Epigenetic Lamarck

For over a century, Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection reigned supreme. It explained how random mutations in genes, coupled with environmental pressures, could lead to the gradual adaptation and diversification of life. However, a new player has entered the field, challenging our understanding of evolution: epigenetics. This emerging field explores how the expression of genes, rather than the genes themselves, can be influenced by environmental factors and passed down through generations. This phenomenon, dubbed "Lamarckian inheritance" after 18th-century naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, is forcing us to rewrite the narrative of evolution. Lamarck proposed that organisms could pass on acquired traits . While discredited as a direct transfer of mutations, epigenetics offers a surprising twist. It suggests that environmental experiences can leave "marks" on genes, affecting their activity without altering the underlying DNA seq