In 1809 french biologist Jean Baptiste Lamarck came up with a theory of evolution. Lamarck suggested that oragnisms develop traits by using or not using parts of the body. If a part of the body is used alot,it becomes larger and weaker. If it is not used, it becomes smaller and weaker. He also believed that the traits an orgainism developed during its lifetime could be passed on from parents to offspring. Lamarck used a giraffe as a model for his theory. He assumed that early giraffes had short necks and ate grass then the enviornment changed and the grass died. The giraffes began to eat leaves on trees instead. They stretched their necks to reach the leaves on high branches. This is what made their ncecks grow longer.The new trait was passes on. Soon his theory was proven wrong.
