique.
Lamarckism is founded on the principles of direct environmental influence, the law of use and disuse of organs, and the inheritance of acquired traits.
This question tests historical facts and fundamental criticisms regarding Lamarckian evolutionary theory.

Step 1: Evaluation of Core Lamarckian Principles:

1. Statement (A) is correct: Lamarck proposed that morphological changes acquired by organisms during their lifetime in response to needs are accumulated and transmitted to succeeding generations.
2. Statement (D) is correct: The principle of use and disuse states that continuous use of an organ strengthens and enlarges it, whereas persistent disuse leads to its degeneration or formation of rudimentary structures.

Step 2: Evaluation of Authorship and Major Criticisms:

1. Statement (B) is incorrect: On the Origin of Species was authored by Charles Darwin in 1859. Lamarck published his ideas in Philosophie Zoologique (1809).
2. Statement (C) is correct: August Weismann and other evolutionary biologists criticized Lamarckism by highlighting sterile worker bees and wasps. These sterile social insects exhibit specialized adaptations acquired through intense labor, yet they never reproduce, proving acquired modifications cannot be inherited.

Step 3: Final Answer:

Statements (A), (C), and (D) are correct, while statement (B) is false.
Hence, Option (B) is the correct option.
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