1) An individual who has had a significant impact and influence over Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection has to be Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. He has been a positive influence towards the theory.
2) Jean-Baptiste Lamarck's contribution to the theory of evolution and natural selection was his proposition of the use-disuse theory. He suggested that over time, organisms adapted to their surroundings by the growing and shrinking of body parts to better suit their environment, with parts that were not used as often becoming non-existent. An example would be the giraffe, which was suggested to have elongated its neck as leaves became higher and higher off the ground. It was also suggested in his theory that animals over time were driven to more complex forms. "
As organisms adapted to their surroundings, nature also drove them inexorably upward from simple forms to increasingly complex ones. Like Buffon, Lamarck believed that life had begun through spontaneous generation. But he claimed that new primitive life forms sprang up throughout the history of life; today's microbes were simply 'the new kids on the block.'" (1).
3) Points that were most likely influenced by Lamarck's theory are as follows;
a) If the environment changes, the traits that are helpful or adaptive to that environment will be
different.
b) In order for natural selection to occur, reproduction MUST occur!
c) In order for traits to evolve and change, they MUST be heritable.
In regards to environmental changes, traits that occur between generations are suggested to change based on what is useful to the animal. Darwin probably noted Lamarck's theory of use-disuse and proposed this thought process. Lamarck suggested "that complexity evolved simply as a result of life adapting to its local conditions from one generation to the next, much as modern biologists see this process." (2). Traits that happen over time that can be passed down to better the animal's wellbeing in changing environments are what helps to keep a species alive. Again using the giraffe example, the longer neck genetic being passed down meant over time the neck could grow longer and longer to adapt to the trees getting taller.
Darwin however did have some disagreements with Lamarck's theories.
(3)
In this diagram provided, while there was some basis from what Lamarck suggested present in Darwin's theory, he offered alternative solutions and answers for questions that were raised. Some of his theory's ideas took upon Lamarck's ideas and expanded them differently.
4) I do not think Darwin would have developed his theory of natural selection without the influence of Lamarck because of their contrasting ideas as naturalists. Darwin and Lamarck while they had similar ideas still had dire differences in key points of theories. Darwin's points essentially challenged Lamarck's points, and I do not think that without the people who came before Darwin to propose their first ideas, would Darwin have challenged them with his own findings and theories.
5) "Darwin had delayed [publicizing] his ideas due to worries of a backlash from Britain's religious or scientific establishment. As he anticipated, it unleashed controversy, yet the scale of the uproar has often been exaggerated." (5). During this time period, the church was widely feared for heresy, but fortunately he was not the first to propose the theory of evolution (6).
Works used:
1-3) "Early Concepts of Evolution: Jean Baptiste Lamarck"
Understanding Evolution. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/history_09>.
4) "5.13: Influences on Darwin"
Biology Concepts. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.ck12.org/book/CK-12-Biology-Concepts/section/5.13/.
5-6) "Darwin and the Church"
Charles Darwin N.p., n.d. Web. <http://qi.com/infocloud/charles-darwin>.
