Theories Of: Evolution

THEORIES OF
EVOLUTION
LAMARCKISM OR THEORY OF INHERITANCE OF ACQUIRED
CHARACTERS.
DARWINISM OR THEORY OF NATURAL SELECTION.
Lamarckism:
 It Is Also Called “Theory Of Inheritance Of Acquired
Characters” And Was Proposed By A Great French
Naturalist, Jean Baptiste De Lamarck In 1809 A.D. In His
Famous Book “Philosphic Zoologique”. This Theory Is
Based On The Comparison Between The Contemporary
Species Of His Time To Fossil Records.
 His theory is based on the inheritance of acquired
characters which are defined as the changes (variations)
developed in the body of an organism from normal
characters, in response to the changes in environment, or
in the functioning (use and disuse) of organs, in their own
life time, to fulfill their new needs. Thus Lamarck stressed
on adaptation as means of evolutionary modification.
A. Postulates of Lamarckism:
Lamarckism is based on following four postulates:
1. New needs:
Every living organism is found in some kind of environment. The
changes in the environmental factors like light, temperature,
medium, food, air etc. or migration of animal lead to the origin of
new needs in the living organisms, especially animals. To fulfill
these new needs, the living organisms have to exert special
efforts like the changes in habits or behaviour.
2. Use and disuse of organs:
The new habits involve the greater use of certain
organs to meet new needs, and the disuse or lesser use
of certain other organs which are of no use in new
conditions. This use and disuse of organs greatly affect
the form, structure and functioning of the organs.
3. Inheritance of acquired characters:
Lamarck believed that acquired characters are
inheritable and are transmitted to the offsprings so that
these are born fit to face the changed environmental
conditions and the chances of their survival are
increased.
4. Speciation:
Lamarck believed that in every generation, new
characters are acquired and transmitted to next
generation, so that new characters accumulate
generation after generation. After a number of
generations, a new species is formed.
So according to Lamarck, an existing individual is the
sum total of the characters acquired by a number of
previous generations and the speciation is a gradual
process.
Darwinism (Theory of Natural Selection):
Charles Darwin (1809- 1882 A.D.), an English naturalist, was the
most dominant figure among the biologists of the 19th century. He
made an extensive study of nature for over 20 years, especially in
1831-1836 when he went on a voyage on the famous ship “H.M.S.
Beagle” and explored South America, the Galapagos Islands and
other islands.
He collected the observations on animal distribution and the
relationship between living and extinct animals. He found that
existing living forms share similarities to varying degrees not
only among themselves but also with the life forms that
existed millions of years ago, some of which have become
extinct.
B. POSTULATES OF DARWINISM:
MAIN POSTULATES OF DARWINISM
ARE:
1. Geometric increase.
2. Limited food and space.
3. Struggle for existence.
4. Variations.
5. Natural selection or Survival of the fittest.
6. Inheritance of useful variations.
7. Speciation.
1. Geometric increase:
According to Darwinism, the populations tend to multiply
geometrically and the reproductive powers of living
organisms (biotic potential) are much more than required
to maintain their number e.g.,
2. Limited food and space:
Darwinism states that though a population tends to
increase geometrically, the food increases only
arithmetically. So two main limiting factors on the
tremendous increase of a population are: limited food
and space which together form the major part of
carrying capacity of environment. These do not allow a
population to grow indefinitely which are nearly stable in
size except for seasonal fluctuation.
3. Struggle for existence:
Due to rapid multiplication of populations but limited food
and space, there starts an everlasting competition
between individuals having similar requirements. In this
competition, every living organism desires to have an
upper hand over others.
This competition between living organisms for the basic
needs of life like food, space, mate etc., is called struggle
for existence which is of three types:
(a) Intraspecific:
Between the members of same species e.g. two dogs struggling for
a piece of meat.
(b) Interspecific:
Between the members of different species e.g. between predator
and prey.
(c) Environmental or Extra specific:
Between living organisms and adverse environmental factors like
heat, cold, drought, flood, earthquakes, light etc.
4. Variations:
Variation is the law of nature. According to this law of
nature, no two individuals except identical (monozygotic)
twins are identical. This everlasting competition among
the organisms has compelled them to change according
to the conditions to utilize the natural resources and can
survive successfully.
Darwin stated that the variations are generally of two

types—continuous variations or fluctuations and
discontinuous variations. On the basis of their effect on
the survival chances of living organisms, the variations
may be neutral, harmful and useful.
5. Natural selection or Survival of the fittest:
Darwin stated that as many selects the individuals with desired
characters in artificial selection; nature selects only those
individuals out of the population which are with useful continuous
variations and are best adapted to the environment while the less
fit or unfit individuals are rejected by it.
6. Inheritance of useful variations:

Darwin believed that the selected individuals pass their useful
continuous variations to their offsprings so that they are born fit
to the changed environment.
7. Speciation:
According to Darwinism, useful variations appear in every
generation and are inherited from one generation to another. So
the useful variations go on accumulating and after a number of
generations, the variations become so prominent that the
individual turns into a new species. So according to Darwinism,
evolution is a gradual process and speciation occurs by gradual
changes in the existing species.

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THEORIES OF

Darwin stated that the variations are generally of two

6. Inheritance of useful variations:

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