lamarckism
/ləˈmɑrkɪzəm/
noun
- An early theory of evolution that suggests organisms can pass on traits they acquire during their lifetime to their offspring.
- The idea of Lamarckism was popular in the 19th century before genetics was understood.
- Most scientists now reject Lamarckism in favor of Darwinian evolution.
- Lamarckism proposed that giraffes got long necks by stretching them over generations.
Antonyms