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Lamarck was one of the first scientists to propose that species evolve by natural selection. a) True b) False

User Irlanda
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Final answer:

Lamarck did not propose the theory of evolution by natural selection. He proposed the theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics, which was later disproven. The theory evolution by natural selection was proposed by Charles Darwin.

Step-by-step explanation:

The answer to your question is b) False. It is a common misbelief that Lamarck proposed the theory of species evolving by natural selection, when in fact he proposed a different theory. Jean-Baptiste Lamarck was a French scientist who developed the first theory of macroevolution. He theorized that traits parents acquired could be inherited by offspring and that these traits were a blend of the traits of the two parents. Unfortunately, this theory, known as the inheritance of acquired characteristics, was later disproven. The theory of evolution by natural selection describes a mechanism for species change over time, and was actually proposed by Charles Darwin. Charles Darwin, and not Lamarck, was the first to propose that species evolve over time through natural selection. Evolution by natural selection describes a mechanism for how species change over time. It took many years and the input of several scientists to develop this theory. However, Lamarck's incorrect idea still contributed to our understanding of evolution, so he remains an important figure in biological history.

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