Final answer:
According to the outdated theory of the Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics by Lamarck, children of two smart academics would inherit the acquired intelligence of their parents. Nevertheless, this theory is now considered incorrect, and the understanding of genetics emphasizes the roles of genetic inheritance and environmental factors. Modern studies affirm the complex interplay between genetics and environment on traits like intelligence.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the theory of the Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics, proposed by naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, if two smart academics were to produce children, the theory suggests that those children would inherit the 'acquired' intelligence of their parents. Lamarck believed that traits parents acquire during their lifetime through personal development or adaptation could be passed down to offspring. However, this concept has been largely discredited in favor of more modern genetic understanding where genetic inheritance and environmental factors play a significant role in the development of traits such as intelligence.
Lamarck theorized that traits in offspring were a blend of traits from the two parents and that acquired characteristics through personal effort or adaptation could be inherited. This was before the discovery of DNA and the modern understanding of genes and heredity. Today, we acknowledge that while there is a genetic component to intelligence, as evidenced by twin studies, the environment also significantly influences intellectual development, as seen in the range of reaction theory.
It is important to note that though Lamarck's theory has historical significance, the scientific community now understands that offspring do not inherit acquired characteristics as he suggested. Diverse genetic factors and environmental conditions are responsible for the development of traits such as intelligence. Increased understanding through studies such as the Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart has provided evidence for the impact of genetics and environment on intelligence levels.