Lamarckism
Could you imagine a world to which Darwin’s model of evolution does not
apply?
Let’s turn first to the French biologist Lamarck who claimed
that traits acquired during life may be inherited. For
instance Giraffes which have to stretch their necks to reach leaves high
in trees, have offspring with slightly more elongated necks. This version
of Lamarckism is naïve and refuted by any living Jew. Ever since the time
of Abraham all Jews in the history were circumcised yet none of their offspring
was ever born without a foreskin (prepuce). Although the macro-world does
not follow Lamarck’s model, in the micro-world Lamarckism is still
relevant.
Neo-darwinism is based on
three pillars:
1. Each living entity has a genetic memory which contains a blueprint of
the organism that is manifested by its phenotype.
2. Genetic memory cannot be affected by any organ in the organism. It is
“deaf” to the outside world, and may change only randomly
(mutation).
3. Blueprint changes affect the chances of the individual to survive. Actually
the environment "selects" the best fitting individuals.
Now imagine a world in which life lacks a genetic memory.
Obviously offspring would have inherited traits acquired during the life
of its ancestors. Such a condition existed on earth when it was covered
by the “primeval soup”. According to the Russian biologist Aleksandr
Oparin, life on earth developed through gradual chemical evolution
of carbon-based molecules floating in the primeval soup. As these molecules
polymerized they gradually started replicating and their offspring inherited
their acquired traits. DNA may have appeared much later (after million years)
whereupon Darwin’s model became relevant. (Liane Gabora, J. Theoret. Biol.
241: 443 - 450, 2006)
Does this imply that the establishment of genetic inheritance made Lamarck’s
model irrelevant? Not at all. Neo-Darwinists claim that genetic
memory is “deaf” to the outside world. Which seems to me even
more ridiculous than the hope that in the future Jews will be born without
a foreskin. Since all processes in the organism continuously interact
why should they spare the blueprint? Genetic memory is influenced by other
organs. Lamarckism is ready for its comeback.
I favor the view that life on earth appeared
from outer space. (panspermia).