16 past paper MCQs on Lamarckism, from the Evolution unit of MDCAT Biology. The year each question appeared is shown where known; tap “Show answer” for the correct option and a short solution.
1.Adaptations that an organism acquires by its own actions during its life span, without modifying its genome, are: (MDCAT 2022)
Correct answer: (b) non-heritable
Nothing is passed on unless the genes change, which is where Lamarck's account fails.
2.The idea of inheritance of acquired characteristics was presented by: (MDCAT 2024)
Correct answer: (a) Jean Baptiste Lamarck
Lamarck held that what an organism gained in its lifetime passed to its offspring.
3.Which of the following best describes "acquired characteristics" according to Lamarckism? (UHS MDCAT 2025)
Correct answer: (c) Traits developed by use or disuse
Lamarck held that an organ grows with use and wastes with disuse, and that the change is passed on.
4.According to Lamarck, the evolution of long necks in giraffes is explained by: (UHS MDCAT 2025)
Correct answer: (d) Stretching of necks over generations
Lamarck explained the long neck as stretching that was passed to the offspring.
5.The idea that acquired characters are inherited is part of: (KMU MDCAT 2025)
Correct answer: (c) Lamarckism
The inheritance of acquired characters is Lamarck’s idea, not Darwin’s.
6.A scientist cuts the tails of mice for several generations, but their offspring are always born with tails. This rejects: (KMU MDCAT 2025)
Correct answer: (c) Lamarckism
Cutting the tails is an acquired change, and its failure to be inherited tells against Lamarck.
7.Which of the following idea is a part of Lamarckism? (NUMS MDCAT 2025)
Correct answer: (a) Use and disuse of organs
Lamarck held that an organ develops with use and wastes away with disuse.
8.Why Lamarck is being remembered till today? (SIBA MDCAT 2025)
Correct answer: (a) Due to his rejected but appealing theory of heredity .
His account of inherited acquired characters was wrong, but it was the first serious mechanism offered for evolution.
9.According to the Lamarck theory of evolution, the organ that has not been used in several generations will: (SZABMU MDCAT 2025)
Correct answer: (c) Disappear
Lamarck held that an organ left unused wastes away and is finally lost.
10.Lamarck theory of evolution was rejected experimentally by: (SZABMU MDCAT 2025)
Correct answer: (c) August Weismann
Weismann cut the tails of mice for generations and the offspring were still born with tails.
11.According to Lamarckism, the basis of evolution is: (KMU MDCAT 2024)
Correct answer: (a) Inheritance of acquired characteristics
Lamarck held that characters gained in a lifetime are passed to the offspring.
12.Children of a mason do not inherit strong muscles developed by father due to hard labour. This is an example of: (NUMS MDCAT 2024)
Correct answer: (c) Not inheriting acquired characters
Muscle built by work is an acquired character, and acquired characters are not inherited.
13.Which of the following was proposed by Lamarck in his theory? (PMC MDCAT 2022)
Correct answer: (d) Use and disuse of organs
Use and disuse of organs is Lamarck’s idea; the other three are Darwin’s.
14.Most likely people who perform tough manual work can develop (PMC MDCAT 2022)
Correct answer: (d) certain aquired characters
Muscle and callus built by work are acquired characters, gained in a lifetime and not inherited.
15.Which condition can be explained by Lamarckism? (PMC Practice 2021)
Correct answer: (d) All of these options are correct
Lamarck would explain each of these as an organ developed or lost by use and disuse and then inherited.
16.The idea of inheritance of acquired characteristics was proposed by: (UHS MDCAT 2017)
Correct answer: (b) Lamarck
Lamarck held that characters gained in a lifetime are passed on.