Who is associated with the theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics?

The theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics is most closely associated with Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. This concept posits that traits or characteristics acquired by an organism during its lifetime can be passed on to its offspring. For example, Lamarck suggested that giraffes developed long necks because their ancestors stretched theirs to reach high leaves, and this acquired trait would then be inherited by the next generation.

Lamarck's ideas were significant in the history of evolutionary thought, as they represented an early attempt to explain how organisms adapt to their environments over time. While modern genetics has shown that acquired characteristics do not influence heredity in the way Lamarck proposed, his work laid the groundwork for later evolutionary theories, including those of Darwin. Understanding Lamarck's perspective provides a historical context to the evolution of scientific ideas about inheritance and adaptation.