Comparison between Lamarckism and Darwinism

(i) Lamarckism was introduced by Lamarck. Darwin introduced the theory of Darwinism.

(ii) In Lamarckism the body changes under the influence of the environment and by the organism’s own efforts. In Darwinism, organisms change spontaneously.

(iii) Natural instinct is not recognized in Lamarckism. Darwinism recognizes natural instinct.

(iv) In Lamarckism organisms can develop new traits for their own needs. In Darwinism, nature forms the organism.

(v) According to Lamarck, organisms live in harmony with nature. According to Darwin, organisms survive by winning the struggle for life.

(vi) Lamarckism is not acceptable in scientific circles. Darwinism is acceptable to scientists.

 

Natural selection theory is not universally accepted

(i) All selection in organisms is not natural.

(ii) Natural selection is unable to explain the presence of passive organs in any organism.

(iii) How appropriate variation is derived is not stated.

(iv) Unable to explain that variation occurring in germ cells is heritable.

(v) The possibility of new species arising from differentiation between different members of the same species is very low.

Dinosaurs bear hints of evolutionary evidence

(i) Body Fossils: Fossils of bodies and body parts of dinosaurs have been found in petrified or sedimentary rock layers. By examining these fossils, it has been confirmed that dinosaurs existed on earth.

(ii) Skeletal Fossils: Bones, skeletons and hard parts found in rock layers have been proved to be dinosaur fossils.

(iii) Fossils in sediments: The existence of dinosaurs has been confirmed from fossils of eggshells and faeces found in rock strata.

(iv) Footprints: Evidence of the existence of dinosaurs has been found by examining the footprints found on the bedrock by carbon radiation.

Giraffe Evolution Theory

According to Lamarck’s theory of evolution, the early male giraffe had a shorter neck and front legs than a horse. They eat grass and leaves of small plants. Due to various reasons, the amount of grass on the ground decreases and then they start eating the leaves and branches of tall trees. Later it starts eating the leaves of higher trees. In this way, the giraffe’s neck becomes longer due to eating the leaves of tall trees. It is the nervous system of the giraffe that makes it eat leaves with its neck raised. Giraffe’s neck lengthened according to his wishes and needs. Later, the length of the neck increased with each other. Modern long-necked giraffes evolved from short-necked ancestors. The topic of Lamarckism in the evolution of Giraffe is-

(i) Under the influence of endogenous forces organisms can cause growth of their organs.

(ii) Environment has a direct effect on organisms.

(iii) Development of any organ of an organism depends on its use and disuse.

(iv) Acquired qualities of organisms are transmitted from generation to generation.

Importance of Rh factor

  1. Blood transfusion: If a patient with Rh negative (Rh-ve) blood group receives Rh positive (Rh+ve) blood, there is no problem the first time. However, Rh antibodies develop in his blood within the second week. Later, if the patient receives Rh positive (Rh+ve) blood, his red blood cells are destroyed due to Rh antibodies. Patients may die with various complications.
  2. In pregnancy: If a woman with Rh negative (Rh-ve) blood is married to a man with Rh positive (Rh+ve) blood, the first child will be Rh positive (Rh+ve). During this time, Rh antibodies are created in the mother’s blood. Later during pregnancy, the previously produced Rh antibodies are transferred from the mother’s blood to the fetus through immortality. In this the red blood cells of the fetus are destroyed and the child dies.

Rh factor blood group

In 1940, biologists Karl Landsteiner and A. M. Wiener discovered an antigen from the red blood cells of a rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). It is called Rh factor or Rhesus factor or antigen factor. Later they discovered the Rhesus factor from human red blood cells. If Rh factor is present in human red blood cells then it is called Rh positive or Rh+ve and if it is absent it is called Rh negative or Rh-ve.

15% of Americans, Canadians, Europeans and Caucasians are Rh-positive. 18-30% of the Berbers and Bedouins of Africa and 25-30% of the Basques of the Pyrenees carry the Rh trait. A very low Rh trait is observed in Bengalis.

Heredity of blood group (genetics)

Bernstein (1925) demonstrated that blood group is controlled by three genes located at the same locus on homologous chromosomes. This condition is called multiple allele. The three alleles are LA, LB and LO. The LA allele carries antigen A and the LB allele carries antigen B.

If A (AO) group man is married to B (BO) group woman, the offspring will have genotype-

AB, A (AO), B (BO), O

Blood ratio of children: A t B t AB t O = 1 : 1 : 1 : 1

Why blood group of the donor and the recipient tested of blood collection?

At the time of blood collection, the blood group of the donor and the recipient is checked and cross-matched. If not, the dangers that are likely to occur are:

  1. Blood cells will clump together and disintegrate.
  2. Hemoglobin will be excreted with urine.
  3. Accumulation of hemoglobin in kidney will cause uremia and kidney function will be disturbed.
  4. There will be outbreaks of jaundice.
  5. A patient may die after a variety of procedures.

Characteristics of ABO group

  1. A group consists of antigen A and antibody B.
  2. B group consists of antigen B and antibody A.
  3. The AB group contains antigens A and B, but no antibodies.
  4. Group O has no antigens, but has antibodies A and B.
  5. AB group can receive blood from all groups so it is called universal recipiennts.
  6. O group can give blood to all groups so it is called universal donor.