<P> The inheritance of acquired characteristics is a hypothesis that physiological changes acquired over the life of an organism ( such as the enlargement of a muscle through repeated use ) may be transmitted to offspring . It is also commonly referred to as the theory of adaptation equated with the evolutionary theory of French naturalist Jean - Baptiste Lamarck ( 1744 - 1829 ) known as Lamarckism . </P>
<P> The inheritance of acquired characteristics is a hypothesis that physiological changes acquired over the life of an organism ( such as the enlargement of a muscle through repeated use ) may be transmitted to offspring . It is also commonly referred to as the theory of adaptation equated with the evolutionary theory of French naturalist Jean - Baptiste Lamarck ( 1744 - 1829 ) known as Lamarckism . </P>
who believed in species change by passing acquired characteristics on to offspring
who believed in species change by passing acquired characteristics on to offspring
Jean - Baptiste Lamarck
Jean - Baptiste Lamarck