Jean-Baptiste Lamarck

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (IPA: ʒɑ̃ ba.tist la.maʁk) is a renowned French biologist known for his theories of evolution, particularly the concept of Lamarckism. His full name is Jean-Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet, Chevalier de Lamarck.

Etymology

The term "Lamarckism" is derived from Lamarck's name. It refers to the evolutionary theory he proposed, which suggests that an organism can change during its lifetime in response to its environment, and those changes are inheritable.

Biography

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck was born on August 1, 1744, in Bazentin, Picardy, France. He was the eleventh child in an impoverished aristocratic family. Lamarck joined the French army in 1761 and later left in 1765 due to an injury. He then pursued a career in medicine before shifting to botany. In 1778, he published Flore française, which led to his appointment as a professor of invertebrate zoology at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris in 1793.

Contributions to Biology

Lamarck is best known for his Theory of Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics, often referred to as Lamarckism. This theory posits that an organism can change during its lifetime in response to its environment, and those changes are inheritable. For example, he suggested that the long neck of a giraffe evolved over time as giraffes stretched their necks to reach leaves higher in the trees.

While Lamarck's theories were largely dismissed during his lifetime and are now considered incorrect, they were influential in the development of Darwinism and the modern theory of evolution.

Related Terms

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
Wikipedia's article - Jean-Baptiste Lamarck

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