Question Details

The idea of use and disuse of organs was given by

Options

A

Morgan

B

Lamarck

C

Darwin

D

Hugo de Vries

Correct Answer :

Lamarck

Solution :

The correct answer is Lamarck.

Step-by-step Explanation:

1. Understanding the Concept:
The "Theory of Use and Disuse of Organs" is a physiological concept which posits that organs or body parts that are used extensively by an organism to cope with its environment become larger, stronger, and more developed over time. Conversely, organs that are not used regularly deteriorate, weaken, and eventually become vestigial or disappear altogether in succeeding generations.

2. Historical Context and Authorship:
This hypothesis was proposed by the French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in his 1809 publication, Philosophie Zoologique. It formed a fundamental part of his theory of evolution, often referred to as Lamarckism (or the inheritance of acquired characteristics).

3. Analyzing the Options:
- Lamarck: Formulated the concept of use and disuse of organs (e.g., explaining the long neck of giraffes as an acquired trait from stretching to reach high leaves).
- Morgan: Thomas Hunt Morgan is famous for his work on heredity in Drosophila (fruit flies), establishing the chromosome theory of inheritance.
- Darwin: Charles Darwin proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection.
- Hugo de Vries: Proposed the Mutation Theory of evolution.

Therefore, the idea of use and disuse of organs was given by Lamarck.

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