Compare the basic principles on which the Darwin’s natural selection and Lamarck’s concepts of evolution are based.

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Darwin's theory of natural selection and Lamarck's theory of evolution are two different explanations for how species change over time. Let's compare the basic principles of these two theories:

1. Principle of Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics:

- Lamarck proposed that individuals can acquire traits during their lifetime in response to their environment, and these acquired traits can be passed on to their offspring. For example, if a giraffe stretches its neck throughout its life to reach higher leaves, the acquired longer neck will be inherited by its offspring.

- Darwin, on the other hand, rejected the idea of the inheritance of acquired characteristics. He believed that variations in traits already present in the population are responsible for evolution, and that acquired traits cannot be passed on to future generations.

2. Mechanism of Evolution:

- Lamarck's theory suggests that organisms have an innate drive to become more complex and perfect. According to him, this drive leads organisms to change their behavior, which in turn leads to the use and development of certain body parts, while others become less important. This use and disuse of body parts result in their modification over time.

- Darwin's theory of natural selection proposes that variations naturally exist within populations. The environment selects the individuals with favorable traits that help them survive and reproduce better, while individuals with less advantageous traits are less likely to survive and reproduce. Over generations, these favorable traits become more common in the population, leading to the evolution of species.

3. Timescale of Change:

- Lamarck's theory suggests that the acquired traits can be rapidly passed on to the next generation, allowing for more rapid evolutionary change in a short span of time.

- Darwin's theory acknowledges that evolution occurs gradually over long periods of time. It involves cumulative changes in populations over generations, rather than individual organisms rapidly acquiring traits.

In summary, Lamarck's theory is based on the idea that acquired characteristics can be inherited, while Darwin's theory is based on the concept of natural selection acting on inherited variations within a population over long periods of time. Darwin's theory provides a more comprehensive explanation for the mechanisms of evolution and is supported by a large body of scientific evidence.