Jean-Baptiste Lamarck

“ Lamarck was truly a great man. It is difficult to imagine the growth of natural science without him. We are fortunate for his speculations regarding the origin of life and its subsequent evolution according to the four great laws. ”

“ Inspired by the earlier work of Buffon, Lamarck speculated on the origin of life. He accepted the theory of spontaneous generation. Under the influence of heat and electricity the whole of life formed from gelatinous bodies. Once having been created, organisms change according to four laws. ”

“ II. The production of new organs is brought about by need or want.
III. The development of organs and their action depends on their being used.
IV. Acquired new organs, or changes in organization, are passed on to future generations. ”