Final answer:
Cutting off mice tails will not result in offspring with shorter tails because acquired traits cannot be inherited; only genetic mutations in germ cells can be passed to the next generation.
Step-by-step explanation:
No, the practice of cutting off mice tails will not lead to a population of mice with shorter tails because acquired characteristics, like the altered length of a tail, are not inheritable traits. This concept is rooted in our understanding of genetics and heredity.
For a trait to be passed on to the next generation, it must be encoded in the organism's DNA. Lamarck's theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics has been disproven by the principles of Mendelian genetics, where only characteristics and mutations present in the germ cells can be passed down. For instance, a mutation causing a naturally shorter tail could be inherited if it offers a reproductive advantage, but cutting the tail off does not affect the genetic makeup of the mice.