Acquired characteristic
Encyclopedia
An acquired characteristic is a non-hereditary change in function or structure in living biotic material
caused by disease, mutilation, repeated use or disuse, or other environmental influence. For example, a person constantly exercising may develop stronger muscles or a cat that goes into a fight with another feline, thus getting injured, may lose an eye or an ear. None of these acquired traits will be passed on to offspring through reproduction alone. The inheritance of acquired characters
was historically proposed by renowned theorists such as Hippocrates
, Aristotle
, and French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
. On the other hand, it was also disputed by other famous theorists such as Charles Darwin
. Today, although Lamarckism
is generally discredited, there is still debate on whether some acquired characteristics in organisms are actually inheritable.
and gout
are known to cause permanent or near permanent changes to the human body. Hypothyroidism is known to cause goiters, depression, and sluggishness. Gout, on the other hand, can cause tophi. When these diseases are caused by environmental influences such as iodine
deficiency or lead poisoning, their resultant symptoms are said to be acquired characteristics. However, it is debatable on whether the changes in bodily function due to disorders caused either in part or fully genetically are actually acquired.
is any form of physical injury aimed at degrading the body of a living organism. Examples, include amputation
, foot binding
, and genital cutting
. Mutilation results in permanent physiological changes that cannot be passed on to offspring genetically alone.
due to disuse of said body parts. Both of these phenomena occur most of the time due to the living style of the organism and their effects on the physiology of the organism constitute of acquired characteristics such as either stronger muscles or disintegrated tissue.
Biotic material
Biotic material or biological derived material is any natural material that is originated from living organisms. Most such materials contain carbon and are capable of decay....
caused by disease, mutilation, repeated use or disuse, or other environmental influence. For example, a person constantly exercising may develop stronger muscles or a cat that goes into a fight with another feline, thus getting injured, may lose an eye or an ear. None of these acquired traits will be passed on to offspring through reproduction alone. The inheritance of acquired characters
Inheritance of acquired characters
The inheritance of acquired characteristics is a hypothesis that physiological changes acquired over the life of an organism may be transmitted to offspring...
was historically proposed by renowned theorists such as Hippocrates
Hippocrates
Hippocrates of Cos or Hippokrates of Kos was an ancient Greek physician of the Age of Pericles , and is considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine...
, Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
, and French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
Jean-Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet, Chevalier de la Marck , often known simply as Lamarck, was a French naturalist...
. On the other hand, it was also disputed by other famous theorists such as Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
. Today, although Lamarckism
Lamarckism
Lamarckism is the idea that an organism can pass on characteristics that it acquired during its lifetime to its offspring . It is named after the French biologist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck , who incorporated the action of soft inheritance into his evolutionary theories...
is generally discredited, there is still debate on whether some acquired characteristics in organisms are actually inheritable.
Physical
Physical acquired characteristics can stem from various environmental influences such as diseases, mutilation, and use or atrophy of body parts.Disease
Disorders such as hypothyroidismHypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone.Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of hypothyroidism worldwide but it can be caused by other causes such as several conditions of the thyroid gland or, less commonly, the pituitary gland or...
and gout
Gout
Gout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint. The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected . However, it may also present as tophi, kidney stones, or urate...
are known to cause permanent or near permanent changes to the human body. Hypothyroidism is known to cause goiters, depression, and sluggishness. Gout, on the other hand, can cause tophi. When these diseases are caused by environmental influences such as iodine
Iodine
Iodine is a chemical element with the symbol I and atomic number 53. The name is pronounced , , or . The name is from the , meaning violet or purple, due to the color of elemental iodine vapor....
deficiency or lead poisoning, their resultant symptoms are said to be acquired characteristics. However, it is debatable on whether the changes in bodily function due to disorders caused either in part or fully genetically are actually acquired.
Mutilation
Also known as maiming, mutilationMutilation
Mutilation or maiming is an act of physical injury that degrades the appearance or function of any living body, usually without causing death.- Usage :...
is any form of physical injury aimed at degrading the body of a living organism. Examples, include amputation
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
, foot binding
Foot binding
Foot binding was the custom of binding the feet of young girls painfully tight to prevent further growth. The practice probably originated among court dancers in the early Song dynasty, but spread to upper class families and eventually became common among all classes. The tiny narrow feet were...
, and genital cutting
Genital cutting
Genital cutting refers to genital modification and mutilation of the human genitals using a cutting instrument. This terminology is often used in some literature specifically to avoid using the terms 'mutilation' or 'circumcision'...
. Mutilation results in permanent physiological changes that cannot be passed on to offspring genetically alone.
Use and disuse of body parts
Constant physical exercise such as swimming, running, and weight lifting can cause muscles to develop. However, muscles and other body parts can also waste away through atrophyAtrophy
Atrophy is the partial or complete wasting away of a part of the body. Causes of atrophy include mutations , poor nourishment, poor circulation, loss of hormonal support, loss of nerve supply to the target organ, disuse or lack of exercise or disease intrinsic to the tissue itself...
due to disuse of said body parts. Both of these phenomena occur most of the time due to the living style of the organism and their effects on the physiology of the organism constitute of acquired characteristics such as either stronger muscles or disintegrated tissue.