Which of the following statements does not represent the idea of acquired characteristics?
I. A body builder develops stronger muscles during the course of his life, so his son will be strong as well. II. A cat that lost its tail will produce offspring with shorter tails.
III. Neck length in a giraffe population increased over time since taller giraffes had a competitive advantage over shorter giraffes.
A - I and III
B - III
C - I and II
D - I
E - II
Answer: B - III Neck length in a giraffe population increased over time since taller giraffes had a competitive advantage over shorter giraffes.
ACQUIRED CHARACTERISTICS is also known as Lamarckian inheritance. It is the idea that characteristics an organism acquires during it's lifetime can be passed on to its offspring. The need for a trait drives the evolution of that trait.